The shocking truth came to light in 1974, during the premiere of “Chinatown”, when a reporter from TIME magazine informed him of the real story.
According to the journalist, he had spoken with a man who claimed to be Nicholson’s father — a revelation that startled the actor, who had long believed his father was dead. Though skeptical at first, Nicholson began his own investigation to uncover the truth.
What he found was devastating. Ethel May, the woman he believed to be his mother, was in fact his grandmother — and she had already passed away. June, the woman he thought was his sister, was actually his biological mother, who had also died years earlier. The truth was eventually confirmed by one of Nicholson’s aunts and another relative.
“I was shocked. I never expected to hear something like that,” Nicholson later said in a 1997 interview. “It was June’s sister — my aunt — who admitted the truth.”
June had become pregnant at a young age, unmarried, and uncertain about the identity of the father. At the same time, she dreamed of pursuing an acting career in Hollywood. Unable to raise a child and unwilling to have an abortion, she and her parents agreed that they would raise Jack as their own son, while June would be presented as his sister.
When Nicholson was born, Ethel May introduced him to the world as her child, hoping to protect both him and June from social stigma.
Despite the painful revelation, the actor later reflected on the story with grace and acceptance:
“It’s a dramatic thing to discover, no doubt,” he said. “But it didn’t scar me. After so many years, I finally learned who my real mother was — and I’ve made peace with it. It actually helped me understand my past. If anything, I’m grateful.”
June passed away from cancer in 1963, when Nicholson was 26 years old.
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