How to dress like Jack Nicholson
An acting genius and a prolific actor who easily has the most nominations for the Academy Awards, but receiving just three (two for best actor, one for best supporting actor) . We may probably know him best from his roles as the Joker in Batman, Jack Torrance in the Shining, or Colonel Nathan R. Jessup in A Few Good Men. But surprisingly he is a sharp dresser, and we will be examining some of his sharpest dressed roles over his 60 year acting career
Little shop of Horrors (1960)
Jack Nicholson played a cameo in the movie as a creepy patient of a dentist the protagonist Seymour Krelborn played by Jonathan Haze.
Easy Rider (1969)
In this road drama film about the 60s counter culture, Nicholson plays a supporting role of ACLU lawyer George Hanson who the two protagonists pick up on their way to a Mardi Gras event. He wears a cream coloured linen suit with a chevron patterned white and dark red tie.
Five Easy Pieces (1970)
Playing a conflicted oil worker whose calling is rather in classical music as he was taught as a pianist at an early age. He would wear simple but elegant fare with just an utilitarian corduroy brown blazer to jazz things up
The King Of Marvin Gardens (1972)
Distinctively playing against his type, Nicholson plays a quiet, depressed introvert whose brother ropes him in on a get rich scheme that backfires. Due to the fact his character packed lightly for his trip to Atlanta city, he would wear the same outfit for the duration of the film.
Chinatown (1974)
One of his most well dressed roles in his career, and earning Nicholson one of his two Academy awards for best actor, he plays a private investigator named Jake Gittes in this neo-noir mystery film. He changed his outfits no less than eight times during the course of the film.
The Shining (1980).
This is perhaps one of his penultimate performances as Jack Torrance, a school teacher turned writer who needs to care for a haunted hotel with his family over the winter but becomes unhinged in the process. Though we would see him in his well recognised windbreaker and slacks, he would don two different suits in the film, one when he interviews for the position of caretaker with the hotel management, and one on the first day on the job when he comes with his family.
Torrance when he arrives at the hotel for the interview.
Torrance during the interview. He wears a charcoal grey tweed blazer with notch lapels, as befitting of a former school teacher, a white and blue checkered shirt, and a green knit tie. There was conjecture that the tie was meant to foreshadow the hedge maze shown later in the film, showing that Torrance is being dragged into the haunted hotel whether he wants to or not.
On the day he moves in with his family. Torrance wears yet another grey blazer with notch lapels, this one glen checked.
Torrance among the ghostly residents of the hotel. He wears a 20s era tuxedo with a wing-tip collared dress shirt, peak lapelled silk tux jacket, and self tie bow tie.
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)
Set in late 20s California, this controversial film was a remake of an earlier film. Jack Nicholson plays the protagonist Frank Chambers who had an affair with a married woman Cora Smith played by Jessica Lange.
Frank hitching a ride in the opening of the film
Chambers in a pensive moment. His blazer has cleaned up considerably now that he has a steady job. Wearing a 20s era printed red blue and white checked tie
With Cora in the same jacket and tie, but changing out for a white dress shirt and fedora
Broadcast News (1987)
Jack Nicholson played a supporting role as one of the evening news anchors in the romantic comedy about a romance in a TV news broadcast station. Though he plays a minor role in the film, in the fictional station within the film however, he has an essential role, so he dresses accordingly
Bill Rorish, played by Jack Nicholson, making a snide remark on the station laying off workers because they couldn't broadcast on Wednesday nights.
Bill Rorish, played by Jack Nicholson, on the job
Witches of Eastwick (1987)
In this supernatural dark fantasy comedy about three middle aged women realising they are witches, Jack Nicholson plays the mysterious Daryl Van Horne who seduces and awakens the trio's powers to set the film into motion
Batman (1989)
Perhaps one of his most famous roles, Jack Nicholson plays Jack Napier, who would become the Joker after a three way ambush at Axis Chemicals where he was permanently disfigured. Before he becomes the Joker however, Napier is fond of colourful suits as befitting of a gangster enforcer
Napier in a purple peak lapel suit jacket with matching waist coat, white polka dotted burgundy tie, and a paisley purple pocket square
Napier in an indigo wool suit, black and white patterned tie, a brown pocket square, and his lucky deck of cards
Napier when he enters Axis Chemicals, unaware he was being set up. He wears all black in leading an effort to steal documents with his cronies
