More than 30 years have passed since the era when Hollywood legends Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston were romantically involved, spanning over 16 years during the '70s and '80s.
While Nicholson has described their relationship as being exceptional, Huston revealed a different perspective in her 2014 memoir “Watch Me,” detailing how Nicholson's well-known infidelity troubled their bond.
Despite enduring his behavior for a period, one particular affair led to the ultimate breakup between them.
Discover the details below.
The Beginnings of Their Relationship
Their paths crossed when she was 21 and he was 36.
Anjelica Huston, the daughter of renowned filmmaker John Huston, had established herself as a successful model in Europe before venturing into acting.
In 1973, she moved to California where she attended a party at Nicholson's residence on Mulholland Drive.
Despite the significant age gap, the pair immediately clicked, spending the night together after dancing the night away.
Huston later moved into Nicholson's home during the filming of “Chinatown,” but she expressed frustration over feeling relegated to the role of being solely arm candy, as conveyed to The Guardian in 2014.
Struggles and Independence
Following a serious car accident in 1980 that necessitated reconstructive surgery on her nose using cartilage from her ear, Huston decided to live independently for the first time, though she continued her relationship with Nicholson.
She delved deeper into her acting career and achieved success by winning the Best Actress Academy Award in 1986 for her performance in “Prizzi's Honor,” a film directed by her father and featuring Nicholson.
The Absence of Marriage and Tax Considerations
Despite their prolonged companionship throughout the '80s and attempts to conceive a child, Nicholson and Huston never tied the knot.
In her memoir, she admitted to contemplating marriage with Nicholson at times, challenging him with statements like, “If you had any guts, you'd marry me.”
However, their discussions around marriage were often met with responses indicating disinterest, with one proposal even speculated to be for tax-related advantages, an idea she found devoid of romance.
Struggles with Infidelity
Seven years into their relationship, Nicholson attributed their success to Huston's supposed willingness to accept his non-monogamous lifestyle.
Although she had her own publicized dalliance with Ryan O'Neal in 1976, Nicholson's numerous liaisons still troubled her, leading her to seek solace from her father early on.
Despite finding evidence of other women at Nicholson's place, Huston acknowledged his discretion despite the scale of his infidelity.
A Shocking Revelation Ends It All
The turning point arrived during Huston's rehearsal for “The Grifters” in 1989 when Nicholson dropped a bombshell over dinner—a revelation about another woman expecting his child.
This news devastated Huston, especially considering her fertility concerns due to endometriosis.
Despite Nicholson's assurance that he didn't want anything to change, Huston made the difficult decision to terminate their relationship on the spot.
Confrontation and Closure
In a fit of rage after reading a provocative story in Playboy involving Nicholson, Huston confronted him at his workplace and physically attacked him.
Recalling the incident, she described aggressively hitting him before ending their tumultuous encounter.
Despite the intense altercation, Nicholson later gifted her a bracelet once owned by Frank Sinatra given to Ava Gardner, accompanied by a note signed by him, signifying a peculiar form of closure.
Aftermath and Moving On
Nicholson went on to have a child with the other woman, Rebecca Broussard, and was subsequently linked with various partners, including Lara Flynn Boyle.
Meanwhile, Huston found love with sculptor Bob Graham, marrying him in 1992 until his passing in 2008.
The saga of their turbulent relationship serves as a reminder of the complexities of love and the trials that come with it.
