Hollywood has many strange filming stories, and Jack Nicholson is often part of them. One famous rumour comes from the filming of the horror drama movie The Shining. For many years, people believed that director Stanley Kubrick forced Nicholson to eat only cheese sandwiches during filming. The story claimed this was done to keep Nicholson angry and tense on set.
This rumor became very popular and was shared again and again. It made Kubrick seem very strict and extreme as a director. However, this story is not true.
According to PEOPLE, film historian Lee Unkrich has clearly said that there is no evidence behind the cheese sandwich rumor. Unkrich spent more than 12 years researching The Shining, speaking to cast and crew members and studying behind-the-scenes records. He explained that many Hollywood stories grow bigger over time, even when they are not real.
Unkrich later repeated this in an interview with IndieWire, where he said the sandwich story is a myth. He explained that people enjoy dramatic stories, so they often repeat them without checking facts. In reality, Nicholson was known for liking simple meals. Reports say he enjoyed coffee, juice, and pudding, and he even worked with a personal chef during his career.
Another real and lighter story about Nicholson comes from actor Michael Douglas. According to Entertainment Weekly, Douglas recently shared a funny memory during a Q&A event for the movie Wall Street. He said Nicholson used to tease him for something he jokingly called “hair acting.”
Douglas explained that hairstyles help him understand his characters better. Nicholson would laugh and ask why Douglas cared so much about hair. Douglas joked back that Nicholson himself acted a lot with his hair in famous roles like Batman and As Good as It Gets.
Douglas made it clear that the teasing was friendly and full of respect. Even though the two actors were close friends, they never acted together on screen. However, Douglas did produce One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which starred Nicholson.
These stories show two sides of Hollywood. Some famous filming tales turn out to be false, while real memories remind fans that even legendary actors enjoy humor, friendship, and honest moments behind the camera.