Last week photos and video of acting icon Jack Nicholson enjoying the breeze on his balcony went viral after The Daily Mail posted them accompanying a less than complimentary headline saying he looked "disheveled in his $10 million Beverly Hills compound."
The outlet claimed Nicholson's balcony outing was the first time he'd been seen in 18 months, since October 2021 when the A Few Good Men actor and his son attended a Lakers game, courtside, of course.
The Shining star—who turns 86 this week—looked comfy in a T-shirt, lounge pants, slippers and hair mussed—much how we all appear in the comfort of our own homes—while contently taking in the breeze and the birds.
\u201cJack Nicholson, 85, looks disheveled on LA balcony as he's seen for first time in TWO YEARS https://t.co/4Vi5pykFoE\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
Though Fox News also posted the photos spouting similar criticism, fans rushed to defend Nicholson who was merely breathing in some fresh air on his own private property.
\u201c1) He is very recognizable.\n\n2) Let people grow older in peace you ghouls.\u201d— Brett Meiselas (@Brett Meiselas) 1681576853
\u201c@BMeiselas He looks like an 86 year old Jack Nicholson whose privacy is being invaded. Leave him be.\u201d— Brett Meiselas (@Brett Meiselas) 1681576853
\u201c@MailOnline Today in the news: 85-year-old man who just woke up looks like a 85-year-old man who just woke up. More at ten.\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
\u201c@MailOnline Leave a retired man in peace, I can\u2019t believe some vulture would hang outside his balcony like this.\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
\u201c@MailOnline Dude looks great. \n\nWe should all be so lucky to be doing so well at 85.\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
\u201cWhy are people saying Jack Nicholson looks terrible at 85? He looks like an 85 yr old, leave him alone\u201d— Eric Ravenwolf (@Eric Ravenwolf) 1681581955
\u201c@MailOnline What else is an 85 year old supposed to look like?\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
\u201cSo #JackNicholson was photographed looking a bit...well...and people are losing their mind.\n\nFirst of all, who are the creeps who took those pics sans permission?\n\nSecond of all, he's Jack Nicholson! He can do what he wants in his own home! He wants to look comfy, let him be!\u201d— Customer Service Larry\ud83d\udc00 (@Customer Service Larry\ud83d\udc00) 1681579401
\u201c@MailOnline Can y\u2019all let a mf wake up , damn.\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
\u201cIn my 33 years of living, I have never related to someone as much as I do Jack Nicholson on his balcony.\u201d— Kris Allen (@Kris Allen) 1681562327
\u201c@MailOnline He's Jack Nicholson. He is one of the greatest artists literally ever, rich as hell, and a genuine cultural icon. He's earned the right to look however he wants in his own damn home.\n\n God bless you, brother!\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
\u201c@MailOnline He looks like he just woke up. Give the man some space & dignity. Jack is one of the all time iconic, great stars. Why belittle him in this way? Really shameful.\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
\u201c@MailOnline If I\u2019m 85, lived the life he\u2019s lived and I still look like that\u2026 insanely lucky doesn\u2019t even cover it.\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
\u201c@MailOnline I\u2019d be relaxing at 85 too, leave the man alone.\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
\u201c@MailOnline At roughly half his age I spend most of the day looking just like that, so I think he's doing well.\u201d— Daily Mail Online (@Daily Mail Online) 1681423303
While Nicholson hasn't appeared in a film since How Do You Know in 2010, he told The Sunin 2017 he had no plans to work himself into the ground.
"I'm not going to work until the day I die, that's not why I started this."
"I'm not driven. I was driven—but I'm not, I don't have to be out there anymore."
Besides, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram