Jack Nicholson’s Rare ‘SNL’ Outing Has ‘People Buzzing’ About ‘One Last Project’ at Age 87

Jack Nicholson had a great time getting out for Saturday Night Live’s 50th Anniversary Special after traveling to NYC from his Hollywood Hills home, which has insiders crossing their fingers the reclusive actor will follow it up with a return to the big screen. 

“It was a huge undertaking for him to do this, he hardly leaves his house, let alone the state,” a source exclusively tells Closer. “It has got everyone very hopeful about the state of his health. There have been a lot of fears circulating about him, largely because he suddenly stopped going out, not even to his beloved Lakers games.”

Even back in 2013 rumors began circulating Jack, 87, was having trouble with his memory and flubbing lines. RadarOnline alleged the Departed actor was being forced to turn down scripts because he “can no longer remember the lines being asked of him,” and that “there is a simple reason behind his decision,” to pull back from acting, “it’s memory loss.” 

Though Jack would directly refute the claims, telling the U.S. Sun he didn’t make the decision to stop working due to waning cognitive ability, but rather a lack of enjoyment and a desire to be away from the Hollywood machine.

“I’m not going to work until the day I die, that’s not why I started this. I mean, I’m not driven,” The Shining actor said. “I was driven — but I’m not, I don’t have to be out there any more. In fact, there’s part of me that never really liked being out there. I learnt how to function within ‘out there’. Then you get older, you change. I mean, I’m not a loner, I’m not a recluse, but I don’t need all that any more. I don’t enjoy it, simple as that.”

In the decade since, more concerns about Jack’s health have cropped up, with a second source previously telling Closer the iconic actor has been “slowing down a lot in recent years, and has “become somewhat of a recluse.”

Though, the first source says his New York appearance “puts some of that chatter to rest, at least to a certain extent.” 

“There’s no denying there is some decline,” the insider admits, “He’s using a cane now and did need some help. But it’s still huge that he’s gotten up the energy to do this. It’s assumed it was for Adam Sandler, they’re very close.”

The Oscar-winner hasn’t acted in a movie since 2010’s How Do You Know and it would seem the only people Jack makes time for any more are close friends and loved ones. In addition to his old friend Adam, he’s regularly in contact with actor son Ray Nicholson, who Closer reported was stepping up to help his ailing dad as the screen legend ages into his 80s. 

“Regardless of why,” Jack decided to step out again, “It’s gotten a lot of people buzzing that maybe he’ll come out of retirement to do one last project.” 

“Even if it’s just a small role, it would be epic for audiences to see him again.”