Michael Douglas Opens up About Jack Nicholson Teasing His Acting Style

Michael Douglas has had a long and legendary career, and now he can look back and laugh at even the toughest critiques—from fellow icons like Jack Nicholson. During a recent screening of his 1987 classic Wall Street, the 81-year-old actor shared that Nicholson used to make fun of a very specific part of his acting.

Douglas said Nicholson would tease him about his “hair acting,” joking about how much his hairstyles seemed to shape his performances. Douglas doesn’t mind the label at all. He explained that hair has always been a big part of how he brings a character to life.

“It’s funny how something like that helps you find a role,” he said. For example, he took inspiration from NBA coach Pat Riley’s slicked-back style to create the sharp, lizard-like look of Gordon Gekko.

He also remembered when Nicholson first joked about his “Anglo-afro perm” in Black Rain. Douglas just shot back that Nicholson always acts with his hair, too. From the flat-top in Falling Down to all the wigs and styles he’s worn over six decades, Douglas says hair often helps him define a character’s identity.

Douglas and Nicholson have been close friends for over fifty years. They never starred together in a film, but they worked as producer and star on One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, building a bond that allows for honest teasing—even about a haircut.

These days, Douglas is taking it slower. After finishing the Apple TV+ miniseries Franklin, he stepped back from acting. “I didn’t want to be one of those actors who work until they drop,” he said. He avoids the word retired, leaving the door open for special projects, but he’s mainly enjoying family life and being a grandfather.

Fans still got to see him recently in the 2025 family drama Looking Through Water. He starred alongside his son, Cameron Douglas, in a story about a father and son reconnecting during a fishing tournament.

The film was a meaningful moment for the Douglas acting family. He also marked the 50th anniversary of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with a new 4K release of the film he helped produce.

Even if his “hair acting” is on pause, Douglas stays active online, sharing updates about his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their children. He joked recently that his golf game is improving and that he’s happy letting his wife take the spotlight while he enjoys his time off.

Do you think Michael Douglas’s “hair acting” was really key to his success in movies like Wall Street, or was Jack Nicholson right to tease him about it? Share your thoughts in the comments.