Jack Nicholson’s daughter opens up about her distant relationship with her father, revealing he has little interest in maintaining a connection with her.
Tessa Gourin, 28, was born in 1994 after her mother Janine had a brief affair with the iconic actor, now 85, known for his roles in films like “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”. Despite Nicholson’s apparent reclusiveness, Gourin’s paternity has been widely speculated in Hollywood circles.
Raised by her mother on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Gourin attended private schools reportedly funded by her famous father. However, despite occasional financial support, Nicholson has had no contact with Gourin for many years.
“I grew up in a very complex situation, with my mother ensuring I didn’t reveal my father’s identity,” Gourin revealed in an interview. “Although he’s powerful and wealthy, it felt like I was living a life akin to Orphan Annie’s.”
Acknowledged as Nicholson’s “illegitimate” daughter, Gourin admitted to lacking a deep understanding of her father. “My mother encouraged me to establish a bond with him, but he declined,” she explained.
When pressed for reasons behind Nicholson’s disinterest, Gourin confessed, “I’ve never received a clear answer.” Despite this, she surmised, “He’s a complex individual, and my mother battles her own demons. I became collateral damage in their struggles.”
Despite the strained relationship, Gourin sees echoes of her father’s traits within herself. “I’m unconventional,” she admitted. “My mental health isn’t textbook, which I attribute to him, based on what I’ve learned.”
She shares Nicholson’s passion for acting and is now earnestly pursuing a career in the film industry, despite previous reservations. “I feared being judged or accused of leveraging his fame,” she confessed. “But since he doesn’t want me in his life, why not pursue my own path?”
Recently, the aspiring actress had a change of heart and expressed her sentiments in an essay for Newsweek titled: “I’m Jack Nicholson’s Daughter — I Wish People Could Call Me a Nepo Baby.”
“Growing up without my father, I’ve observed with frustration as other celebrity offspring effortlessly land roles or secure representation with top agencies,” Gourin conveyed in her essay. “More recently, I’ve become increasingly exasperated by what I perceive as a missed opportunity for these ‘nepo babies’ to embrace their privilege instead of lamenting it.”
Nicholson, now leading a reclusive life in Hollywood, hasn’t appeared in a film since the 2010 romcom “How Do You Know”. He has at least five other children with four different women, some of whom have also pursued acting careers.
Among them, Nicholson shares a daughter, Jennifer Nicholson, 59, with ex-wife Sandra Knight.
He is also the father of Lorraine Nicholson, 32, and Ray Nicholson, 30, with former girlfriend Rebecca Broussard. Both Lorraine and Ray, aspiring actors themselves, have often been spotted courtside with their father at LA Lakers basketball games.
Additionally, Nicholson is acknowledged to have two more children from previous relationships.
He has a son, Caleb Goddard, 53, with his “Five Easy Pieces” co-star Susan Anspach. However, Nicholson didn’t publicly confirm Caleb’s paternity until he was 28 years old.
The actor also fathered Honey Hollman, 41, during a brief affair with Danish model Winnie Hollman. Similar to Gourin, Nicholson hasn’t publicly acknowledged his relationship with Honey as her father.
This story was initially featured on Page Six and is shared here with permission.
