Update: A spokesman for Nicholson has reported said he isn’t retiring. See below.

THE ONLINE WORLD is tearing itself apart over a report that Jack Nicholson is retiring from acting, due to a problem with memory loss.

RadarOnline published the report last night, quoting a “well-placed Hollywood film insider” as saying that Nicholson had quietly left his movie career behind.

The insider reportedly said:

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

However, other sources have denied this. Journalist Maria Shriver of NBC, who is something of a Hollywood insider herself, told E! Online that the report is false and Nicholson is “not suffering from any memory-related illness”.

E! quotes another source saying that the star of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is “actively reading scripts and is looking forward to his next project.”

Update: NBC tweeted this:

Jack Nicholson’s name is trending worldwide on Twitter this morning, with users posting tributes to the actor. Whether he’s retired or not.

Nicholson’s own representatives are yet to officially comment on the issue. We’ll update you if and when they do…

AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

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