Best Supporting Actors Of The Last 25 Years

Also Nominated: Charles Durning, John Lithgow, Sam Shepard, Rip Torn

Jack's role as astronaut Garrett Breedlove was originally written for Burt Reynolds, but when he passed it was offered to James Garner. When he quarrelled with director James L. Brooks, it was offered to Harrison Ford, who felt he was too young to play opposite Shirley MacLaine.

Finally Nicholson took it, and the applause that greeted his name at the Awards justified the Academy's voting and Brooks' eventual casting. His nervous, yet very amusing speech was a highlight of the night.