Jack Nicholson Wins Best Actor: 1976 Oscars

Art Carney presents the Best Actor Oscar® to Jack Nicholson for his performance in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" - 48th Annual Academy Awards in 1976.

[@luckyducki]

GOD he looks so badass

[@retrobro5299]

Ceren Barut That's because he is

[@sassybutthole6640]

hhhk20 How the fuck was that overweight ? What’s your definition of overweight ?

[@Wonder7771]

@hhhk20 Overweight??? Wtf.

[@fluorosco]

He is

[@zincirlemereaksiyon4087]

ceren sen hayırdır buralardasın?

[@olegyefremov2583]

You fooled em, chief. You fooled em all

[@sloop3720]

Oleg Yefremov This comment made me sad for some reason

[@dr.juerdotitsgo5119]

That comment made my day

[@anantambisht4895]

Yess

[@mikeluke9404]

@@anantambisht4895 the greatest movie ever made! Juicy fruit, stay safe and steer clear of that nurse, she's something of a c... doc.

[@anantambisht4895]

@@mikeluke9404 what??

[@miasauce]

Look at that man. Look at his charm. He's a ladies man. He was something special in this film. Deserved a thousand oscars

[@uncreativelynamedchannel5887]

Um... pretty sure he made over 1000 dollars on the film.

[@erica5624]

Uncreatively Named Channel what’s that got to do with what they said...

[@mousepig]

A true American badass. Him and Hopper

[@Cortanasboyfriend]

He’s not a ladies man, he’s a man’s man...not in a gay way. I mean that he has a lot of dignity and class, and doesn’t pander to women.

[@cynthiadavid8014]

Love that jack Nicholson he rocks

[@MCO18]

Nicholson even wore shades to the Oscars way back then, lol

[@johnsmith-bq9ig]

+Max Power Jack Nicholson just oozes coolness.

[@colt4667]

+Max Power I'm sure that's a manifestation of deep-seated insecurity.

[@TheChannelTV-bt8em]

+randall williams Whose?

[@papahai9591]

+randall williams or maybe he just doesn't wanna make eye contact with anybody or be bothered

[@colt4667]

PapaHai I have an impression of him that if you were his next door neighbor and you waved to him he would not wave back. He would ignore you. He thinks he's too cool for everyone else.

[@hjarten]

This really is the role he was born to play. Perfect fit.

[@kristoscan]

handmade. no one could touch him. look at his competitors that day.

[@Ion948]

kris s Al Pacino was very good in Dog day afternoon / bunt Jack deserved this 100%

[@hjarten]

Marandici Ion I never understood why John Hurt did not win Oscar for Elephant Man. Then I see, that year, Oscar went to DeNiro for Raging Bull, the roll he was born to play.

[@Aman-nk5uq]

John Hurt lost to the best performance ever seen on screen. To the best American actor, Robert de Niro.

[@MlleVB]

hjarten he was born for all films he did

[@tomada36]

Pacino was SO good in 'Dog Day Afternoon', but he had the misfortune of going up against Nicholson that year

[@sahiljagtap1958]

Was Nicholson really that legendary?

[@garytelford7897]

@@sahiljagtap1958 I think if you do your homework you will find that, yes, he indisputebly was.

[@savage_skirt5386]

...and the year before

[@jesstube6466]

Sahil Jagtap he’s the greatest actor of all time

[@teresacastro1263]

@@sahiljagtap1958 In this role yes. The award was his, well deserved.

[@backpackingireland8624]

One Flew Over is one of the finest stories ever told . Absolute masterpiece

[@JCStorm76]

The very finest

[@StudMacher96]

Depressing for some but I disagree

[@godisreality7014]

Its the truth about where we "live".

[@HoldenNY22]

It was a Novel before it was a Movie. With Ken Kesey and the novel he wrote, there would have been no Movie with Jack Nicolson. I do find it funny and sad that heither Jack nor Louise Lasser when she won Best Actress for playing Nurse Ratched ever Thanked Ken Kesey for writing the book.

[@valerietomsic8454]

Boyfriend almost had to carry me out of the theater when we saw it way back then....I was crying so badly about the nurse Ratchett scene.

[@stijnvandamme76]

his facial expressions even when accepting an award, he's got more range in his face then many actors have in their entire body

[@zsb707]

👍😊

[@jesseowenvillamor6348]

Than, not then

[@frankpo123456789]

He scares me in the good way.

[@caylin20]

Oh yes he does! Exactly how I feel about him.

[@KalleJularbo]

Gotta love ol´Jack. He is surely the king of cool.

[@johnsmith-bq9ig]

+kalle jularbo Even some of the best actors look lame comparatively. Jack is just cool.

[@geekay1349]

sorry, that was Steve McQueen

[@hood6089]

@@geekay1349 nope, that was jack nicholson

[@nerktwin]

Jack is one of those kind of men who isn't traditionally attractive, yet is extremely attractive due to his charm. This man oozes coolness and class, I have massive respect for him.

[@immanuelcunt7296]

Other than his balding how is he not traditionally attractive?

[@Remhad]

He’s extremely attractive to me, so 🤷‍♀️

[@mishtaromaniello8295]

Might have to do with the era he's from- modern male beauty standards are different than they were back then, but Jack is definitely a good looking dude.

[@irada20]

What an attractive man!

[@TOM15555555]

What he is I guess back in the day he was the best actor after Clint Eastwood and Kirk Douglas and Jack Lemmon and Walter Mathew and others like Samuel Jackson

[@gregdark5203]

Jack Nicholson always looks like he's having more fun than anyone else in the room.

[@lemorab1]

And he probably is!! This is the secret ingredient to his personality.

[@StudMacher96]

The key is to be yourself and not care what others think

[@scrapplepig]

That's a great line.

[@voiceguy3635]

The talent and movie quality of the 60s and 70s was monumental.The presenters were amazing as well.

[@bernaldelcastillo1768]

THE GREATEST ACTOR OF ALL TIME, FOLLOWED BY BRANDO, AL PACINO AND DE NIRO

[@MrGabeanator]

William Willberforce wow clash of the titans

[@kevinindublin]

William Willberforce Some offbeat choices there.

[@MrGabeanator]

kevinindublin how so

[@nissenfestivalen8814]

+William Willberforce More accurate would be Marlon Brando, Spencer Tracy, and Laurence Olivier

[@MrGabeanator]

+Nissen festivalen wow

[@frannyzooey11]

That smile, those shades and that wonderful sense of humor. Bravo Jack !

[@Batman1989King]

Out of Jack Nicholson's Oscar Wins between One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Terms of Endearment, and As Good as it Gets, I like his win for Cuckoo's Nest better! He's more iconic as Randle McMurphy!

[@dinodimichele7789]

Batman1989King i

[@zapkvr]

Iconic as in religious? Hmmm

[@ellenbello4906]

The shining :)

[@waynej2608]

He's basically playing a slight variation of his character in The Last Detail, which is a better film. Imho. Pacino should've got it.

[@BishopWalters12]

@@waynej2608 No, Jack deserved it but Pacino deserved 2 without question in the 70's, The Godfather part 2 and Serpico.

[@barryrichman9424]

Coolest guy in Hollywood !!!

[@M.EngelhART]

Sean Connery Was There? :-)

[@Nichwar19]

@@M.EngelhART both of them

[@M.EngelhART]

@@Nichwar19 Sean Was More Untouchable.

[@47imagine]

No way. That's Steve Guttenburg.

[@torqingheads]

1976 a much greater time to be alive.

[@m.e.d.7997]

Yup

[@sweetpain8277]

Goddamn right, Jesus!

[@markokrunic3887]

VERY TRUE

[@onomedeleealan3084]

2016 too :(

[@skye7518]

Only if you are white...

[@zzyyxxo]

but Al Pacino deserved this honor too. His work in Dog Day Afternoon is astonishing.

[@mostafaaskari1543]

actually

[@FreakieFan]

agreed, it's his best performance

[@melquizedec]

it was good...but no Great

[@sepid9778]

Ikr.. hes deserved this more than Nicholson

[@deerheart87]

Def

[@cathycartee4180]

I love that he thanked Mary Pickford. That was a class move. And his tribute to Art Carney was lovely!

[@cynthiaennis3107]

I almost didn’t catch that tribute to Art Carney! I’m glad I read your comment! 😊 Thank you. Agreed!

[@scarredk0]

@@cynthiaennis3107 may you explain to me the tribute to art carney?

[@mattm6580]

​@@scarredk0 When he walked on stage he mimicked the way Carney walked on the Honeymooners

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

Jack's one of those superstars who has always been there for audiences, like an old friend. He's more than just a great performing artist, he's been a touchstone and force of nature to millions of boys and girls, men and women. We love you Jack!

[@dublinboyo]

I was an usher at the 1984 Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion the year he was nominated and won Best Supporting Actor for "Terms of Endearment." I showed Jack to his seat, wished him "Good Luck" and offered him a handshake - which he was happy to shake, telling me "Thank You." A class act and as cool as never before. It was a moment I'll never forget.

[@lilchaos4792]

What a memory!

[@Daniel-sh3os]

Yeah, another pretentious actor might have said, "Are you talking to me".

[@zachhaywood1564]

Awesome story! Thanks for sharing!

[@KungaMatata]

I wish he won for Chinatown and The Shining. Those are two of his prime films, in my opinion. I also kinda wish Pacino won this one.

[@muhammadnasser4612]

Chinatown won 11 oscars but i dont know if he was among the winners list

[@TheChannelTV-bt8em]

+Muhammad Al hussain No, Chinatown was nominated for 11 Oscars. It won only one for Robert Towne's brilliant original screenplay, one of the most deserving ever awarded in that category. Not a great Nicholson fan myself, but he and Dunaway were a truly memorable team in that movie.

[@TheChannelTV-bt8em]

+Kunga Sagar Chinatown definitely. Shining no way. But I'm on your side about Pacino. Dog Day is still the performance of his entire career.

[@janeeinglethorpe2321]

For The Shining NO WAY. De Niro won that year for Raging Bull and I think that's the greatest performence by an actor in a leading role. But I agree for Chinatown, even tho Pacino was amazing in Godfather 2 and I do think Nicholson deserved to win an Oscar for this more than Pacino, but it's really close.

[@rocknrolsen]

agreed

[@miriamuSama]

THIS FILM IS AWESOME, I TRULY ENJOYED IT AND KEPT TALKING ABOUT IT FOR WEEKS. I used to work at a psychiatric hospital at that time and was allowed to show this to the patients and crew: we had a blast of a night, it was really great !!

[@FilzSkillz]

Having read the book first, I found the movie a pale comparison, very average and over-hyped. You should definitely read the book.

[@acemachine26]

Maybe if you watched the movie before you read the book you'd have loved it. Its all about perspective.

[@vrushankrrao879]

@@acemachine26 Same goes with The Shining!

[@jketcham9004]

Girl Interupted was also pretty good film about mental illness.

[@scottbrandts610]

My hero! Nothing ever makes Jack a dull boy!!!

[@MrAkashvj96]

Well deserved but Al Pacino too deserves a lot of credit for his performance.

[@AYS-pv7vn]

Jack Nicholson was damn near perfection back then acting was second to none, amazing voice, sense of humour and handsome. Still one of the best actors and funny, but not so much good looking anymore.

[@badi1072]

He's 77 years old. What do you expect?

[@jamesart9]

Bidhan A Well . . . there are some 77 year olds who have kept themselves looking mighty fine. He may have indulged his lifestyle a wee bit over the years, but if he were to trim down again I imagine he would look pretty good again.

[@jamesart9]

Ha, ha, he does look fine for the life he has lived. I am saying that if he had looked after his diet, weight and exercise he would be looking even better.. And I have seen and met some mighty fit and young looking 70+year olds. Considering Jack had the goods to start with if he had REALLY taken care of himself he woul look amazing.

[@newjerseyjustin]

it doesn't matter about now he will live forever, he is immortal. He will always be young.

[@sameerhafeez7029]

newjerseyjustin NO ONE IS IMMORTAL EVERYONE WILL DIE SOME DAY , I REMEMBER PEOPLE USED TO SAY HEATH LEDGER WILL LIVE FOR EVER BUT WHAT HAPPENED HE DIED AT A VERY EARLY AGE !

[@GetToDaChoppa-k5r]

Pacino would have bagged that Oscar if Jack wasn't so unbelievably brilliant in Cuckoo's nest!

[@alwashington8364]

@Girl With A Vengeance let's just face it the academy don't really care for Al, he has about seven noms but only won for scent of a woman. Don't get me wrong he was good but not great.

[@alwashington8364]

@Girl With A Vengeancehe EARNED THOSE NOMINATIONS

[@rajeakhan9503]

Actors back then were so classy❤

[@AngelaShrum]

I find him and his voice so attractive. And my God is he talented!

[@pandasfirst]

Angela Shrum same

[@euphoriaggaminghd]

Well that was 46 years ago

[@myctnd6226]

Same here!

[@myctnd6226]

@@euphoriaggaminghd his voice always attractive.

[@sirfijoe450]

Jack must be using some sort of sorcery because women love him.

[@bneale]

Forty-five years ago! God I remember rooting for Jack that night. Now look at us...well into our 70s

[@jacknicholson5863]

An OG, thanks for your love and support, I really do appreciate. 💙💙💙

[@lilchaos4792]

Awesome

[@argustuft2394]

Hear the cheer when it was announced? Everyone in that room knew he deserved to win for one of the greatest English-speaking performances in movie history. Louise Fletcher deservedly won Best Actress as well for playing a character who is utterly evil but is even more terrifying because she genuinely believes she is doing good. A great picture that will stand the test for all time.

[@luzoliveira9920]

Gosh. His charm is something else.

[@Myview246]

Even the way he walks is epic

[@beautifulgirl425]

Jack has a permanent "I will beat the living shit out of you" look on his face. He is awesome.

[@Octobersown_1019]

Jack Nicholson was smooth AF!

[@peterj5083]

R.I.P Louise Fletcher. September 23, 2022.

[@FMichael101]

I swear nicholsonsa always wearing sunglasses at the oscars what a beast

[@mortimer1976]

Nicholson's performance in this movie is one of the greatest of all time, in my opinion.

[@samuelmorse784]

Nicholson is better in Chinatown, Carnal knowledge, and Five Easy Pieces.

[@cicerodiello1]

Jack sure did deserve a percentage of the pictures he was in. I watch films because Jack’s in them. Whatever deal he struck for Batman was clever and he knew that people were going to see HIM. Thank you Jack,

[@goingupandupandup]

Here's Johnny!!!

[@proxkei2266]

looking for me?

[@mishtaromaniello8295]

Awesome speech. Humorous, honest, humble, short, sweet, and cool. That’s Jack Nicholson for you.

[@racheleustace9710]

Oh he was so handsome you could just look at that smile all day

[@egglady]

Listen to how loudly they clap when Jack won. Everyone knew he was going to win it.

[@donalddude7568]

Al Pacino's reaction is amazing.

[@laylarebecca12]

😂

[@TheTerryE]

I love the way Nicholson salutes Art Carney's Norton character by doing his signature move when he gets up on stage. Fantastic!

[@ajdc88]

oh my gosh thank you for pointing that out, haha

[@jaybrown4526]

AWESOME how he mentions Brad Dourif in his thanks. Much respect to a brilliant up and coming young actor who would go on to become an icon himself.

[@gpk1027]

Love Art Carney !

[@mgmegt5920]

He went to my high school! Our theatre is named after him.

[@nakulbhardwaj9951]

From classy oscar moments to slapping on the face oscar moments, look how far we have come in hollywood.

[@JonathanAGarrett]

The '74 Oscars had a streaker run across the stage naked.

[@JoseHerrera-vs8nv]

How far we've come , more like how far we've FALLEN !

[@Black_Theme]

What a smile of Nicholson 0:16😂😂

[@vahdz09]

Best actor ever, sorry

[@Aman-nk5uq]

Nope. False opinion.

[@scifinerd17]

Aman It’s not false because an opinion can’t be false, an opinion is an opinion and that’s fact.

[@nikidon99]

Aman it's subjective. Each person had a different opinion.

[@officialgoogleyoutube]

The "sorry" is a pretty smug thing to add. Do you actively want hate?

[@molehansman247]

@@scifinerd17 In my opinion, the sun is made of milk duds

[@chariazmatic]

DAMN!! That guy oozes awesomeness and charm.

[@Danjoker.]

Some people are cool, but you'll never be Jack Nicholson cool :)

[@dyniaz65]

Jack is one of the only person to make an Oscar moment look like a movie scene, he is just so badass

[@quizmaster85]

That moment when the coolest guy in the room wins an Oscar.

[@braydelaguilasinti4804]

ANJELICA HUSTON BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@MelBee128]

I love seeing him with Anjelica. They were always such a wonderful couple.

[@mariodanielreyesmartinez6995]

who is the girl next to angelica

[@SRLovesPandas1]

@@mariodanielreyesmartinez6995 maybe his child?

[@waynej2608]

@@mariodanielreyesmartinez6995 Jack's daughter, from a previous relationship. I think he f***** up, losing Angelica.

[@gulleyjimson]

@@mariodanielreyesmartinez6995 His daughter, Jennifer.

[@radkid06]

There's something really attractive about Jack here...love the man.

[@JCMcMurphy]

Totally deserved ! An incredible performance !

[@tomaskoptik2021]

"To this day I still do not know if Nicholson is crazy or not". Milos Forman (director) shortly before passing away.

[@YouzTube99]

00:55 Gotta love Jack for doing one of Art's moves on his way to the podium. Art won the previous year (1975) for 'Harry and Tonto' when Jack was nominated for his brilliant performance in 'Chinatown'.

[@viralbuthow000]

The crowd roared not only because it was an outstanding performance but because he had more than paid his dues by that point. Simply put, his fruits were ripe.

[@TheBlackLodger]

Even if he would've won only one Oscar in his lifetime, even though I'm glad he's won more than once, he truly deserved one for his towering role in Cuckoo's Nest. Truly one of the top 10 greatest performances in history.

[@razzledazzle8631]

Back when they won an Oscar for a good movie and being a good actor

[@robindore9582]

He's so cool with glasses I love you Jack Nicolson.

[@jagroopdhillon4516]

This movie is amazing and he made it so. Literally the perfect human being to the part.

[@fever_spike]

Love that little Ed Norton move Jack does when approaching Art Carney at 0:58.

[@lonewolffullmoon]

I love Jack where ever you are and I hope you’re up in the hills off of Mulholland with a beautiful view of the city smoking a cigar drinking a scotch and thinking of the old days of Hollywood cheers!

[@AdAstra34]

Jack Nicholson deserves for every performance an Oscar!

[@pdoll96]

1:31 Angelica Houston was so pretty!

[@m.e.d.7997]

Beautiful!

[@deerheart87]

Not now

[@dabi5144]

She was one of the og Vogue girls.

[@Herman40567]

And he didn't even thank her for putting up with him :/

[@addisonkrupa7809]

Bro I just realized that was her

[@redknight1825]

One of the few in the world who can truly be called a Living Legend

[@hadyamedhat5257]

His face just his face make my heart happy and smile... My favourite actor

[@rahuliiiiii]

Jack Nicholson is a legend! The God of Acting!!!! Jack, your legacy will live on forever

[@Leishmaniasisably]

One of the most deserving awards ever! Seriously, the entire movie was epic, and Jack made it all the better!

[@Shakespearelover1717]

Jack Nicholson had a gift for playing non-traditional characters. Just look at him in The Shining. That was a great film too!!

[@noeldown1952]

Who is that at 1:15 - Anjelica Huston?

[@DTSsince2016]

I love Jack Nicholson's performances!

[@k.g.9860]

Wow,what a man,and what an actor! This movie is one of the best,EVER!!!!Thank you Jack!👍❤

[@RollingOrmond]

Back when the Oscars meant something.

[@ecebaskan3270]

Coolest guy on earth

[@goonercanuck3931]

Greatest actor of the 20th century (along with Gregory Peck, Robert De Niro, and Sean Penn)

[@audioslave001]

And AL Pacino, you don't forget AL, bro... wtf??

[@goonercanuck3931]

Sway true, my bad

[@badi1072]

And Jeff Bridges.

[@alexperfecto1998]

What about Marlon Brando?

[@LOSTEpisodesForFree]

Minus Sean Penn, PLUS Daniel Day - Lewis, Marlon Brando & Laurence Olivier

[@Irishgirl7]

A natural actor!!!! 🥰

[@zthetha]

Ah - if only we could love these people as much as they love themselves.

[@noelio67]

A truly charismatic guy

[@Midnitexowboy]

And those were the days of our lives, when bad things in life seemed so few,those days are all gone now but one thing still true when I look and I find I still love you

[@chriscross4968]

There is No Doubt About It Jack Nicholson is the God Damn BEST!!! He deserved this Oscar so much Good Job Jack

[@benjaminbowman9569]

Jack Nicholson, You are My Idol, Thank You for All the Movie Moments and The Inspiration You have brought me. You are My Hero. And I think of how you would handle an Audition if you were in my place. Thank You!!!!!

[@StopAskingMyName1]

You're welcome, Ben. And now back to my hookers and blow. HAH!

[@austinteutsch]

Never was there a greater delimma of choice between Nicholson and Pacino, both perfect roles. I don't know how they chose the winner it should have been a tie. Striesand and Hepburn in the 60's.

[@andersonmartins2459]

I love jack, he deserves always!

[@sylviemayharrisonmccartney4316]

He's intimidating yet familiar at the same time.

[@Tony-iw8id]

Jack. Our greatest actor and greatest celebrity. One of a kind, often imitated but never duplicated. They broke the mold with this one.

[@NickAndTommyFight]

ROBERT REDFORD, JACK NICHOLSON, AND ROBERT DE NIRO IN THEIR PRIMES??? Why couldn't I have been a young adult in the 1970s. I'm crying.

[@strongwise1255]

you must be really old by now if you want that happened

[@Casandrargentina]

He was looking really good!!!

[@fatima1009]

No contest this year. I guess that was Angelica Houston and his daughter from his first marriage.

[@chariazmatic]

The Greatest actor of all times, without a shadow of a doubt.

[@tomloft2000]

he was the odds on favorite. even the other nominees knew they didn't stand a chance.

[@TD_JR]

Easily one of the greatest American movies ever made. An absolute classic with a legendary cast.

[@pabloortegabofill7292]

This is my all-time favorite movie. Any other film I have seen after Cuckoo´s nest cannot live up to this masterpiece. I also think Mr Nicholson has never delivered a better performance since his sublime Randle Patrick McMurphy's role. An unique moment in show-business history.