‘I’d like to thank everybody here tonight for lookin’ so good’ — List of Jack Nicholson Oscar nominations, wins
Updated: February 2026
List of Oscar nominations and wins for Jack Nicholson. Jack Nicholson has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won 3. He has received 8 Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role and won 2. He has received 4 Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and won 1. Year indicates year/period for which films were judged, not year of ceremony. Sources: Oscars.org, Internet Movie Database, Wikipedia
2002: About Schmidt (Best Actor) (Warren Schmidt) — lost to Adrien Brody (The Pianist). Other nominees: Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York), Michael Caine (The Quiet American), Nicolas Cage (Adaptation) (About Schmidt directed by Alexander Payne)
WON: 1997: As Good as It Gets (Best Actor) (Melvin Udall) — Other nominees: Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting), Dustin Hoffman (Wag the Dog), Robert Duvall (The Apostle), Peter Fonda (Ulee’s Gold) (Directed by James L. Brooks)
1992: A Few Good Men (Best Supporting Actor) (Col. Nathan R. Jessep) — lost to Gene Hackman (Unforgiven). Other nominees: Al Pacino (Glengarry Glen Ross), David Paymer (Mr. Saturday Night), Jaye Davidson (The Crying Game) (Directed by Rob Reiner)
1987: Ironweed (Best Actor) (Francis Phelan) — lost to Michael Douglas (Wall Street). Other nominees: William Hurt (Broadcast News), Robin Williams (Good Morning, Vietnam), Marcello Mastroianni (Dark Eyes) (Directed by Héctor Babenco)
1985: Prizzi’s Honor (Best Actor) (Charley Partanna) — lost to William Hurt (Kiss of the Spider Woman). Other nominees: Harrison Ford (Witness), Jon Voight (Runaway Train), James Garner (Murphy’s Romance) (Directed by John Huston)
WON: 1983: Terms of Endearment (Best Supporting Actor) (Garrett Breedlove) — Other nominees: John Lithgow (Terms of Endearment), Sam Shepard (The Right Stuff), Rip Torn (Cross Creek), Charles Durning (To Be or Not to Be) (Directed by James L. Brooks)
1981: Reds (Best Supporting Actor) (Eugene O’Neill) — lost to John Gielgud (Arthur). Other nominees: Ian Holm (Chariots of Fire), Howard E. Rollins Jr. (Ragtime), James Coco (Only When I Laugh) (Directed by Warren Beatty)
WON: 1975: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (Best Actor) (R.P. McMurphy) — Other nominees: Al Pacino (Dog Day Afternoon), Maximilian Schell (The Man in the Glass Booth), Walter Matthau (The Sunshine Boys), James Whitmore (Give ’em Hell, Harry!) (Directed by Miloš Forman)
1974: Chinatown (Best Actor) (J.J. Gittes) — lost to Art Carney (Harry and Tonto). Other nominees: Al Pacino (The Godfather, Part II), Dustin Hoffman (Lenny), Albert Finney (Murder on the Orient Express) (Directed by Roman Polanski)
1973: The Last Detail (Best Actor) (Buddusky) — lost to Jack Lemmon (Save the Tiger). Other nominees: Al Pacino (Serpico), Marlon Brando (Last Tango in Paris), Robert Redford (The Sting) (Directed by Hal Ashby)
1970: Five Easy Pieces (Best Actor) (Robert Eroica Dupea) — lost to George C. Scott (Patton). Other nominees: James Earl Jones (The Great White Hope), Ryan O’Neal (Love Story), Melvyn Douglas (I Never Sang for My Father) (Directed by Bob Rafelson)
1969: Easy Rider (Best Supporting Actor) (George Hanson) — lost to Gig Young (They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?). Other nominees: Elliott Gould (Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice), Rupert Crosse (The Reivers), Anthony Quayle (Anne of the Thousand Days) (Directed by Dennis Hopper)
