The SNL 50 Special Brought 1 Legendary Actor Out Of Retirement For The First Time In 15 Years

There were plenty of surprises in store for the live audience and at-home viewers alike during the SNL 50th anniversary special, but perhaps the biggest was that it brought one legendary actor out of retirement for his first TV appearance – or any acting appearance – in 15 years. The SNL50 special had a galaxy of celebrity guest stars, from former guest hosts and SNL cast alumni. Joining them and the current cast in the SNL 50th anniversary special were various musical guests, too, which only added to the star power of the night.

And there was certainly plenty of star power to go around. Both the star-studded live audience and the viewers at home were delighted to see beloved Saturday Night Live veterans like Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell steal the show once again in the SNL50 anniversary special. It was incredible to see which A-list actor would pop up next, from Meryl Streep playing Colleen Rafferty’s mother in another “Close Encounter” sketch to Tom Hanks reprising his role of Doug in “Black Jeopardy.” Still, one star eclipsed them all for the few seconds he was on screen.

Jack Nicholson Introduced Adam Sandler During SNL50

The Two Have Been Friends For Decades

Audiences were surprised, even shocked, to see legendary actor Jack Nicholson pop up during the SNL50 special to introduce Adam Sandler’s song segment. In true Jack Nicholson fashion, he kept it short and to the point: “Ladies and gentlemen, Adam Sandler!” he said, who which Sandler gave an enthusiastic reply, “Yeah, baby! Let’s hear it for Jack, baby! Jack made it out tonight! Love you, brother.”

Sandler’s response shows that he also knows it’s incredibly rare to see Jack Nicholson out for anything other than his beloved L.A. Lakers games. However, Sandler is one of the few people who could get Nicholson out these days. Some may be surprised to learn of it, but Sandler and Nicholson have been close friends for decades. The pair are both dedicated Lakers fans and connected through that, but they also starred together in 2003’s Anger Management, and their friendship has been rock-solid ever since. They may seem like an odd couple, but their mutual love and respect were clear enough as Nicholson hyped up his buddy for SNL50.

It’s The First Time Nicholson Has “Acted” Since 2010

His Last Project Was The Movie How Do You Know

Nicholson has long said that he doesn’t consider himself to be officially retired, but he doesn’t exactly feel a need to put himself out there anymore. Reading between the lines, it appears that he, like many actors who have achieved great success in their careers, feels no real need to ever appear on a screen again unless it’s for a project he feels is worth his time – such as introducing his friend for a career milestone. The last time Nicholson acted in anything was in 2010’s How Do You Know, a solid decade and a half ago.

Composite image of Warren Beatty, Jack Nicholson, and Marlon Brando

1 Street Nicknamed “Bad Boy Drive” Shaped Hollywood Forever

A street in Hollywood earned the unofficial nickname “Bad Boy Drive”, due to the exploits of its three rebellious residents, including Jack Nicholson.

That’s why it was so thrilling to see him pop up in the SNL anniversary show. His intro of Sandler was only one line, and it wasn’t exactly acting, but hey, it was the first time we’ve seen the legendary Nicholson on a screen delivering a line with a mark in fifteen years. It was enough to provoke another layer of nostalgia on an already nostalgic night, prompting a walk down memory lane of Jack Nicholson’s best movies. Even those five short words were enough to evoke strains of the powerful charisma lurking in Nicholson’s delivery and remind us of why he’s one of the greatest actors of all time.