Have to go with The Shining, but thought he was also a pretty convincing Joker in Batman.

Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Shining and The Last Detail to name a few. Great actor.

Usually just plays Jack, except in About Schmidt and Chinatown. Love him in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, Terms of Endearment (made that one bearable), The Witches of Eastwick, Carnal Knowledge, Easy Rider (slightly different character), and of course A Few Good Men.

Jarheads like me love Col Jessup. "...deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. YOU NEED ME ON THAT WALL!"

Jake Gittes in Chinatown

He always plays the same role: i. e. Jack Nicholson, the smart-ass misfit. A truly great actor might have a couple of different roles.

he was great in a lot of roles. my personal favorite is R.P.MacMurphy in One Flew Over The Cuckooos Nest.

A lot to choose from. Gotta go with McMurphy in Cuckoo's Nest; but I loved COL Jessup in Few Good Men too.

If you ever get a chance, grab a copy of a little remembered film from the early 70's called "The Last Detail". Jack Nicholson play Billy Buddusky, a lifelong navy man who is one of two guys assigned to take Randy Quaid to prison for eight years. It is a wonderful film filled with outstanding performances, including, in my opinion, the best one Nicholson ever gave.

he plays roles that are full of personality and he brings life to them. the shining and one flew over the cuckoos nest are 2 of his best

Pompous jerk who should retire.

This guy is a dynamo; a veritable acting powerhouse. Everything he is in becomes water cooler fodder for days and weeks after its release. Hey, did you catch Jack in ... . Was he good or what? His best film, in my opinion, is One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. Brilliant.

This is tough. He's good in everything. I would have to go with Chinatown and As Good as It Gets.

He was great as Jack Torrence in The Shining.

For all his great roles in all the pictures he appeared, Jack Nicholson was arguably his greatest in 'Chinatown' as Jake Gittes. Today, no one can even imagine any actor playing the wily-yet-naive detective, nor feel the pain and loss Nicholson's Gittes felt at losing Evelyn Mulwray to the inherent corruption of both Noah Cross and the Los Angeles Police Department. Only Nicholson could make this character real to the audience- and thus make this role truly unforgettable.

Col. Nathan Jessup- A Few Good Men.

Warren Schmidt in About Schmidt. Nicholson's best performance. Some people complain that you when you watch Jack Nicholson you are seeing to much of his real persona or just Jack but in About Schmidt he is vulnerable, sincere, lost, depressed and human.