Michael Douglas and Jack Nicholson never shared the screen, yet their bond has lasted for decades. Douglas has spoken about his friend again, and what he said is both reassuring and a little wistful for fans.

“I Still See Him”

At a promotional event for his memoir in Swansea, Wales, Douglas gave an update on Nicholson. He said Nicholson no longer works, is doing well, and has withdrawn from public life. Douglas added that he still visits his friend. He described Nicholson spending his days near his home in his slippers, and said he deserves the rest. Douglas also noted that Nicholson is a few years older than he is, so he understands the choice.

Nicholson is now 89. His last film appearance was in 2010’s How Do You Know, and he is rarely seen in public. Douglas’s comments effectively shut down talk of a comeback.

The Film That Connects Them

The link between the two men is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975). Douglas produced the film after getting the rights to Ken Kesey’s novel from his father, Kirk, and the role earned Nicholson his first Oscar. The film brought both men their first Academy Awards: Nicholson for Best Actor, and Douglas as a producer of the Best Picture winner.

Telling His Father No

The most human part of the story is inside the Douglas family. Kirk Douglas had starred in the stage version and wanted the lead in the film too, but Michael told him they needed a younger actor. Douglas has said that telling his father was simply his job.

Kirk came around once the film succeeded. He wrote Nicholson a note praising his performance, and because Michael had given him half his producing deal, Kirk said it earned him more than any film he had acted in. It also became a family running joke that Kirk’s own son hadn’t cast him.

Douglas also admitted he briefly considered playing a small supporting role himself. He held back because it felt presumptuous for a first-time producer, and dropped the idea after Brad Dourif’s strong audition.

Nicholson’s Teasing

There was a lighter side to the friendship too. At a Q&A before a Wall Street screening in New York on January 31, 2026, Douglas said Nicholson used to tease him about his “hair acting.” Douglas says a character’s hair has always mattered to his work, and he would joke back that Nicholson was hardly one to talk.

Closing Thoughts

Nicholson’s absence feels like the end of a Hollywood era. Still, hearing from a close friend that he is healthy and content at home makes the farewell easier to accept. Douglas has said his one regret is that he never got to act alongside Nicholson.