Ray Nicholson Says Dad Jack Nicholson Is 'My Hero': 'I'm the Luckiest Kid in the World'

Mar. 15, 2025

Ray Nicholson and Jack Nicholson.Photo: Marc Patrick/BFA/REX/Shutterstock; Lester Cohen/WireImageJack Nicholson’ssonRay Nicholson grew up studying the famous Oscar winner.On Monday, Oct. 14, Ray, 32, referred to his father Jack, 87, as “my inspiration” as he spoke withDeadlineat the premiere of his new horror movieSmile 2, for which hiseerie smile displayed on posters for the filmdraws a clear comparison to Jack’s iconic grin inThe Shining.“You know, we’re very different people,” Ray, one of Jack’s six kids, told Deadline at the premiere. “I was born in 1992, he was born in 1937. The things that affect me don’t necessarily affect him. Obviously, I love him. He’s my inspiration.“He added, “I ate dinner with him every night. I studied it, that’s how I learned to be a human being. So of course we’re gonna be kind of similar.”“As far as talking about it, if he ever did tell me something, I probably wouldn’t investigate it for myself because I’d be like, ‘You’re the best, of course, that’s right,’ " he added. “And it might not work for me. I love him. He’s also my hero. I’m the luckiest kid in the world, that’s all I would say about it.“Jack Nicholson and Ray Nicholson on May 12, 2023.Kevork Djansezian/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Jack is also dad to Jennifer Nicholson, 60,Caleb Goddard, 52,Honey Hollman, 42,Lorraine Nicholson, 34, andTessa Gourin, 29, whom the actor has been estranged from for most of her life.Jack, known for his roles in movies likeThe Shining,One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s NestandThe Departed, retired from acting in 2010 after making the filmHow Do You Know.Ray has been acting since 2006, when he made his debut inThe Benchwarmers. In recent years, he has appeared in movies likePromising Young Woman,Licorice Pizza,Gonzo GirlandI Love You Forever.Jack Nicholson and Ray Nicholson on Oct. 19, 2021.Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via GettyInSmile 2, a sequel to the 2022 horror hit featuringactors wearing their scariest smiles, Ray costars withNaomi Scott,Lukas Gage,Rosemarie DeWitt, Dylan Gelula and Raúl Castillo, plus returning star Kyle Gallner. The movie follows a pop star (Scott) who begins seeing the same scary faces that tormentSosie Baconthroughout the first film.Smile 2is in theaters Oct. 18.

Ray Nicholson and Jack Nicholson.Photo: Marc Patrick/BFA/REX/Shutterstock; Lester Cohen/WireImage

Jack Nicholson’ssonRay Nicholson grew up studying the famous Oscar winner.On Monday, Oct. 14, Ray, 32, referred to his father Jack, 87, as “my inspiration” as he spoke withDeadlineat the premiere of his new horror movieSmile 2, for which hiseerie smile displayed on posters for the filmdraws a clear comparison to Jack’s iconic grin inThe Shining.“You know, we’re very different people,” Ray, one of Jack’s six kids, told Deadline at the premiere. “I was born in 1992, he was born in 1937. The things that affect me don’t necessarily affect him. Obviously, I love him. He’s my inspiration.“He added, “I ate dinner with him every night. I studied it, that’s how I learned to be a human being. So of course we’re gonna be kind of similar.”“As far as talking about it, if he ever did tell me something, I probably wouldn’t investigate it for myself because I’d be like, ‘You’re the best, of course, that’s right,’ " he added. “And it might not work for me. I love him. He’s also my hero. I’m the luckiest kid in the world, that’s all I would say about it.“Jack Nicholson and Ray Nicholson on May 12, 2023.Kevork Djansezian/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Jack is also dad to Jennifer Nicholson, 60,Caleb Goddard, 52,Honey Hollman, 42,Lorraine Nicholson, 34, andTessa Gourin, 29, whom the actor has been estranged from for most of her life.Jack, known for his roles in movies likeThe Shining,One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s NestandThe Departed, retired from acting in 2010 after making the filmHow Do You Know.Ray has been acting since 2006, when he made his debut inThe Benchwarmers. In recent years, he has appeared in movies likePromising Young Woman,Licorice Pizza,Gonzo GirlandI Love You Forever.Jack Nicholson and Ray Nicholson on Oct. 19, 2021.Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via GettyInSmile 2, a sequel to the 2022 horror hit featuringactors wearing their scariest smiles, Ray costars withNaomi Scott,Lukas Gage,Rosemarie DeWitt, Dylan Gelula and Raúl Castillo, plus returning star Kyle Gallner. The movie follows a pop star (Scott) who begins seeing the same scary faces that tormentSosie Baconthroughout the first film.Smile 2is in theaters Oct. 18.

Jack Nicholson’ssonRay Nicholson grew up studying the famous Oscar winner.

On Monday, Oct. 14, Ray, 32, referred to his father Jack, 87, as “my inspiration” as he spoke withDeadlineat the premiere of his new horror movieSmile 2, for which hiseerie smile displayed on posters for the filmdraws a clear comparison to Jack’s iconic grin inThe Shining.

“You know, we’re very different people,” Ray, one of Jack’s six kids, told Deadline at the premiere. “I was born in 1992, he was born in 1937. The things that affect me don’t necessarily affect him. Obviously, I love him. He’s my inspiration.”

He added, “I ate dinner with him every night. I studied it, that’s how I learned to be a human being. So of course we’re gonna be kind of similar.”

“As far as talking about it, if he ever did tell me something, I probably wouldn’t investigate it for myself because I’d be like, ‘You’re the best, of course, that’s right,’ " he added. “And it might not work for me. I love him. He’s also my hero. I’m the luckiest kid in the world, that’s all I would say about it.”

Jack Nicholson and Ray Nicholson on May 12, 2023.Kevork Djansezian/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Jack is also dad to Jennifer Nicholson, 60,Caleb Goddard, 52,Honey Hollman, 42,Lorraine Nicholson, 34, andTessa Gourin, 29, whom the actor has been estranged from for most of her life.

Jack, known for his roles in movies likeThe Shining,One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s NestandThe Departed, retired from acting in 2010 after making the filmHow Do You Know.

Ray has been acting since 2006, when he made his debut inThe Benchwarmers. In recent years, he has appeared in movies likePromising Young Woman,Licorice Pizza,Gonzo GirlandI Love You Forever.

Jack Nicholson and Ray Nicholson on Oct. 19, 2021.Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty

Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty

InSmile 2, a sequel to the 2022 horror hit featuringactors wearing their scariest smiles, Ray costars withNaomi Scott,Lukas Gage,Rosemarie DeWitt, Dylan Gelula and Raúl Castillo, plus returning star Kyle Gallner. The movie follows a pop star (Scott) who begins seeing the same scary faces that tormentSosie Baconthroughout the first film.

Smile 2is in theaters Oct. 18.

source: people.com