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Jack NicholsonJack Nicholoson is an iconic American film actor, born in 1937 in New Jersey. His career spanned over 50 years playing a wide variety of roles, both as leading man and supporting roles. He received 12 Academy Award nominations, including 3 wins, which makes him the most nominated male actor in history.
His breakthrough role was in Easy Rider, a 1969 film co-starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, resulting in his first Oscar award nomination. In 1970, he was nominated for another Academy Award for his role in Five Easy Pieces. His next big role was as Jake in Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. In 1975, he won his first Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, directed by Milos Forman. He starred in the 1980 film The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick, for which he received critical and audience acclaim, and included the iconic scene with the line “Heere’s Johnny!”.
Nicholson received his second Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Terms of Endearment in 1982, co-starring Shirley Maclaine and Debra Winger. Following a string of hits, including his role as Joker in Batman, he received another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for A Few Good Men. In 1997 he won his third Academy Award, this time for Best Actor, for his starring role in As Good As It Gets. In the 2000’s, he played a series of starring and supporting roles, most notably in The Departed, directed by Martin Scorcese, before “officially” retiring by late 2019.
His breakthrough role was in Easy Rider, a 1969 film co-starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, resulting in his first Oscar award nomination. In 1970, he was nominated for another Academy Award for his role in Five Easy Pieces. His next big role was as Jake in Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. In 1975, he won his first Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, directed by Milos Forman. He starred in the 1980 film The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick, for which he received critical and audience acclaim, and included the iconic scene with the line “Heere’s Johnny!”.
Nicholson received his second Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Terms of Endearment in 1982, co-starring Shirley Maclaine and Debra Winger. Following a string of hits, including his role as Joker in Batman, he received another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for A Few Good Men. In 1997 he won his third Academy Award, this time for Best Actor, for his starring role in As Good As It Gets. In the 2000’s, he played a series of starring and supporting roles, most notably in The Departed, directed by Martin Scorcese, before “officially” retiring by late 2019.
Denzel WashingtonDenzel Washington, born in Mount Vernon, New York, in 1954, is a highly acclaimed actor, director, and producer whose career has spanned over five decades. A renowned name on screen and stage, Washington got his big break with his role on the NBC hospital drama "St. Elsewhere" from 1982 to 1988. He was first nominated for an Academy Award for his acting in the 1987 film "Cry Freedom" and achieved his first Oscar in 1989 for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of an ex-slave soldier in "Glory.".
A frequent Spike Lee collaborator, Washington was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his powerful portrayal of the title role in the 1992 film "Malcolm X". He continued to appear in a string of successes in the 1990s, including "Philadelphia", "The Pelican Brief", and "Crimson Tide". He also received a second Academy Award nomination for his role as wrongly convicted boxer Rubin 'The Hurricane' Carter in "The Hurricane". In 2001, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the thriller "Training Day".
Alongside his movie career, Washington has had a Tony Award for his work on the stage. He won a Tony Award in 2010 for his performances in the August Wilson play "Fences", which he later directed and produced as a film, earning him numerous Academy Award nominations. He has moved on to starring roles, such as the "The Equalizer" film franchise, along with an Academy Award nomination for his lead role in the 2021 film "The Tragedy of Macbeth".
Washington's accolades list has only continued to grow in the last few years. In 2016, he was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes, and in 2020, The New York Times named him the greatest actor of the 21st century. Some of his more recent projects include starring in the 2023 film "The Equalizer 3", and reuniting with Spike Lee for the 2025 film "Highest 2 Lowest". He also appeared in the 2024 film "Gladiator II". He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 2025.
A frequent Spike Lee collaborator, Washington was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his powerful portrayal of the title role in the 1992 film "Malcolm X". He continued to appear in a string of successes in the 1990s, including "Philadelphia", "The Pelican Brief", and "Crimson Tide". He also received a second Academy Award nomination for his role as wrongly convicted boxer Rubin 'The Hurricane' Carter in "The Hurricane". In 2001, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the thriller "Training Day".
Alongside his movie career, Washington has had a Tony Award for his work on the stage. He won a Tony Award in 2010 for his performances in the August Wilson play "Fences", which he later directed and produced as a film, earning him numerous Academy Award nominations. He has moved on to starring roles, such as the "The Equalizer" film franchise, along with an Academy Award nomination for his lead role in the 2021 film "The Tragedy of Macbeth".
Washington's accolades list has only continued to grow in the last few years. In 2016, he was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes, and in 2020, The New York Times named him the greatest actor of the 21st century. Some of his more recent projects include starring in the 2023 film "The Equalizer 3", and reuniting with Spike Lee for the 2025 film "Highest 2 Lowest". He also appeared in the 2024 film "Gladiator II". He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 2025.
