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Rebel: My Life Outside the Lines
The legendary icon tells his story—a tale of art, passion, commitment, addiction, as intense and hypnotic as the man himself.
In a career spanning five decades, Nick Nolte has endured the rites of Hollywood celebrity. Rising from obscurity to leading roles and Oscar nominations, he has been both celebrated and vilified in the media; survived marriages, divorces, and a string of romances; was named the “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine; and suffered public humiliation over his drug and alcohol issues, including a drug-fueled trip down a “long road of nothingness” that ended in arrest.
Despite these ups and downs, Nolte has remained true to the craft he loves, portraying a diverse range of characters with his trademark physicality and indelible gravelly voice. Already 35 when his performance in the 1976 miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man launched him to stardom, Nolte never learned to play by Hollywood’s rules. A rebel who defies expectations, an obsessive method actor who will go to extremes for a role (he lived among the homeless to prepare for Down and Out in Beverly Hills), Nolte is motivated more by edgier, more personal projects than by box office success. Today he is clean yet still driven, juggling a number of upcoming works and raising his young daughter.
A man who refuses to hide his mistakes, Nolte now delivers his most revealing performance yet. His revealing memoir, filled with sixteen pages of color photos, offers a candid, unvarnished close-up look at the man, the career, the loves, and the life.
In a career spanning five decades, Nick Nolte has endured the rites of Hollywood celebrity. Rising from obscurity to leading roles and Oscar nominations, he has been both celebrated and vilified in the media; survived marriages, divorces, and a string of romances; was named the “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine; and suffered public humiliation over his drug and alcohol issues, including a drug-fueled trip down a “long road of nothingness” that ended in arrest.
Despite these ups and downs, Nolte has remained true to the craft he loves, portraying a diverse range of characters with his trademark physicality and indelible gravelly voice. Already 35 when his performance in the 1976 miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man launched him to stardom, Nolte never learned to play by Hollywood’s rules. A rebel who defies expectations, an obsessive method actor who will go to extremes for a role (he lived among the homeless to prepare for Down and Out in Beverly Hills), Nolte is motivated more by edgier, more personal projects than by box office success. Today he is clean yet still driven, juggling a number of upcoming works and raising his young daughter.
A man who refuses to hide his mistakes, Nolte now delivers his most revealing performance yet. His revealing memoir, filled with sixteen pages of color photos, offers a candid, unvarnished close-up look at the man, the career, the loves, and the life.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 23, 2018
62 people are currently reading
592 people want to read
About the author
Nick Nolte
2 books10 followersNick Nolte is an American actor. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards, twice for Best Actor and once for Best Supporting Actor. He won a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his performance in The Prince of Tides.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
December 24, 2018
One of the better celebrity memoirs I've read in a while. Nick appears to be candid about most things in his life and freely admits his rebellious, stubborn, and opinionated streaks.
February 21, 2018
This is essential reading for fans of the legendary actor, but while Nolte does offer some interesting stories and narrative beats about his life and some of his films, the memoir seems to lack the depth I'd anticipated. I suppose when you read a memoir like this you expect to connect with the literature the same way you connect to the films in which the actor played, but it's difficult for an actor generate that kind of tone without truly getting into the painstaking details of the productions. Some actors will attempt to do this with their memoirs, and some will not. Nick Nolte's memoir, unfortunately, is one of those that does not. But I can't say it's not an enjoyable read, and I can't say it isn't like sitting down and having a personal conversation with the actor, because that's exactly how it is. Still, it left me wanting more, and its emptiness is resonating in a regretful way.
February 25, 2020
Nolte writes with the same cadences he speaks with which adds to the authenticity of this memoir. The actor speaks of painful memories of addiction with honesty (regret) and the integrity in which he chooses projects (no regrets). Although the Hollywood anecdotes aren't surprising (Ed Norton sucks; Debra winger is crazy) and the recollections sometimes scattered, this greatest hits made me want to revisit the revisit his great performances (Prince of Tides, Affliction) and discover the early ones I had missed.
February 10, 2018
Nick Nolte become an actor because real life was hard for him as a young man who only wanted to play football. I enjoyed reading about his journey to Hollywood via the many theatre groups and a couple of marriages. He talks a lot about his movies and how they inspired him and taught him life lessons. He talks about directors, producers and the actors he had the pleasure and displeasure of working with. I felt he was being honest and not gossipy and never cruel. His story was surprisingly interesting. He has lived profoundly in the moment and in the end I could feel his gratitude for everything good and bad in his life. Good read.
February 13, 2018
I read it in one day. I enjoyed it very much. His stories about his life and honesty was great to read. Not trying to hide his feelings or up and down past. True original in the acting world!
February 28, 2018
This book popped up by accident on a search for ebooks at the Singapore National Public Library. Nick Nolte? It conjures up images of a hard-living blond jock from North Dallas Forty who had morphed into a wild-haired madman recluse staring vacantly into drug-induced middle-aged fiend captured in a DUI mugshot.
This book is brutally honest, candid, funny, sincere and addictive. Like your standard Hollywood rock n roll bio, there are drugs, lots and lots of different drugs, a women. But Nolte mentions drugs in passing sparing readers the narcissistic monologues on how stoned on how much dope for how many days. He does not haul off too much on his three ex-wives or girl friends.
He takes his craft quite seriously, describing the challenging roles and co-stars he was blessed to work with. As an actor discovered in his late thirties, he peaked late with Rich Man, Poor Man. The book looks beyond the celluloid and goes into details about how various movies evolved - the Deep, 48 hours, Affliction, Warrior, Hotel Rwanda, Under Fire, Tropical Thunder, Graves and on and on - what life was like on the sets, occasional couplings with leading ladies (but not in a bragging macho way) and the challenges of each role.
Given early career advice to do the studio's bidding and make picture he didn't like in order to have the power to ultimately choose his own roles, Nolte responds that he will only portray characters in roles that he feels strongly about. This includes taking small roles in interesting, avant garde films and stage productions.
The best parts of this book deal with Nolte's maturing into late middle age, mellowing out with parenthood (although his two kids are about 20 years apart), making the transition from a matinee idol to character actor and accepting his own faults and shortcomings. The book reminds the reader of the range and variety of outstanding movies Nolte has appeared in. Apparently, he is the archetypal Method Actor who completely immerses himself in preparing for his roles and adapting the identity of the characters he portrays.
There is an impressive absence of starstruck ego throughout this book. He has the utmost respect and admiration for most of the producers, directors and co-stars he has worked with (with a notable exception of one actor who prompted Nolte to walk off a set for good ...won't spoil it ... but it was justifiable and Nolte was vindicated when the movie bombed). Not to spoil things, but Nolte's other noteworthy run-ins involved producers who subsequently imploded on their own (read David Begelman, Harvey Weinstein ... but read the book for details).
Above all there is wit and humour throughout this memoir and folk wisdom from a Hollywood survivor and rebel who knows how to tell a great story.
This book is brutally honest, candid, funny, sincere and addictive. Like your standard Hollywood rock n roll bio, there are drugs, lots and lots of different drugs, a women. But Nolte mentions drugs in passing sparing readers the narcissistic monologues on how stoned on how much dope for how many days. He does not haul off too much on his three ex-wives or girl friends.
He takes his craft quite seriously, describing the challenging roles and co-stars he was blessed to work with. As an actor discovered in his late thirties, he peaked late with Rich Man, Poor Man. The book looks beyond the celluloid and goes into details about how various movies evolved - the Deep, 48 hours, Affliction, Warrior, Hotel Rwanda, Under Fire, Tropical Thunder, Graves and on and on - what life was like on the sets, occasional couplings with leading ladies (but not in a bragging macho way) and the challenges of each role.
Given early career advice to do the studio's bidding and make picture he didn't like in order to have the power to ultimately choose his own roles, Nolte responds that he will only portray characters in roles that he feels strongly about. This includes taking small roles in interesting, avant garde films and stage productions.
The best parts of this book deal with Nolte's maturing into late middle age, mellowing out with parenthood (although his two kids are about 20 years apart), making the transition from a matinee idol to character actor and accepting his own faults and shortcomings. The book reminds the reader of the range and variety of outstanding movies Nolte has appeared in. Apparently, he is the archetypal Method Actor who completely immerses himself in preparing for his roles and adapting the identity of the characters he portrays.
There is an impressive absence of starstruck ego throughout this book. He has the utmost respect and admiration for most of the producers, directors and co-stars he has worked with (with a notable exception of one actor who prompted Nolte to walk off a set for good ...won't spoil it ... but it was justifiable and Nolte was vindicated when the movie bombed). Not to spoil things, but Nolte's other noteworthy run-ins involved producers who subsequently imploded on their own (read David Begelman, Harvey Weinstein ... but read the book for details).
Above all there is wit and humour throughout this memoir and folk wisdom from a Hollywood survivor and rebel who knows how to tell a great story.
October 29, 2023
4.5 stars
Nolte first initially made his name as an actor with the popular TV mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man (also a great epic book by Irwin Shaw, BTW) and for the next twenty-five years he landed on Hollywood's A-list after moving exclusively to movies. Surprisingly his autobiographical effort is just as interesting when he speaks simply and candidly of his Midwestern childhood years in the 50's and pre-stardom life of the 60's and early 70's. He never fails to give credit or thanks to the various people - his parents, stage directors / producers, early acting instructors and more - who provided him with support and assistance, or something as simple as a kind word or gesture, along the way. Also, he does not shy away from mentioning the later downside of fame (failed relationships, substance use / addiction, health problems) that dogged him for awhile.
Nolte only discusses about twenty or so of his movies (blockbusters like 48 Hrs., Cape Fear and Prince of Tides, plus smaller and/or lesser-known efforts) and usually they're each limited to maybe two pages at most, so it's not quite a thorough filmography. However, he can tell a good story - I easily imagined his distinctive gravelly voice narrating the book - and some of his philosophical ruminations (about acting as a career, being a parent, and impending death) in the final chapters were unexpectedly moving.
Nolte first initially made his name as an actor with the popular TV mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man (also a great epic book by Irwin Shaw, BTW) and for the next twenty-five years he landed on Hollywood's A-list after moving exclusively to movies. Surprisingly his autobiographical effort is just as interesting when he speaks simply and candidly of his Midwestern childhood years in the 50's and pre-stardom life of the 60's and early 70's. He never fails to give credit or thanks to the various people - his parents, stage directors / producers, early acting instructors and more - who provided him with support and assistance, or something as simple as a kind word or gesture, along the way. Also, he does not shy away from mentioning the later downside of fame (failed relationships, substance use / addiction, health problems) that dogged him for awhile.
Nolte only discusses about twenty or so of his movies (blockbusters like 48 Hrs., Cape Fear and Prince of Tides, plus smaller and/or lesser-known efforts) and usually they're each limited to maybe two pages at most, so it's not quite a thorough filmography. However, he can tell a good story - I easily imagined his distinctive gravelly voice narrating the book - and some of his philosophical ruminations (about acting as a career, being a parent, and impending death) in the final chapters were unexpectedly moving.
March 11, 2018
Long known as a talented actor in such television and film roles like Rich Man, Poor Man, The Deep, Who'll Stop The Rain, North Dallas Forty, 48 Hrs., The Prince Of Tides, Down And Out In Beverly Hills, The Thin Red Line, New York Stories, Scorsese's remake of Cape Fear, Mother Night, The Good Thief, Affliction, Warrior, and Graves, Nick Nolte was also a person who got into the arts only after a promising football career was derailed by a rebellious nature, problems with authority, and an addictive personality. His life and career has been tumultuous, erratic, but always driven by a need to explore both his and his character's inner depths. In this memoir, he reflects on his life and career with penetrating insight, not shying away from its more extreme moments but always trying to find meanings and understanding. A lifetime's wealth of stories make this a truly interesting read. - BH.
March 15, 2018
For most the name “Nick Nolte” probably conjures up two images. One is that of young Nolte playing the “bad son” Tom Jordache expulsed from his family in the miniseries “Rich Man, Poor Man.” The other is that of an older Nolte’s chaotic mug shot arrested for traveling the wrong way down the Pacific Coast Highway. The reality, based on his memoir “Rebel,” is somewhere in between. Midwesterner Nolte drifted into acting in his twenties via regional theatres in the southwest before eventually being discovered by Hollywood in his thirties. “Rebel” focuses on his experiences growing as an actor while charting a personal life full of partying and idiosyncrasies. Though known for the major box office hits “The Deep,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Cape Fear,” “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” and “The Prince of Tides,” Nolte has more often than not been featured in low budget art house films. Even if the reader suspects that the book only skims the surface of the wilder stories behind each film, there are more than enough anecdotes to satisfy film buffs. Nolte’s reflections on his colleagues are usually generous and kind, with the exception of an early casting couch debacle (no, not Harvey Weinstein) and a power mad producer recutting a film to shreds (yes, Harvey Weinstein). Nolte is upfront about his battles with alcoholism and drug usage, which seem to have miraculously not derailed his career nor, well, killed him. Now in his late seventies, Nolte relishes the opportunity to take stock of a life where “by turns, I had been brilliant and fallen on my face.” Recommended for his fans.
July 10, 2022
This is fun. Related a bit to Younger Nolte's brash idiocy, disassociative rages, obsessions with football / acting. His BTS stories all have a good sense of humor, Debra Winger weirdly catches a lot of stray shots while I don't think he even mentions the Elia Kazan incident.
August 5, 2018
Nick describes in an unflinching manner all the ups and downs of his life. Well worth the read!
May 22, 2018
This shallow memoir is from a nutcase actor who is unapologetic about his lifelong drug use, cheating, anger issues, and rebellion. And much of the book makes no sense.
Nolte's issues start at age four in Ames, Iowa where his dad returns home from World War II a hollow ghost of a man who transformed from a loving father to a distant silent man. Around the same time Nick's mother responds by going a bit crazy (telling the kids that the parents will divorce once the kids are grown for the next 15 years and then does it) and starts drugging Nick to calm her son's anxiety. The combination turns Nolte into a basket case whose drug addiction lasts throughout most of the rest of his lifetime and he never seems to regret it. Drugs and alcohol become the things he loves most in his life--and he is unwilling on the pages of this book to see how much damage they (and his mother) did to him.
The heavy drug use and drinking as a young adult lead him to make some crazy decisions. He certainly thinks he's hot stuff and brags repeatedly in the book about his football abilities. This is a guy who got cut from one high school team, his parents move to another town just to let him play somewhere, then he skips around to play for three community colleges--and talks about what a hot talent he was. Again, delusional, showing no understanding of his actual inabilities and failures. A guy nominated for three Academy Awards that brags about his community college football playing abilities is still holding on to a false image of himself.
Anxiety seems to be his main problem and he uses every method possible to relieve it. Sex is a big part of that but he has a cavalier attitude toward women that he uses, leaves, cheats on, returns, and misleads. Through it all this rebel acts like tough guy James Dean and doesn't care about anyone but himself. How does he approach analyzing his relationships in the book? That he was a great guy, never seeing how much damage he did.
Nolte is notorious for being difficult to work with (his anxiety brought out the anger in him) but you wouldn't know it here based on his summaries of his work. He blame-shifts for everything he's famous for (including that horrible crazy-haired mugshot). This rebel will not take responsibility or consequences for his actions. He does go through his movies, film-by-flim, with a small story about the making of each, but those sections come across as very formal and distant as if they were written by an outside biographer. Much of the book feels like he didn't actually write it. One chapter starts with the ratings history of ABC TV in the 1970s--I seriously doubt Nolte knows anything about that and some co-author researched it before writing it. The first third of the book (his pre-fame years) often make no sense, skipping locations without explaining what is going on or leaving out details as if an editor went through cutting paragraphs without realizing that others then make no sense. So the book goes back and forth between either being a simplistic distant overview of his work authored by someone else and his own inner story that often makes no sense or shows a lack of true self-awareness.
The only positive thing about the book is his heart for children. The scene of his crying over the stillborn death of his first child is touching. His standing up for his young son as the school tries to put the boy on drugs shows deep insight into how school systems and doctors are too quick to pick the simple solution instead of taking the time to do what Nolte did--commit himself to being by his kid's side every day until the truth comes out (the kid was bitter about his parents divorce due to the mother's cheating). The whole book is a great example of how bad parenting can damage a child, and how long distance parenting is horrible for children. You think Nolte learned from his wacky drug-pushing mother that he didn't want his son to go down the same path--but then the author wrecks whatever he learned by giving his 12-year-old son "open house" freedom when the boy buys his own plane ticket and runs off to live with dad. So Nolte didn't want his kid to turn out like him, then sets up the same permissiveness that caused the author to become a rebel.
You probably know before you read this book that someone like Nolte isn't going to open up much emotionally. But it would have been nice if he would have learned one life lesson. To be in your 70s and still think it's okay to be a rebel after all the disasters Nolte has been through shows that he isn't as smart as he thinks (he is very anti-organized education in the book while claiming to have superior knowledge to others about most subjects!). It's a sad commentary on how Hollywood people think nothing of a life of drug abuse, destroying relationships, and living in a spiritual vacuum. Nolte acts like he's proud of how he has lived but he has no reason to be.
Nolte's issues start at age four in Ames, Iowa where his dad returns home from World War II a hollow ghost of a man who transformed from a loving father to a distant silent man. Around the same time Nick's mother responds by going a bit crazy (telling the kids that the parents will divorce once the kids are grown for the next 15 years and then does it) and starts drugging Nick to calm her son's anxiety. The combination turns Nolte into a basket case whose drug addiction lasts throughout most of the rest of his lifetime and he never seems to regret it. Drugs and alcohol become the things he loves most in his life--and he is unwilling on the pages of this book to see how much damage they (and his mother) did to him.
The heavy drug use and drinking as a young adult lead him to make some crazy decisions. He certainly thinks he's hot stuff and brags repeatedly in the book about his football abilities. This is a guy who got cut from one high school team, his parents move to another town just to let him play somewhere, then he skips around to play for three community colleges--and talks about what a hot talent he was. Again, delusional, showing no understanding of his actual inabilities and failures. A guy nominated for three Academy Awards that brags about his community college football playing abilities is still holding on to a false image of himself.
Anxiety seems to be his main problem and he uses every method possible to relieve it. Sex is a big part of that but he has a cavalier attitude toward women that he uses, leaves, cheats on, returns, and misleads. Through it all this rebel acts like tough guy James Dean and doesn't care about anyone but himself. How does he approach analyzing his relationships in the book? That he was a great guy, never seeing how much damage he did.
Nolte is notorious for being difficult to work with (his anxiety brought out the anger in him) but you wouldn't know it here based on his summaries of his work. He blame-shifts for everything he's famous for (including that horrible crazy-haired mugshot). This rebel will not take responsibility or consequences for his actions. He does go through his movies, film-by-flim, with a small story about the making of each, but those sections come across as very formal and distant as if they were written by an outside biographer. Much of the book feels like he didn't actually write it. One chapter starts with the ratings history of ABC TV in the 1970s--I seriously doubt Nolte knows anything about that and some co-author researched it before writing it. The first third of the book (his pre-fame years) often make no sense, skipping locations without explaining what is going on or leaving out details as if an editor went through cutting paragraphs without realizing that others then make no sense. So the book goes back and forth between either being a simplistic distant overview of his work authored by someone else and his own inner story that often makes no sense or shows a lack of true self-awareness.
The only positive thing about the book is his heart for children. The scene of his crying over the stillborn death of his first child is touching. His standing up for his young son as the school tries to put the boy on drugs shows deep insight into how school systems and doctors are too quick to pick the simple solution instead of taking the time to do what Nolte did--commit himself to being by his kid's side every day until the truth comes out (the kid was bitter about his parents divorce due to the mother's cheating). The whole book is a great example of how bad parenting can damage a child, and how long distance parenting is horrible for children. You think Nolte learned from his wacky drug-pushing mother that he didn't want his son to go down the same path--but then the author wrecks whatever he learned by giving his 12-year-old son "open house" freedom when the boy buys his own plane ticket and runs off to live with dad. So Nolte didn't want his kid to turn out like him, then sets up the same permissiveness that caused the author to become a rebel.
You probably know before you read this book that someone like Nolte isn't going to open up much emotionally. But it would have been nice if he would have learned one life lesson. To be in your 70s and still think it's okay to be a rebel after all the disasters Nolte has been through shows that he isn't as smart as he thinks (he is very anti-organized education in the book while claiming to have superior knowledge to others about most subjects!). It's a sad commentary on how Hollywood people think nothing of a life of drug abuse, destroying relationships, and living in a spiritual vacuum. Nolte acts like he's proud of how he has lived but he has no reason to be.
April 9, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: HE LIKED TO GET DRUNK AND SMASH HIS HEAD INTO THE SIDE OF PARKED CARS
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I would first like to state… that though I’ve always enjoyed Nick Nolte’s acting… I’m not a “GA-GA” starry eyed fan. I bought this book simply because I was between books… and because of Nick’s mercurial life and career… I thought it would be an interesting “filler”. I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised in the quality and flow of the writing. I was also pleased with the innate honesty in his storytelling. Nick did not pull any punches on his many ups and downs in his personal life as well as his career. I thought it was quite touching… and a hint of what was to come in his directness with the reader… when he had moved to Los Angeles from the Midwest… and in pursuit of his football dreams… he was playing with his third junior college team… and showing more potential in avoiding classes… than avoiding tacklers and blockers… and when “life”… led him to getting the acting “bug”. He was spinning out of control with alcohol and all kinds of drugs… and when one of his first acting coaches… was so concerned about his mental and physical well-being… that he contacted Nick’s Father… who was living in Arizona at the time… and told him to come and get him… which his Father did. Back at his parents’ home he was mentally unstable and only came out of his room at night… and yet his parents were there for him… (and here is the touching part)…. Nick stated… “I took it for granted, not realizing at the time that I had won the parental lottery. I might have had a very different kind of experience with different parents.”
His Father was six feet six inches tall… and weighed two hundred sixty pounds… and lettered in football three years in a row at Iowa State. When he came back from World War II… like so many men… he was never the same. Nolte’s Mother was a free spirit… and he had a very close lifetime relationship with his sister. Like many actors (De Niro comes to mind)… Nolte was a shy type and troubled introvert… and as he got into acting in theatre… that became his life’s passion. Once his Hollywood career exploded with his highly rated role in “Rich Man, Poor Man”… he was now “an overnight sensation”… after thirteen years as a professional actor.
Nick has taken pride… in trying to only take roles… that mean something to him. He does a lot of reading in preparation for finding and picking roles. Nolte states that… “even more than football or acting, women have been the major passion of my life.” His three marriages and numerous liaisons are covered… and I feel they were covered in a gentlemanly manor. His drug use has been as varied as it has been voluminous… and later in life his use and experimentation of supposed health aids… can only be described by a layman… (the way Nolte “kind of” describes it) as weird. As the author is now seventy-seven years old… and having had hip… knee… and who knows what else replaced.. he feels he might only have five years left… and wanted to get his memoir written. It’s worth the read… and to me… it is written in a professional way… and not like some tabloid magazine trying to shock the reader with gossipy innuendo.
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I would first like to state… that though I’ve always enjoyed Nick Nolte’s acting… I’m not a “GA-GA” starry eyed fan. I bought this book simply because I was between books… and because of Nick’s mercurial life and career… I thought it would be an interesting “filler”. I have to say that I was very pleasantly surprised in the quality and flow of the writing. I was also pleased with the innate honesty in his storytelling. Nick did not pull any punches on his many ups and downs in his personal life as well as his career. I thought it was quite touching… and a hint of what was to come in his directness with the reader… when he had moved to Los Angeles from the Midwest… and in pursuit of his football dreams… he was playing with his third junior college team… and showing more potential in avoiding classes… than avoiding tacklers and blockers… and when “life”… led him to getting the acting “bug”. He was spinning out of control with alcohol and all kinds of drugs… and when one of his first acting coaches… was so concerned about his mental and physical well-being… that he contacted Nick’s Father… who was living in Arizona at the time… and told him to come and get him… which his Father did. Back at his parents’ home he was mentally unstable and only came out of his room at night… and yet his parents were there for him… (and here is the touching part)…. Nick stated… “I took it for granted, not realizing at the time that I had won the parental lottery. I might have had a very different kind of experience with different parents.”
His Father was six feet six inches tall… and weighed two hundred sixty pounds… and lettered in football three years in a row at Iowa State. When he came back from World War II… like so many men… he was never the same. Nolte’s Mother was a free spirit… and he had a very close lifetime relationship with his sister. Like many actors (De Niro comes to mind)… Nolte was a shy type and troubled introvert… and as he got into acting in theatre… that became his life’s passion. Once his Hollywood career exploded with his highly rated role in “Rich Man, Poor Man”… he was now “an overnight sensation”… after thirteen years as a professional actor.
Nick has taken pride… in trying to only take roles… that mean something to him. He does a lot of reading in preparation for finding and picking roles. Nolte states that… “even more than football or acting, women have been the major passion of my life.” His three marriages and numerous liaisons are covered… and I feel they were covered in a gentlemanly manor. His drug use has been as varied as it has been voluminous… and later in life his use and experimentation of supposed health aids… can only be described by a layman… (the way Nolte “kind of” describes it) as weird. As the author is now seventy-seven years old… and having had hip… knee… and who knows what else replaced.. he feels he might only have five years left… and wanted to get his memoir written. It’s worth the read… and to me… it is written in a professional way… and not like some tabloid magazine trying to shock the reader with gossipy innuendo.
July 31, 2024
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The surprising thing to me about this autobiography is the scope and strength of Nolte's acting career. Growing up watching his films, he was always 'there', but in my mind never reaching superstardom.
In 1992 named People magazine's sexiest man alive, his 2002 police mugshot dropped him down alongside Gary Busey as another drug addled celebrity. Rebel changed my mind, and I commend him for detailing his whole body of work, setting the record straight and giving fellow artists the credit they deserve.
In the early 1960's he was a Midwest football student at 21, rooming at a Laurel Canyon commune, a cool scene with the around-the-clock booze and pills taking a toll on his mood. He went to an acting class with a friend who was considered for Peyton Place, and was smitten with the acting bug, reading the established texts. In 1966, he was cast in plays such as The Miracle Worker, Orpheus Descending, and The Last Pad (the final William Inge play), before a role in the TV sensation Rich Man, Poor Man. The doors opened and he was offered the lead in The Deep alongside Jacqueline Bissett, whose wet white t-shirt made it a hit in 1977. He produced North Dallas Forty from paperback to screen, then starred with an unknown Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours, followed by Cannery Row - here he sets the record straight on the wrongful firing of first choice lead Raquel Welch and replacement with Debra Winger, leading to a landmark court case which Welch won. Under Fire was a chaotic shoot in Mexico with Joanna Cassidy, but turned out to be one of my favourite films of his, another hit. Katherine Hepburn chose him for what turned out to be her final lead role in film, Grace Quigley, directed by Hal Ashby. (You are not the only one who has not heard of it). It was a major flop leading to the redemption film Down And Out In Beverly Hills, which rose the profiles of Richard Dreyfuss and Bette Midler, fresh off being treated like dirt on Jinxed. One portion of New York Stories was directed by Martin Scorsese, leading to the starring role in his remake of Cape Fear with Jessica Lange, and Lorenzo's Oil with Susan Sarandon. His first Oscar nomination came with The Prince of Tides directed and starring Barbra Streisand, followed by two Merchant Ivory directed films. His second nomination came with Paul Schrader's Affliction.
These are not all his credits, but I was continually surprised at the quality of his career, and he has details throughout all the productions for film buffs. Miraculously, he continued drinking, pills, weed, experimenting with LSD with Timothy Leary, pharmaceutical grade cocaine use and other psychotropics for many years, until setting those aside for legal GHB, leading to a car accident and infamous arrest in 2002. How he managed I don't know.
For film buffs, there is a wealth of backstage information on all his projects, and even if you are not a Nolte fan already, a new respect for his work, which speaks for itself.
The surprising thing to me about this autobiography is the scope and strength of Nolte's acting career. Growing up watching his films, he was always 'there', but in my mind never reaching superstardom.
In 1992 named People magazine's sexiest man alive, his 2002 police mugshot dropped him down alongside Gary Busey as another drug addled celebrity. Rebel changed my mind, and I commend him for detailing his whole body of work, setting the record straight and giving fellow artists the credit they deserve.
In the early 1960's he was a Midwest football student at 21, rooming at a Laurel Canyon commune, a cool scene with the around-the-clock booze and pills taking a toll on his mood. He went to an acting class with a friend who was considered for Peyton Place, and was smitten with the acting bug, reading the established texts. In 1966, he was cast in plays such as The Miracle Worker, Orpheus Descending, and The Last Pad (the final William Inge play), before a role in the TV sensation Rich Man, Poor Man. The doors opened and he was offered the lead in The Deep alongside Jacqueline Bissett, whose wet white t-shirt made it a hit in 1977. He produced North Dallas Forty from paperback to screen, then starred with an unknown Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours, followed by Cannery Row - here he sets the record straight on the wrongful firing of first choice lead Raquel Welch and replacement with Debra Winger, leading to a landmark court case which Welch won. Under Fire was a chaotic shoot in Mexico with Joanna Cassidy, but turned out to be one of my favourite films of his, another hit. Katherine Hepburn chose him for what turned out to be her final lead role in film, Grace Quigley, directed by Hal Ashby. (You are not the only one who has not heard of it). It was a major flop leading to the redemption film Down And Out In Beverly Hills, which rose the profiles of Richard Dreyfuss and Bette Midler, fresh off being treated like dirt on Jinxed. One portion of New York Stories was directed by Martin Scorsese, leading to the starring role in his remake of Cape Fear with Jessica Lange, and Lorenzo's Oil with Susan Sarandon. His first Oscar nomination came with The Prince of Tides directed and starring Barbra Streisand, followed by two Merchant Ivory directed films. His second nomination came with Paul Schrader's Affliction.
These are not all his credits, but I was continually surprised at the quality of his career, and he has details throughout all the productions for film buffs. Miraculously, he continued drinking, pills, weed, experimenting with LSD with Timothy Leary, pharmaceutical grade cocaine use and other psychotropics for many years, until setting those aside for legal GHB, leading to a car accident and infamous arrest in 2002. How he managed I don't know.
For film buffs, there is a wealth of backstage information on all his projects, and even if you are not a Nolte fan already, a new respect for his work, which speaks for itself.
September 8, 2019
Three words...Prince of Tides. Oh how I loved that book and movie, so Nick Nolte will always have a special place in my heart with that role. But when you think about it, this guy has had one hell of a career. 48 hours. Thin Red Line. Affliction. Cape Fear. Rich Man, Poor Man. So when we evacuated our home during Hurricane Dorian to a friend's place, we were talking about books (of course) and this autobiography was mentioned. Boom. Impromptu listen. What a pleasant surprise.
Suffice it to say, Mr. Nolte has a lot to say about his life. He's seen some stuff. His first love was football, being a big guy with quite a bit of intensity. The problem though was in college he refused to attend classes so that didn't go far. He began his accidental acting career in summer plays, and he quickly rose above the fray, with his first breakthrough in the TV series Rich Man, Poor Man. He has had four wives and many affairs...and why not? He was quite the thing in his youth. He admits to his addictions, which often goes hand in hand with an intense personality. There really isn't anything in this memoir that surprised me (except for the fact that his mom gave him speed to get him to school LOL) but it's told with honest self-appraisal and is extremely entertaining. I did get the feeling, towards the end, that he was setting the record straight before he dies. It felt like he was saying goodbye. Just a sense that I got.
The real attraction here is the audio. Nolte himself narrates the prologue, in a very craggy ragged voice, then admits that it is time to turn things over to a professional. God bless him. Then Christian Baskous takes over. He's been in some movies and narrated other books but HOLY COW. His delivery sounded exactly like Nolte. The timber of his voice, the accent, the mannerisms. It was uncanny and perfect. If you are interested in reading this book, do yourself a favor and listen to it.
Suffice it to say, Mr. Nolte has a lot to say about his life. He's seen some stuff. His first love was football, being a big guy with quite a bit of intensity. The problem though was in college he refused to attend classes so that didn't go far. He began his accidental acting career in summer plays, and he quickly rose above the fray, with his first breakthrough in the TV series Rich Man, Poor Man. He has had four wives and many affairs...and why not? He was quite the thing in his youth. He admits to his addictions, which often goes hand in hand with an intense personality. There really isn't anything in this memoir that surprised me (except for the fact that his mom gave him speed to get him to school LOL) but it's told with honest self-appraisal and is extremely entertaining. I did get the feeling, towards the end, that he was setting the record straight before he dies. It felt like he was saying goodbye. Just a sense that I got.
The real attraction here is the audio. Nolte himself narrates the prologue, in a very craggy ragged voice, then admits that it is time to turn things over to a professional. God bless him. Then Christian Baskous takes over. He's been in some movies and narrated other books but HOLY COW. His delivery sounded exactly like Nolte. The timber of his voice, the accent, the mannerisms. It was uncanny and perfect. If you are interested in reading this book, do yourself a favor and listen to it.
September 28, 2023
While some may wish the work was more encyclopedic in including more of the author’s memories and comments on his varied work - no mention of note of working with Ang Lee on Hulk for instance- Nolte here gives a fine balance of his life and its complications and frames a thread of how acting saved him and how he views fame with complications and more. There’s many elements of note here- his relationships, mentions of other people like Gary Busey, Ed Norton, and celebrities of different eras, of struggling to find roles and circling back to elements, of finding his place as a father and mentor while struggling often with substances, of losing his father and mother. In these stories, there is a richness that he weaves together well without it being too constricting. The book is conversational and open for the most part, and while it never quite reaches the zeal of Perlman’s Easy Street (the Hard Way): A Memoir or the full lived experience on display in Koenig’s Warped Factors: A Neurotic's Guide to the Universe, this is one of those books by actors that should be considered by those interested in film, acting, and the business side of entertainment. Nolte hits many more beats than most in this one… and it is an interesting consideration of the man behind the characters.
June 11, 2018
A lively, boisterous and often brave first-person narrative of one of America's best--and America's most American--actors. Yet for fans of so many of Nolte's films, it is a severe disappointment. Too many classics are completely overlooked. Instead of "Q & A", "Extreme Prejudice", "Weeds", even "48 Hours" earning pages, there's too much time spent on "Prince of Tides". Luckily, "North Dallas Forty" and "Affliction" are covered quite extensively, but why "Lorenzo's Oil" and the noisy remake of "Cape Fear"? Nolte's personality and humor entertain throughout most of the book, lending it a lot of personality, and he, additionally, doesn't spare details concerning his addictions and early age mental health issues. His many misadventures (including the marital kind) are enough to guarantee the book lasts an entire 6-8 hour flight, without a break.
March 18, 2018
I very rarely read biography's or autobiography's. But I've always loved Nick Nolte as an actor. The first time I saw him was in Rich Man Poor Man, and oh man, I fell in love with that California / beach boy good looks. An amazing performance and I have loved seeing him in his work since. So hearing him tell his life story in his own words sounded like a good read. And it was. Starting when he was a child and all through his life and career, it reads really well. And hearing talk about his children makes me love him again. Thank you for taking the time to tells us your story and not having to listen to someone, who doesn't know you, write what they really don't know. Blessings to Nick Nolte and his family. Thank you for your talent and for sharing with us.
October 1, 2019
Nolte is a good story-teller and his autobiography is entertainingly told, but I came away with the feeling that there was more. I was particularly disappointed that there was no mention of my favorite Nolte film, "Farewell to the King". There must have been some stories about working with iconoclastic director John Milius that Nolte held back on. Nolte must be the only person in the world who enjoyed working with Barbra Streisand, and speaks very highly of her here. The audiobook is not read by Nolte, although he does deliver a foreword. Narrator Christopher Baskous does an incredible job channeling Nolte, so much so that I had to remind myself that Nolte was not reading himself.
October 28, 2019
I found this when browsing other books narrated by the same guy who narrated Pulp, because I enjoyed his voice so much. This seemed to be interesting and was relatively short. I am not a fan of Nick Nolte nor am I familiar with his work, but I was prepared to be surprised. Autobiographies can be like novels, insightful stories with compelling characters.
This wasn't like those.
This was just boring, felt like a 70-something guy reminiscing his life and work. Mostly work.
A few interesting things: the fact that he used heroin to get into a role. That's commitment.
But yeah, that was it. Wasn't even entertained.
This wasn't like those.
This was just boring, felt like a 70-something guy reminiscing his life and work. Mostly work.
A few interesting things: the fact that he used heroin to get into a role. That's commitment.
But yeah, that was it. Wasn't even entertained.
May 28, 2018
Many thanks to goodreads for sending me a copy of this book. Highly recommended for Nolte fans, this is a candid memoir of his life along with a few pictures. He's lived his life on his terms and makes no apologies about it. Most of us couldn't get away with doing all the drugs and partying he did and come away virtually unscathed. Nolte recounts his roles, loves and many directors and actors he worked with along the way. If you care about these things you will undoubtedly rate the book higher than i did.
April 21, 2019
I remember seeing Nick Nolte on Rich Man, Poor Man. He looked like the All American boy with a naughty side. Just the kind of guy you dreamed about when you were a young girl. I was fascinated with his multi-faceted career. He may not be college educated but he has a brilliance and love of learning all he can.
Throughout his career, he worked with many talented people. He mentioned them and some not so talented that he had the displeasure of meeting.
This is a very well written history of a man of all seasons.
Throughout his career, he worked with many talented people. He mentioned them and some not so talented that he had the displeasure of meeting.
This is a very well written history of a man of all seasons.
August 26, 2024
Nolte is a complex guy. And he seems to thrive on that fact. It was interesting to read how he relates to others in hookworms (um, autocorrect, I typed Hollywood!) How he relates to himself is even more intriguing. I can totally relate how he deals (or dealt) with his feelings of anger and disappointment and frustration. My favorite take-away from his memoir is: He believes in putting his children before his lovers/partners. It would be quite nice if more parents did that. There was also a reasonable excuse for that famous awful mug shot.
April 24, 2018
An interesting life lived with great zest by one of the best actors ever. Mr. Nolte inhabits his book like he does his characters big, bold and gravelly voiced. His insights into why he acts and what moves him are fascinating as are his stories of the roles that define his career. Nolte has always been one of my favorite actors and I hope to see him one day win that damned Oscar he so richly deserves. I sure don't understand the bashing into parked cars though! A true original.
April 7, 2020
An interesting book the reason I marked it down from 4 stars to 3 was because i did not feel, comfortable reading about his drug use even though I knew of him as a hell raiser.its a bit like reading about Oliver Reed and being shocked about his drinking,I also thought that Mr nolte did suffer from add plus his unusual family background didnt help.the stories from the film and theatre worls were more interesting and surprised me how he seemed to get on with his colleagues.
March 21, 2018
Surprising honesty
A very frank and not ego-driven memoir by a great (most of the time) actor and a complex and insightful human being. Wish he’d commented on all his major film roles, but whatever he did include he seems brutally honest about. At least HIS version. Nick, thanks for everything!
A very frank and not ego-driven memoir by a great (most of the time) actor and a complex and insightful human being. Wish he’d commented on all his major film roles, but whatever he did include he seems brutally honest about. At least HIS version. Nick, thanks for everything!
March 23, 2018
I've liked Nick Nolte in many of his films (particularly Prince of Tides) but the enduring image of him is the "wild man" mug shot of him being arrested for a DUI. This book gives a more balanced view of his life and motivations. He is honest without being too detailed about his addictions, marriages, preparations for roles and parenting.
April 6, 2018
If you love Nick Nolte the actor as I do (I'll take his Keruoac-esque role in Who'll Stop the Rain as vintage Nolte!), you must read this book. He is not a flowery writer, but he is candid, direct and writes as he acts and speaks. He has lived a fascinating life and there is just enough reflection on it here to make it an easy, fun and wonderful ride. Thanks for the ARC!
August 15, 2021
I grew up with Nolte acting in Rich man, Poor man as a kid. So I have always been his fan.
This is an honest book about his live and as also when you read autobiographies you come across all kinds of other people famous or not who make their appearance, as friends, co-workers, wife's, husbands or whatever. From that point you learn a lot.
This is an honest book about his live and as also when you read autobiographies you come across all kinds of other people famous or not who make their appearance, as friends, co-workers, wife's, husbands or whatever. From that point you learn a lot.
January 28, 2018
Terrific read about one of Life’s true “characters”
First , I really appreciate Nick Nolte as a fine actor. This is a great read and I recommend it to anyone looking for a vigorous story.
First , I really appreciate Nick Nolte as a fine actor. This is a great read and I recommend it to anyone looking for a vigorous story.
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