Danny DeVito has given an update on his friend and fellow actor Jack Nicholson, who is 88 years old.
The two actors met 50 years ago when making the seminal movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), which won five Oscars, including Best Actor for Nicholson for his turn as rebellious psychiatric hospital patient Randle McMurphy.
It was a breakthrough role for DeVito, 80, and he has remained friends with Nicholson ever since. The pair have appeared in four films together, including Mars Attacks (1996) and Terms of Endearment (1983).
Nicholson unofficially retired from acting in 2010 following his final film How Do You Know, and seldom makes public appearances, preferring to stay out of the public eye.
The actor, however, still makes time for his friends, with DeVito recently telling People magazine: “I just saw Jack a couple weeks ago – it was his birthday a month ago, and he’s great.”
The film that brought them together, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Michael Douglas, who worked as a producer on the movie, revealed to The Associated Press earlier this month that Nicholson did not want to go to the Oscars ceremony at the time.
“I remember how hard I had to persuade Jack to come to the ceremony. He was so reluctant, but we got him there,” said the Basic Instinct star. “And then of course, we lost the first four awards. Jack was sitting right in front of me and sort of leaned back and said ’Oh, Mikey D, Mikey D, I told you, man.’ I just said, ‘Hang in there.’”
Nicholson went on to win his first Academy Award for Best Actor. He won a second in the same category for As Good As It Gets, winning a Best Supporting Actor prize for Terms of Endearment.
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Nicholson has mostly shied away from public life after stepping back from acting, but did make a public appearance at Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary show in February.
The Shining actor was joined by his daughter Rebecca Broussard, 34 and from his seat in the audience, introduced a performance by Adam Sandler, whom he starred with in the 2003 comedy Anger Management.
“Ladies and gentleman, Adam Sandler,” said Nicholson, wearing a New York Yankees beret and purple tinted shades.
“Yeah, baby! Let’s hear it for Jack, baby,” Sandler responded before singing his ballad, an ode to SNL.
In another rare update, Nicholson’s former girlfriend, Anjelica Huston, whom he dated for 17 years, previously revealed that he had checked in on her during the Los Angeles wildfires at the start of 2025.
During the turmoil, Huston recalled receiving a phone call from the actor, who wanted to check on her well-being.
“I was in a car with three dogs, two cats, and the housekeeper, and he called and asked if I was alright and if I had someplace I was staying,” said the 73-year-old.
“That’s the bottom line with he and I – when the chips are down, he’s there.”
