Jack Nicholson Reaches Out to Anjelica Huston During Wildfires: “It Was Heartbreakingly Sweet”

In a moment that feels ripped straight from the ending of a Hollywood romance, Anjelica Huston has revealed that her former longtime partner, Jack Nicholson, reached out with a deeply touching gesture during the devastating Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year.

Forced to evacuate her ranch in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Huston was taken by surprise when the phone rang—out of nowhere—and it was Jack. Not just calling to check in, but to offer her his home as a place to stay. It was unexpected. It was emotional. And it hit her right in the heart.

“It’s always a comfort when he calls,” Huston said. “It was heartbreakingly sweet. I’ve gone back over it several times in my head, and I think next time I’d accept the invitation.”

The two legendary actors famously dated on and off for nearly two decades, from 1973 until 1990—when Nicholson fathered a child outside the relationship, effectively ending things for good. Huston went on to marry sculptor Robert Graham, but despite the emotional fallout, she and Nicholson never lost their connection.

They don’t see each other often these days, Huston admits—partly because of the chaotic roadwork around his home and partly because, as she puts it, “Life gets in the way.” Still, the bond clearly remains. “Our relationship is important,” she told People.

It’s not the first time the two have shared cinematic space either. Huston, the daughter of directing legend John Huston, starred opposite Nicholson in Prizzi’s Honor, a film directed by her father. The role earned her an Oscar, and the experience, she said, was unforgettable: “The combination of Jack and my father made it really significant. They managed to circumvent all the difficulties, and we triumphed in the end.”

While Nicholson has largely stepped away from the spotlight—his last film was in 2010—he made a rare appearance at SNL50, surprising fans with a heartfelt introduction for longtime friend Adam Sandler. Huston, meanwhile, is still working, set to appear in Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero on BritBox this month.

But no role or red carpet moment will ever capture what that call meant to her. It was simple, human, and deeply sincere. Sometimes, the grandest gestures don’t come with cameras—they come with compassion.