Over a 50-year career, Jack Nicholson became one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors, starring in classics like The Shining, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Terms of Endearment, As Good As It Gets, and The Departed. A three-time Academy Award winner and the most nominated male performer in the acting categories, his achievements are nearly unmatched.
Now, Nicholson’s grandson, Duke Nicholson, is beginning to make a name for himself in Hollywood. Born Duke Norfleet in Los Angeles, he is the son of fashion designer Jennifer Nicholson and pro-surfer Mark Norfleet, and has also been linked romantically to supermodel Bella Hadid. Read on to see what Duke is up to and which other family members are also pursuing acting careers.
Following his grandfather into acting
Like Jack, Duke has stepped into the acting world, with film credits that include Jordan Peele’s 2019 horror hit Us and Nicholas Jarecki’s 2021 drama Crisis. “It wasn’t a big moment, like, ‘I want to be an actor,’” Duke told The Hollywood Reporter. “It was just a gradual thing.”
Initially, Duke wanted to direct, but after appearing in a series of music videos early in his career, he shifted toward acting. He credits Jack Kilmer, Val Kilmer’s son, with introducing him to music video director Grant Singer, known for his work with Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Troye Sivan. Singer cast him in videos for The Dandy Warhols and Slowdive, which eventually led Duke to sign with a manager and start auditioning for film roles.
His breakout role in Us
When Duke auditioned for Us, he didn’t expect to be cast. He submitted a four-page scene from John Carpenter’s original Halloween script and assumed he’d never hear back. “Two months later I got an email—‘You got the role. Don’t cut your hair,’” he recalled.
Peele claims he wasn’t aware of Duke’s famous lineage when casting him. “Duke Nicholson is the carny,” Peele told Hollywood Reporter. “He’s always been the carny.” Still, the legacy of Jack Nicholson’s films left an impression on set. Duke remembered Peele saying, “Have you seen The Shining? You’re my Lloyd,” referencing the film’s bartender character.
Also featured on Lana Del Rey’s album cover
Beyond films, Duke appeared on the cover of Lana Del Rey’s most recent album. “Lana is a friend of mine and she called me and said, ‘Hey, we’re doing the album cover tomorrow. You want to be on it?’” he said. The shoot took place the next day in Marina del Rey with photographer Chuck Grant. Duke admitted he didn’t know why he was chosen but was happy to participate.
Acting runs in the family
Although Duke and his grandfather don’t discuss acting much—preferring to watch sports together—other Nicholsons have followed Jack into Hollywood. Ray Nicholson, Jack’s youngest son, recently starred in the Amazon Prime series Panic and appeared in The Benchwarmers (2006) and last year’s Oscar-winning Promising Young Woman.
Lorraine Nicholson, Jack’s youngest daughter, has also pursued acting, with credits in The Princess Diaries 2 and Soul Surfer. Since 2013, she’s focused on directing short films, including Life Boat, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Duke is clearly the latest generation of Nicholsons to carry on the family tradition in entertainment.
