Jack Nicholson’s Son Ray Opens Up About His Relationship With Dad: ‘We’re Very Different People’

Jack Nicholson‘s son Ray Nicholson inherited his father’s taste for show business! The actor’s child opened up about the nature of their relationship and their common interests.

“We’re very different people,” Ray, 32, told Deadline in an interview published on Monday, October 14. “I was born in 1992, he was born in 1937. The things that affect me don’t necessarily affect him. Obviously, I love him. He’s my inspiration. I ate dinner with him every night. I studied it, that’s how I learned to be a human being. So, of course we’re gonna be kind of similar.”

The interview took place at the premiere of Ray’s latest film, Smile 2, in which he costars alongside Sosie Bacon, Naomi Scott and Lukas Gage. The horror sequel made some fans nostalgic, as Jack became a horror icon with 1980’s The Shining, and his son is cementing his own legacy in the genre now.

Ray also spoke about his father’s achievements in Hollywood and his extensive resume.

“As far as talking about it, if he ever did tell me something, I probably wouldn’t investigate it for myself because I’d be like, ‘You’re the best, of course, that’s right,’ and it might not work for me,” Ray added. “I love him. He’s also my hero. I’m the luckiest kid in the world.”

Jack, 87, shares Ray and daughter Lorraine Nicholson with actress Rebecca Broussard. He also welcomed daughter Jennifer Nicholson with Sandra Knight, daughter Honey Hollman with Winnie Hollman and daughter Tessa Gourin, whom he has never publicly claimed, with Jennine Gourin.

Jack previously spoke out about Ray’s passions and mindset when he was growing up.

“Ray might not tell you exactly what he’s up to, but once he’s got his mind set on something, he’s gonna stick to it and take care of business, no matter what me or anybody else says,” he told AARP The Magazine in January 2008.

When asked what kind of father he was, Jack said that it was “a divided parenthood” with Ray and Lorraine’s mother.

“We’ve always gotten along. I want to be inspirational, or some kind of good influence on them without overburdening them,” he told the outlet. “It’s their time of life to find out who they are. I always read to them, from childhood on; I think that’s a father’s responsibility.”

“I took them to things I knew they might not love — opera, ballet,” the One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest actor explained. “They like going to the ball games with me. And they are very comfortable around show business; they are good set rats. They walked in on my death scene in The Departed. I said, ‘If I can get these two kids really worried, I’m doin’ my job!’”

Lorraine, who is also an actress, opened up about whether or not her father gives her advice about Hollywood projects.

“He gives me top secret advice,” she told Entertainment Tonight in February 2014. “Obviously I’m not going to share it with anyone, because it gives our family a competitive advantage.”