When one thinks of the memorable people in the genre of horror, one of the names that comes to mind is Jack Nicholson. From his unforgettable role in The Shining to his unmatched portrayal of The Joker in Batman, Nicholson set a standard for unhinged and terrifying acting performances. Now, years later, his son Ray Nicholson is slashing out his own place in the horror genre. Being the son of such an iconic actor, Nicholson is uniquely positioned to follow his own path in the world of horror and thrillers.
One of Ray Nicholson’s big horror movie debuts was Smile 2 directed by Parker Finn. An article released by People shares that the audience noticed Nicholson’s grin in the movie that is strikingly familiar and just as eerie as his father’s.
The director of Smile 2, Finn, also is a massive fan of the shining. He shares with Entertainment Daily, “Of course, Jack Nicholson is one of my favorite actors of all time. I love that Ray has very strong genes, and his smile, instantly, I was like, “Oh my God, it’s like looking at a young Jack.”
One of the first things that fans notice when watching Ray on screen is the shockingly similar resemblance to Jack. As a viewer, Jessica Persaud says, “I honestly didn’t even know that was Jack Nicholson’s son. And I remember saying wow he looks crazy similar to Jack Nicholson. Once I realized I was onto something and it actually was Jack Nicholson’s son, it was so cool getting to see sort of now his son taking a lead, and following in his dad’s footsteps with these roles in horror.” Ray’s ability to capture such eerie energy on screen keeps him captivating— it is the same energy that made his father a known legend in horror. It is thrilling for the audience to see that reflection between both of them.
Ray’s most recent role in a comedy horror Borderline left a mix of screams and laughs. Persaud shared how she remembers “Watching Borderline and thinking: wow this is really good. It’s been a long time since I watched a good comedy horror. And the fact that it was also with Jack Nicholson’s son speaks volume. I know he’s gonna have a very successful career ahead of him, and I hope to see him in more horror.”
Ray’s growing body of work is building him a solid foundation, but horror is where he seems to shine. He is making an unforgettable mark that is not just with his resemblance to his father, but also his efficiency to create such unforgettable performances with such intensity and drive. Ray proves that he may be his fathers son, but he is his own actor who has a promising future ahead.
