Jack Nicholson’s life-changing first acid trip allowed him to see the face of God
Stories of the wild life of Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson stretch out as far as the eye can see. The notorious actor was as celebrated for his acting talent as he was for his off-set antics.
Those antics weren’t reserved for any particular person or situation, but they almost always involved narcotics, including the time he allegedly once offered HRH Princess Margaret a line of cocaine. But when Nicholson crossed paths with one drug, in particular, it would completely change his life.
Jack Nicholson arrived in Hollywood in 1954 alongside his sister, June. With him, he brought an unquenchable thirst for the limelight and an extraordinary talent for acting. He quickly began to assimilate himself into the culture and worked a number of runner jobs at different studios.
It was there that he could watch and study countless auditions before his very eyes, something the actor says removed a lot of his preconceptions of stars. In California, as the 1060s began to fully take shape, Nicholson and his actor buddies Harry Dean Stanton and Bruce Dern began to experiment with drugs. Namely, cocaine, marijuana and LSD.
Nicholson has never been afraid of drugs and their mood-altering ability. In fact, most of the time, he has revelled in it, shared the notion vicariously and even partaken in hallucinatory drugs while rafting with his kids. But while cocaine and marijuana played significant parts in his hedonistic 1970s and ’80s, it was one acid trip that sent Nicholson on his legendary path.
Of course, Nicholson’s career during this period is the stuff of legend. He delivered a string of unforgettable performances in films like Chinatown in 1974, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest a year later, and The Shining in 1980. Known for his method acting and ability to delve deep into complex characters, Nicholson’s roles often mirrored his off-screen intensity. From there, his bad-boy Hollywood persona would only evolve.
Nicholson’s penchant for partying is on the edge of legendary. His home in the Hollywood Hills became a hub for the rich and famous, known for wild, star-studded gatherings. Stories of his escapades, from late-night poker games to debaucherous parties, are part of Hollywood lore—and it is here that most of the actor’s infamous dabbles with mind-altering substances would take place.
According to Marc Eliot’s memoir Nicholson, LSD was an integral experience for the acclaimed actor. “Jack’s experiences with the drug were life-changing,” he wrote. “He believed after taking it the first time that he had seen the face of God. He also had castration fantasies, homoerotic fantasies, and revelations about not being wanted as an infant.” In summary, it opened his mind.
Soon enough, the drugs became less recreational and more habitual, with the star even naming his different quality of drugs “upstairs” and “downstairs” drugs. The “upstairs” batch was reserved for friends and lovers, while the “downstairs” drugs were kept for guests. The narcotics would begin to weigh heavily on the man’s career and health, yet it has never seemingly deterred Nicholson.
Perhaps because his attitude has always stayed the same towards his own control over the drugs, or maybe it’s because one acid trip changed his life forever. Either way, for good or for bad, without Jack Nicholson taking that trip, we would never have seen such a vibrant legend.
