Jack Nickolson retiring from Holywood

Jack Nicholson, the Oscar-winning actor behind some of the most memorable roles of 20th century cinema, may have appeared in his final film, according to reports.

The 76-year-old star of The Shining, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Chinatown has quietly retired from acting, Star magazine and Radar Online reported on Wednesday.

"There is a simple reason behind his decision – it's memory loss," a source told Radar. "Quite frankly, at 76, Jack has memory issues and can no longer remember the lines being asked of him".

Nicholson's agent and lawyer did not return requests from The Daily Telegraph for confirmation or denial of the reports, which would leave 2010's How Do You Know as his final Hollywood outing.

Over a five-decade career, Nicholson received a dozen nominations for Best Actor at the Academy Awards, winning for As Good As It Gets in 1998 and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest in 1976.

He also picked up the prize for Best Supporting Actor in 1984 for Terms Of Endearment and received three other nominations for the award in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.