Where Is Jack Nicholson and Why Did He Disappear from Hollywood?
Jack Nicholson remains one of Hollywood's most celebrated actors, with 12 Academy Award nominations to add to his credit. However, the star of The Shining and A Few Good Men hasn't appeared on screen since 2010, leading to widespread speculation about his retirement from acting, and the reason behind it.RELATED: Whatever Happened to Gene Hackman?A three-time Oscar winner, for his roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Terms of Endearment, and As Good As It Gets, Nicholson made his apparent exit from Hollywood in 2010 with the romantic comedy How Do You Know, an unmitigated flop. Rumors swirled over the next few years that Nicholson had retired, purportedly due to memory problems. But the actor was quick to shut them down."I have a mathematician's brain," Nicholson, then 76, clarified in 2013. "I'm not going to work until the day I die, that's not why I started this. I mean, I'm not driven. I was driven – but I'm not, I don't have to be out there anymore." That was nearly a decade ago.Jack Nicholson's Early Hollywood CareerJack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)Nicholson, now 85 years old, has a storied career that's the envy of any actor. Following an inauspicious 1958 film debut, in the Roger Corman-produced teen exploitation film The Cry Baby Killer, Nicholson bounced between television and movie roles. He reunited with Corman for the horror comedies The Little Shop of Horrors and The Raven, and the horror film The Terror, and appeared in an eclectic mix of other projects, from Westerns to psychedelic pictures.However, his breakout role arrived opposite Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper in the iconic 1969 road drama Easy Rider. Nicholson earned his first Academy Award nomination for his performance as lawyer George Hanson. It certainly wouldn't be his last.RELATED: Val Kilmer's Tragic Disappearance – And His Miraculous Hollywood ResurrectionEasy Rider was followed in swift succession by career-defining turns in such films as Five Easy Pieces (1971), The Last Detail (1973), and Chinatown (1974). He earned Oscar nominations for each of those roles, before landing his first win for Best Actor for his performance in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1976).Nicholson branched out beyond acting, beginning with his screenwriting debut with the 1963 action film Flight to Fury. He soon added producer to his filmmaking resume before making his directorial debut in 1971 with an adaptation of the novel Drive, He Said.Nicholson Made $50 Million From Batman AloneJack Nicholson in Batman (1989)Nicholson continued to earn accolades throughout the 1980s, with memorable turns in The Shining (1980) Reds (1981), Terms of Endearment (1983), for which he won his second Oscar, Prizzi's Honor (1985), Ironweed (1987) and Broadcast News (1987).Much as he did in the 1970s, with offbeat projects like The Missouri Breaks, Nicholson peppered his 1980s filmography with unexpected roles. Most notable among those is undoubtedly the Joker in Tim Burton's 1989 film Batman, for which Nicholson reduced his fee from $10 million to $6 million. In exchange for the lower salary, the actor required a cut of Batman's earnings, including any merchandise that bore his likeness. In the end, Nicholson walked away with an estimated $50 million. RELATED: What Happened to Josh Hartnett – And Why It’s ImportantFamed for his high-profile relationships with stars like Michelle Phillips, Anjelica Huston, and Lara Flynn Boyle (among others), Nicholson showed little signs of slowing down in the 1990s. He kicked off the decade by directing, producing and starring in The Two Jakes, a sequel to Chinatown. He followed that with another Oscar-nominated performance in A Few Good Men (1992). But Nicholson again left room for the unexpected, as a publishing executive turned werewolf in Wolf (1994), and then as both the U.S. president and a casino owner in Tim Burton's campy sci-fi comedy Mars Attacks! (1996).Nicholson then closed out the 1990s with another Oscar for As Good As It Gets (1997) before he began to show signs of slowing down.Jack Nicholson's Final Film Was a Box-Office BombJack Nicholson in How Do You Know (2010)Nicholson's final decade in Hollywood was marked by another Academy Award nomination for About Schmidt (2003), and acclaimed performances in Something's Gotta Give (2003) and The Departed (2006). However, it was also marred by what, to date, is his last film, the box-office bomb How Do You Know (2010)."The movie business is the greatest business," Nicholson reflected in 2013, "but I only want to do films that move people, films about emotions and people. I had the most chilling thought that maybe people in their twenties and thirties don't actually want to be moved anymore. They may want just to see more bombs, more explosions, because that is what they have grown up with. And I'll never do that type of movie."RELATED: Why Daniel Day-Lewis Disappeared – And the Bizarre Job That Ended His Acting CareerThe actor was expected to be brought out of hiatus by the comedy Toni Erdmann, but he dropped out of the film in 2018. Not even Doctor Sleep (2019), a sequel to The Shining, could lure him back.“He was aware we were doing it,” director Mike Flanagan said. “The studio had reached out. There were initial things where I had been curious about whether or not he wanted any participation in the film whatsoever, in a cameo, any capacity, but he declined.”A devoted Los Angeles Lakers fan who hadn't missed a game in nearly 50 years, Nicholson continued to appear courtside with his youngest son, Ray. However, that changed with the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a nearly two-year absence. But now Jack is back, at least to support his beloved Lakers. We're still awaiting word on a return by the 85-year-old icon to movies.KEEP READING: The Dark Reason Matilda’s Mara Wilson Quit Acting – And the Light She Found on the Other Side
Whatever Happened to Gene Hackman?
Gene Hackman was among cinema's most recognizable actors for five decades. But after more than 80 films, from The French Connection and Superman to Unforgiven and The Royal Tenenbaums, the two-time Oscar winner quietly retired from acting in 2004. Since then, he has returned to the public eye only on rare occasion, most recently in May.RELATED: Val Kilmer's Tragic Disappearance – And His Miraculous Hollywood ResurrectionNow 92, Hackman lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife, Betsy, whom her married in 1991. It's there he was photographed last month with Seth Rudetsky and Ana Gasteyer after attending a performance of Broadway Confidential. Posted by an excited Rudetsky, the photo provides a partial answer to what happened to Hackman. However, there's more to the story.Gene Hackman's Unexpected Hollywood RiseGene Hackman as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde (1967)Although it's difficult to imagine Hollywood without Hackman, his career was far from a sure thing. It began unceremoniously in 1957 at California's Pasadena Playhouse, where the 27-year-old ex-Marine and his friend, Dustin Hoffman, were voted "Least Likely to Succeed."''I had the all-time lowest score of students from the Playhouse,'' Hackman recalled. ''I don't know if they ever actually asked me to leave. But I was given so little encouragement that I kind of, even in my insensitive state at that time, understood that at least the academic side of acting was not for me.''RELATED: The Dark Reason Matilda’s Mara Wilson Quit Acting – And the Light She Found on the Other SideHowever, Hackman was determined to prove the Playhouse wrong. He, with first wife Faye, and Hoffman set out for New York City, where they befriended Robert Duvall, a fellow struggling actor. Hackman worked a string of subsistence jobs -- counterman, waiter, doorman -- even as he landed bit television parts. Those led to Off-Broadway and, ultimately, film roles.His breakthrough came in the 1967 crime drama Bonnie and Clyde, starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty. Hackman earned his first Oscar nomination for his performance as Buck Barrow, a part he landed only after being dropped from The Graduate. (He was cast as Hoffman's potential father-in-law, Mr. Robinson, despite their seven-year age difference.)Gene Hackman's Career, from French Connection to UnforgivenGene Hackman as Popeye Doyle in The French Connection (1971)Hackman followed with a chain of memorable performances in such films as I Never Sang for My Father, The French Connection (for which he earned his first Oscar) and Young Frankenstein. He was an undisputed star by the time of 1978's Superman, for which he commanded $2 million ($9.6 million in today's dollars) to play Lex Luthor.His ascent continued through the 1980s, with roles in Superman II (we don't talk about Superman IV), Reds, Hoosiers and Mississippi Burning. The 1990s brought Hackman's Academy Award-winning turn as Sheriff "Little Bill" Daggett in the 1992 Western Unforgiven. Then came such diverse projects as the legal thriller The Firm, the submarine drama Crimson Tide, and the comedies Get Shorty and The Birdcage.RELATED: What Happened to Josh Hartnett – And Why It’s ImportantHackman kicked off his final decade in Hollywood with a blend of dramas, thrillers and comedies, including Under Suspicion, The Mexican and The Heist. He then played the family patriarch in what's easily a career highlight, Wes Anderson's 2001 comedy-drama, The Royal Tenenbaums. "I've been very lucky in life, and I've done just about everything that I would want to do as an actor," he told the BBC. "I don't know that I do them all very well, but I like a lot of variety, though. At this point in my life and my career I feel like I can back off and do the odd picture like Tenenbaum and feel good about it."After one more legal thriller, 2003's Runaway Jury, Hickman quietly brought his distinguished film career to a close in the 2004 political comedy-satire, Welcome to Mooseport, opposite Ray Romano.Why Gene Hackman Retired from HollywoodGene Hackman as Royal Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)Hackman's Hollywood departure was as understated as his entrance. In 2004, the actor acknowledged to Larry King he had no projects on the horizon. "It's probably all over," he said.That prediction held true, with Hackman confirming his retirement in 2008. "“I haven’t held a press conference to announce retirement, but, yes, I’m not going to act any longer," he said. "I’ve been told not to say that over the last few years, in case some real wonderful part comes up, but I really don’t want to do it any longer.”However, he admitted in the same interview that he already missed acting. "But the business for me is very stressful," he said. "The compromises that you have to make in films are just part of the beast, and it had gotten to a point where I just didn’t feel like I wanted to do it anymore.”Asked in 2011 about the prospect of one final film, Hackman told GQ, "If I could do it in my own house, maybe, without them disturbing anything and just one or two people."That never happened, of course. However, the Hollywood veteran hasn't spent the past 18 years simply relaxing, and riding bikes around Santa Fe. In 1999, Hackman authored the first of three historical novels with Daniel Lenihan, and wrote two more books on his own.Ever modest, Hackman wants to be remembered as "a decent actor." "As someone who tried to portray what was given to them in an honest fashion," he told GQ. "I don't know, beyond that. I don't think about that often, to be honest. I'm at an age where I should think about it."KEEP READING: Why Daniel Day-Lewis Disappeared – And the Bizarre Job That Ended His Acting Career
The Best Schitt’s Creek Quotes And Sayings
Schitt's Creek premiered in 2015 as an unassuming Canadian sitcom about a wealthy family that loses its fortune, and must move to a small town purchased years earlier as a joke. RELATED: Positive Quotes to Start Your Day With A Smile On Your FaceHowever, over the course of six seasons, the series became so much more, as viewers around the globe fell in love with the quirky members of Rose family and their even quirkier newfound friends. Audiences laughed (and laughed), and occasionally cried, during the comedy's 80-episode run, and committed many of the best Schitt's Creek quotes to memory.Funny Schitt's Creek Quotes (And A Few Tear-Jerkers)The most memorable Schitt's Creek quotes are hilarious, of course, which owes as much to the talent of the writers as it does to the delivery of its stellar cast. However, the show could also reduce fans to sobbing, particularly during key moments in the relationship between David Rose and Patrick Brewer. Below, you'll find plenty of laughs -- and, yes, a few tears.David Rose's Schitt's Creek Quotes Are Simply the BestDaniel Levy as David Rose on Schitt's CreekIt's as difficult to define David Rose's personality as it is to describe his personal style. A bundle of anxieties, insecurities and phobias, David is sarcastic, judgmental, unfiltered and, of course, self-absorbed. However, beneath all of that, he's also secretly soft-hearted, and desperate to be loved and accepted. And while David may not have an easily identifiable catchphrase, like his sister does, he has a lot to say, as these Schitt's Creek quotes demonstrate."I like the wine, and not the label.”Emily Hampshire as Stevie Budd and Daniel Levy as David Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: “I do drink red wine. But I also drink white wine. And I’ve been known to sample the occasional rosé. And a couple summers back I tried a merlot, that used to be a chardonnay. I like the wine, and not the label.” -- David RoseDavid Rose and Stevie Budd's relationship turns, um, physical in Season 1, which surprises everyone -- including David and Stevie. Following their first night together, Stevie seeks to clarify David's sexuality with a clumsy wine metaphor, which he makes even more confusing.“I plan on popping a pill, crying a bit, and falling asleep early.”Daniel Levy as David Rose and Noah Reid as Patrick Brewer on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "Ah, I plan on popping a pill, crying a bit and falling asleep early. So just a regular weeknight." -- David RoseExcitement for Alexis' high-school graduation ceremony results in the Rose family forgetting David's birthday in the Season 3 finale. Although a sulking David intends to spend the night alone, Patrick Brewer quickly devises another plan.“I’m starting to feel like I’m trapped in an Avril Lavigne lyric here.”Emily Hampshire as Stevie Budd and Daniel Levy as David Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "OK, I'm starting to feel like I'm trapped in an Avril Lavigne lyric here. And while I not-so-secretly love Avril, and have paid very close attention to her battle with Lyme disease… Um, I don't know why we're..." -- David RoseThe only thing weirder than David and Stevie seeing each other was when they were seeing the same guy, Jake, the rugged, open-minded woodworker. RELATED: 90 Motivational & Inspirational Quotes for WomenJealousy and uncertainty combined to, in the words of Avril Lavigne, "make things so complicated." And that was before Jake proposed the three of them become a... throuple.“The idea of me life-coaching another human being should scare you… a lot.”Daniel Levy as David Rose on Schitt's CreekIn the Schitt's Creek Season 1 episode "Little Sister," Jocelyn Schitt asks David to talk with one of her new students, a gay kid who's struggling to fit into the small town. Needless to say, it doesn't go quite like Jocelyn envisioned. Sixteen-year-old Connor proves more than a match for a reluctant David, who nevertheless learns something from their encounter: that his brief "friends-with-benefits" arrangement with Stevie Budd is not a good idea.“I’m a delightful half-half situation!”Rose family Christmas photo, from Schitt's CreekFull quote: "I'm a delightful half-half situation, which is why it's so annoying that my Dad thinks he can boss people around on a holiday that he technically has no authority over." -- David RoseWhen Stevie and Patrick exchange Christmas greetings in the Season 4 holiday special, David questions why he didn't receive a "Merry Christmas." Stevie explains it's because she thought he was Jewish, which is only half right."I don’t know what kind of carnage I inflicted in my past life to deserve it."The Rose family barbecue on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "There's no connection. It’s just one long string of really bad luck, and I don’t know what kind of carnage I inflicted in my past life to deserve it. I must have been Dracula or a spin instructor or something." -- David RoseDavid and Patrick's four-month anniversary sparks excitement among the Rose family, who plan a barbecue in celebration. After all, it's David's longest relationship. Fearing that he repeatedly sabotages his own love life, David doesn't want to invite Patrick. That leads to what passes for a heart-to-heart with Moira, who sums up her son's previous relationships as, "one bungle after another. I'm not saying there's a connection.""I would hardly call myself an expert on ... genuine human emotion."Daniel Levy as David Rose and Dustin Milligen as Ted Mullens on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "OK, look, um, I would hardly call myself an expert on this subject, and by subject I mean genuine human emotion. So, I am just going to tell you what I know. And you can do whatever you want with that. OK? I know that your name has come up in conversation every single day, for the past six months. Um, I know that she's different now I mean, not that different, obviously, but, um, different enough to know that she made a mistake with you. Or was it two mistakes? Or more?" -- David RoseDespite their frequently antagonistic relationship, deep down, David and Alexis truly care for each other. That becomes apparent again in the Season 4 finale, "Singles Week," when David tries to convince Ted Mullens to give Alexis another chance."What does that mean? What does 'fold in the cheese' mean?"Daniel Levy as David Rose and Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's CreekMoira's attempt to convince her family she knows how to cook erupts into chaos as she becomes determined to teach David a life skill. If there were any doubt the enchilada recipe isn't some sort of family heirloom, as Moira claims, it's resolved by the shared confusion over the instruction to "fold in the cheese.""You smell very flammable right now."Emily Hampshire as Stevie Budd and Daniel Levy as David Rose on Schitt's CreekThe death of Bob Currie's brother, Carl, in Season 1 reveals more about Stevie Budd as her hard-living cousin, Sean, arrives in town for the funeral. Stevie soon joins in the partying, much to David's surprise and amusement.Alexis Rose's Quotes Are a Little Bit... AlexisAnnie Murphy as Alexis Rose on Schitt's CreekPerhaps no Schitt's Creek character is more quotable than Alexis Rose, whose nonstop exasperation with her brother ("David!"), and revelations about her sordid past make her words perfect for (almost) any occasion. Or, at least if you find yourself locked in a car trunk, or dating a world-famous athlete."Ew, David!"Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose on Schitt's Creek"Ew, David!" became a breakout catchphrase of Schitts Creek, despite Alexis Rose's expression of exasperation appearing just three times over the course of six seasons. We could blame the Mandela effect, except Alexis said "David!" -- or some variation there of -- north of 230 times during the first five seasons.Those variations include "No, David," "Ouch, David," "Don't, David," "Honestly, David," "Oh, yay, David," and the timeless classic, "You're like a big, dirty raccoon, David.""Hide your diamonds, hide your exes. I'm a little bit Alexis."Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose on Schitt's CreekSchitt's Creek featured a handful of memorable musical moments, including Noah Reid's heart-melting cover of "Simply the Best" and Emily Hampshire's show-stopping rendition of "Maybe This Time." However, Annie Murphy's choreographed performance of "A Little Bit Alexis" takes the cake.Described as the theme song from the "critically reviewed, limited reality series" of the same name, Alexis Rose performs "A Little Bit Alexis" in the Season 5 episode "The Hospies" as her audition for Cabaret. Alexis turned out to be a little bit ... a little bit ... too much, and lost out on the coveted role of Sally Bowles. Instead, she was cast as one of the Kit Kat Dancers."It’s this long, boring story involving a yacht, and a famous soccer player..."Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose and Jennifer Robertson as Jocelyn Schitt on Schitt's CreekFull quote: “My name is Alexis, and yes, I did not finish high school. Um, it’s this long, boring story involving a yacht, and a famous soccer player, and like a ton of mushrooms.” -- Alexis RoseAt some point, Jocelyn Schitt should have learned that exposing impressionable students to the Rose family might not be the best idea. But in the Season 3 episode "General Store," she welcomes Alexis to her class, as a student, to the youngest Rose can finish high school and earn her diploma. Alexis, of course, makes one heck of a first impression.“I miss being surrounded by loose acquaintances who think I’m funny and smart and charming.”Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "David, I just-- I miss my life! And I miss doing things. And I miss being surrounded by loose acquaintances who think that I'm funny, and smart, and charming. Will you? Just a few people. Please. You can't tell me that you don't wanna hang out with people other than me." -- Alexis RoseWhen Johnny and Moira set off in Season 1 for a weekend getaway, Alexis proposes throwing a party in hopes of creating a facsimile of her former life. Unfortunately, her vision for a gathering doesn't match David's ... or Schitt's Creek's."Gwyneth Paltrow does a compost gift exchange."Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose and Tim Rozon as Mutt Schitt on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "Yeah, no, I I know composting. Um, Gwyneth Paltrow does a compost gift exchange." -- Alexis RoseLike the rest of the Rose family, Alexis is unprepared for their new life in Schitt's Creek. However, to the surprise of Mutt Schitt, she does have some knowledge of composting, thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow."Do I leave everything behind and move to some random island to be with the love of my life?"Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: “What now? Do I leave everything behind and move to some random island to be with the love of my life? Because I did that with Harry Styles in England and it was, like, too rainy.” – Alexis RoseTed's surprise weekend return from the Galapagos Islands presents Alexis with a difficult decision about not only their relationship but also about her life. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she's been in that very situation before, minus the tortoises."It's just a checkpoint, OK?"Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose, Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose and Chris Elliott as Roland Schitt on Schitt's Creek Full quote: "It's just a checkpoint, OK? I've been through tons of these in Johannesburg, um, it's like a drive thru, except everybody has a gun." -- Alexis RoseJohnny Rose's entrepreneurial interests collide head-on with Alexis' inattentiveness in the Season 2 episode "Milk Money," when they're saddled with nearly $400 worth of illegal raw milk. With Roland Schitt in the mix, it's sheer panic as they arrive at a police checkpoint with a truckload of illicit milk, hastily made-up aliases, and a flimsy cover story.“I don’t skate through life. ... I walk through life."Daniel Levy as David Rose and Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: “I don’t skate through life, David. I walk through life. In really nice shoes.” -- Alexis RoseDavid Rose is nothing if not a bundle of anxieties, in stark contrast to his sister Alexis, who's unfazed by anything. When David's license expires in Season 3, care-free Alexis chauffeurs him to his driving test, which leads to his accusation that, "you've always just gotten stuff, without realizing that other people don't skate through life the same way you do."Moira Rose Quotes Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's CreekWhat can be said about Moira Rose that hasn't already been said by ... Moira Rose? She's the melodramatic former soap opera star with a flare for melodrama but not, unfortunately, for parenting or, well, everyday life. Amid the theatrics, and indiscernible accent, Moira delivers a never-ending supply of iconic Schitt's Creek quotes. Some of them are even insightful, bébés. Honest!"You must prepare for life, and whatever it will throw at you."Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose and Jennifer Robertson as Jocelyn Schitt in Schitt's CreekFull quote: "You must prepare for life, and whatever it will throw at you. The opportunities will diminish, and the ass will get bigger. Oh, you can bet your bottom dollar it will! Especially yours. You're going to have a huge ass. And you, future baldy. Sorry, hairless, homeless! So what? Who cares? When they get mean, you tell them to go to hell! Because only you know who you are! And those cruel Internet people cannot take that away from you! You will forge on! And you will find some glimmer of something to hold on to. And only then will you find your way back. Only then will you become once again who you are!" -- Moira RoseIf there's anyone worse than David Rose to trust with shaping the minds of young people, it's his mother, Moira Rose. But in the Season 1 episode "Don't Worry, It's His Sister," Jocelyn Schitt asks Moira to coach her students, who are staging an anti-drug play. After a rough start -- "Never let the bastards get you down!" -- Moira momentarily course-corrects, only to go completely off the rails. “Gossip is the devil’s telephone. Best to just hang up.”Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose and Sarah Levy as Twyla Sands on Schitt's CreekMoira is woefully uninformed about her children's personal lives, primarily because she can't be bothered with the details. But when Twyla Sands demonstrates in the Season 4 episode "Girls' Night" that she's up to date on Alexis' love life, Moira deflects by pretending to take the high road by not participating in "gossip.""Take a thousand naked pictures of yourself now."Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "Allow me to offer some advice. Take a thousand naked pictures of yourself now. You may currently think, ‘Oh, I’m too spooky,’ or ‘Nobody wants to see these tiny boobies,’ but believe me: One day you will look at those photos with much kinder eyes and say, ‘Dear God, I was a beautiful thing!” -- Moira RoseEvery once in a while, almost as by accident, Moira Rose doles out genuinely helpful advice. The first noteworthy instance is in the Season 2 episode "Moira's Nudes," when she's disappointed to discover the purported naked photos leaked online aren't actually her. That leads to a moment of regret, then self-reflection, and, ultimately, some well-meaning (if misguided) words of wisdom for Stevie Budd."A mother puts her own mask on first.”Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose and Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: “If airplane safety videos have taught me anything, David, it’s that a mother puts her own mask on first.” -- Moira RoseMoira Rose seldom places the needs of her children before her own. In the Season 3 episode "The Affair," she sort of explains the reasoning behind that position when David insists, "I'm pretty sure parents are supposed to put their children before themselves.""I was half-expecting early Unabomber.”Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose and Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: “This place is almost charming. Very rustic cottage… I was half-expecting early Unabomber.” -- Moira RoseJohnny and Moira's plan for a romantic getaway at Roland Schitt's cabin starts out well enough. That is, if you can overlook Johnny having to crawl through a window to unlock the door. Plus, the cabin is much nicer than Moira envisioned. Of course, all of that makes sense once they realize they mistakenly broke into Bob and Gwen Currie's cabin. Still, "almost charming.""I had to be both puppet and puppeteer!”Daniel Levy as David Rose and Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: “I know all about being left in the lurch for a fundraiser. Eva Longoria and I were supposed to perform our ventriloquist act for the Everybody Nose Benefit for Juvenile Rhinoplasty when she suddenly drops out due to exhaustion. I had to be both puppet and puppeteer!” -- Moira RosePoor Jocelyn Schitt's is on the verge of a breakdown in Season 4 when the headliner of her annual fundraiser -- television's Moira Rose! -- won't commit to a routine, just a day before Asbestos Fest. When Jocelyn reveals that her sister was supposed to help organize the event, but had to drop out, Moira empathizes, and shares her own experience. But she definitely doesn't make the situation any easier."What you did was impulsive, capricious and melodramatic. But it was also wrong."Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose, Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose and Annie Murphy as Alexis Rose on Schitt's CreekWhen the Roses' plan to sell Schitt's Creek falls through in the Season 1 finale, David runs away. He's found, three days later, in the Season 2 premiere, living with a kind Amish family that can't wait to see him leave. Although Moira is more concerned about the status of her crocodile bag, which David took with him, she also has some motherly -- or, at least, mother-like -- words for her prodigal son."You just stand your solid ground, refusing to be anything but you."Emily Hampshire as Stevie Budd and Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "What the hell is your secret, Stevie? You just stand your solid ground, refusing to be anything but you. Hmm. Never thought I'd say this about anyone in this town, but you you're very, very cool. And whether you set sail, or stay put, that's not going to change. Now, why don't we take our Sally by the hand, and we go out there, and show those people everything she can be. If she were only more like you." -- Moira RoseStevie's biggest moment in Schitt's Creek arrives in the Season 5 finale, when she belts out "Maybe This Time" as Sally Bowles in the local production of Cabaret. However, that might not have happened without Moira, who drops her facade to give a pep talk to a nervous Stevie."What does burning smell like?"Daniel Levy as David Rose and Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "David! Oh good, now I see bubbles. David! What does burning smell like?" -- Moira RoseJocelyn Schitt's kitchen deserved a better fate than to become an unfortunate laboratory for Moira's enchilada experiment. But as the Season 2 episode "Family Dinner" spiraled out of control, Moira's primary concern quickly turned from the meaning of "fold in the cheese" to the smell of burned ... something."Now I know how it feels to be utterly helpless, like you, and your sister."Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "I could make a bed, I could fix a wobbly table, or start a car without a key. Then I met your father, and suddenly I had people to do everything for me. And I assumed that I would maintain my proficiencies, should I ever, God forbid, need them. But no, I have lost all my skills. And now I know how it feels to be utterly helpless, like you, and your sister." -- Moira RoseMoira Rose wasn't always the aging former daytime soap star prone to flights of fancy and desperate to reclaim her fame. Or so we're told. Once upon a time, she could actually do things for herself, and maybe even pronounce "baby" without affectation. However, in "Family Dinner," she mourns the loss of her fabled self-sufficiency, which is what leads to the enchilada dinner."Our lives are like little bébé crows, carried upon a curious wind."Daniel Levy as David Rose, Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose and Noah Reid as Patrick Brewer on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "We are gathered here today to celebrate the love between two people, whose lives were ostensibly brought together by the fated flap of a butterfly wing. It is all but impossible to explain why things happen the way they do. Our lives are like little bébé crows, carried upon a curious wind. And all we can wish, for our families, for those we love, is that that wind will eventually places us on solid ground. And I believe it's done just that for my family here. In this little town. In the middle of nowhere." -- Moira RoseMoira's crowning moment, both in terms of fashion and genuine emotion, arrives in the series finale a she presides over the wedding of David and Patrick. While dressed as ... the Pope? But don't let the miter distract from her moving words, about fate and love.Johnny Rose QuotesEugene Levy as Johnny Rose on Schitt's CreekAlthough Johnny Rose isn't exactly the family's bedrock, he's undeniably the most grounded member. When Moira, David or Alexis pursue their latest flights of fancy, it's often Johnny's responsibility to rein them in. However, Johnny's practicality is frequently complicated by his difficulties navigating modern technology and "hip" expression, which is understandable, considering he made his fortune in home video. Luckily, Johnny's bewilderment sometimes spawns some of the best Schitt's Creek quotes.“Tweet us on Facebook!”Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose and Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "Moira, you're having a drink, you glance down at your coaster, it says, 'tweet us on Facebook!' Or uh, 'leave us a review!' And you say, yeah, yeah, OK, I think I will." -- Johnny RoseJohnny Rose understands business and branding, but the finer points of social media may elude him. That much becomes obvious when he orders drink coasters in an effort to promote the motel."It's not called Schittsville. It's called Schitt's Creek."The Roses and the Schitts on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "The joke is I'm sitting here in a half-decent restaurant with my wife and our friends. And all you two have done is complain about the food, and pretend that you didn't leave us high and dry after we lost everything. ... I'm not quite past it, Moira. You wrote us off, Don. Not a phone call, not an email, not a nickel. Roland and Jocelyn here, could not have been more generous with what little they have. They found us a place to live, they've offered us their truck whenever we've needed it. They've invited us to their parties, they even offered to take us out to dinner tonight. ... And that town you passed through, it's not called Schittsville. It's called Schitt's Creek. And it's where we live." -- Johnny RoseJohnny Rose's first big stand-up-and-cheer moment arrives in the Season 2 finale, when he and Moira run into two old friends who turned their backs on them. After Don and Bev spend much of dinner making fun of "Schittsville," in front of Roland and Jocelyn Schitt, Johnny finally decides enough is enough."Not smart enough to stop wearing sweaters in the middle of the summer.”Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "Oh, look at David. Smart enough to get that joke, but not smart enough to stop wearing sweaters in the middle of the summer.” -- Johnny RoseWith Moira preoccupied with staging Cabaret, Johnny volunteers to take her place in the annual Mayor's Roast. Unfortunately, Johnny isn't exactly the king of comedy. However, in his mind, he absolutely slew at the roast -- and when he returned, triumphant, to the motel, he took good-natured aim at his family."Talk to the hand, son, because the ears are no longer working."Eugene Levy as Johnny Rose on Schitt's CreekJohnny Rose's understanding of social media is only slightly less tenuous than his grasp of contemporary lingo. Hence, this dismissal of David in the Season 1 episode "Surprise Party," immediately followed by a (somehow) even worse one: "Cancel your trip, Alexis, because the travel agent is out of the office." David and Alexis were horrified, naturally.Stevie Budd Quotes That Are Sincerely InspiringEmily Hampshire as Steve Budd on Schitt's CreekEasily the least-eccentric native of Schitt's Creek, Stevie Budd is frequently the deadpan observer of the Rose family's antics. But while the motel manager turned owner pretends not to care about anything, she's revealed to be filled with uncertainty, about her abilities and her prospects. Surprisingly enough, it's the Rose family that leads Stevie down the path to self-confidence. Along the way, she delivers her share of noteworthy Schitt's Creek quotes."I have my own holiday tradition."Emily Hampshire as Steve Budd and Noah Reid as Patrick Brewer on Schitt's CreekFull quote: “I have my own holiday tradition. It’s like the 12 Days of Christmas, but it’s one day with 12 bottles of wine.” -- Stevie BuddJohnny Rose decides two throw a Christmas party at the motel, and enlists Stevie Budd to buy the wine at Rose Apothecary. When David questions the need for two cases of wine, Stevie shares a holiday tradition of her own. She was joking ... probably."I'm incapable of faking sincerity."Emily Hampshire as Steve Budd on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "So you know that I think your business is a good idea, and you know that I mean that, because I'm incapable of faking sincerity. I'm also just incapable of sincerity in general." -- Stevie BuddIf a single quote can sum up Stevie Budd, it's this one. When an anxious David wrestles with uncertainty about his business idea in Season 3, the often-sarcastic Stevie offers her support, and underscores what Schitt's Creek fans already knew about her."I know everything about you, about your history, your family, and I'm still here."Daniel Levy as David Rose and Emily Hampshire as Steve Budd on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that you were probably surrounding yourself with the wrong people, and we both know that Patrick is not that kind of person. Also, I know everything about you, about your history, your family, and I'm still here." -- Stevie BuddStevie quickly becomes David's best -- well, only -- friend on Schitt's Creek. More than that, she serves as a one-person Greek chorus, commenting on his anxieties and indecision. The discovery that Patrick was previously engaged to a woman sends David into a spiral that leaves their relationship in doubt. However, Stevie has a solution: a spa getaway for David and herself, and some straight talk about keeping secrets from those you care about."Nobody hates me more than me."Full quote: "Uh, yeah, fine. But if it makes you feel any better, nobody hates me more than me. Generally speaking." -- Stevie BuddDespite the obvious pitfalls of such a relationship, Stevie and David stumble forward in their confusing "throuple" arrangement with Jake, the rugged woodworker. Amid jealousy and suspicion, the relationship ends, somehow, even more awkwardly than it began, with Stevie trying to explain why she planned on going out with Jake, even after she thought he was breaking up with David.Patrick Brewer QuotesNoah Reid as Patrick Brewer on Schitt's CreekThoughtful and practical, Patrick Brewer is, without a doubt, the most "normal" resident of Schitt's Creek. That's a big part of what makes his evolving relationship with David, from business partner to boyfriend to husband, so charming to watch. Patrick helps to make Rose Apothecary a reality, and proves to David that not every relationship ends in heartache. Despite that "nice guy" persona, however, Patrick enjoys winding up David with some-placed barbs. "You have to stop watching Notting Hill."Noah Reid as Patrick Brewer and Daniel Levy as David Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: “David, you have to stop watching Notting Hill. It’s not helpful for our relationship.” -- Patrick BrewerPatrick's plans to propose to David following a lengthy hike are complicated, first by high expectations fueled by David's love for romantic comedies, and then by Patrick's injury. The latter can't be blamed on Notting Hill, however."You're my Mariah Carey."Daniel Levy as David Rose and Noah Reid as Patrick Brewer on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "Mariah Carey concert, I know. Yeah. And I don't expect you to say it back to me, right now. You say it when you're ready. It just felt right to me, in the moment. You're my Mariah Carey." -- Patrick BrewerStressed out by the state of Ted and Alexis' relationship, and by preparations for Singles Week, David attempts to pawn off some of his work. Patrick responds in the best way possible, by telling David "I love you," thereby, purposely adding to his stress. That's because he knows David has only said those words three times: twice to his parents, and once at a ... well, you know."It's like you're an oracle when it comes to the sex lives of lonely people." Noah Reid as Patrick Brewer and Daniel Levy as David Rose on Schitt's CreekFull quote: "Well, David, I gotta hand it to you. We've already sold half of our massage oils. It's like you're an oracle when it comes to the sex lives of lonely people." -- Patrick BrewerThe "Singles Week" episode produces another worthy Patrick Brewer quote, as marvels at David's ability to predict consumer demand for ... massage oils. It's a very specific talent, but apparently quite profitable.KEEP READING: 12 Powerfully Inspiring Things to Watch While You’re Stuck at Home
Ewan McGregor's Response to Racist Star Wars Trolls Attacking Moses Ingram Was Powerful - But Sad
Lucasfilm didn't require a Force vision to foresee that Moses Ingram, the Black co-star of Obi-Wan Kenobi, would become a target of racist Star Wars fans. After all, John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran, both actors of color, experienced relentless online harassment because of their roles in the sequel trilogy. True to form, and just as the company had warned, the trolls arrived following the May 27 premiere of the Disney+ series, armed with racist attacks. RELATED: 12 Obi-Wan Kenobi Quotes to Make You More Powerful Than You Can Possibly ImagineIngram, who plays Reva Sevander, an Imperial Inquisitor tasked by Darth Vader with hunting down surviving Jedi, shared a selection of the offensive messages she has received in a series of Instagram stories. "There are hundreds of those. Hundreds," she said in the accompanying video. However, she added, “I also see those of you out there who put on a cape for me. And that really does mean the world to me.”Ewan McGregor's Response to Racist Star Wars FansYou can count among her supporters the titular Obi-Wan Kenobi, Reva's onscreen adversary. Actor Ewan McGregor stood firmly with Ingram in his own video, insisting, "If you're sending her bullying messages, you're not a Star Wars fan, in my mind.""It seems that some of the fan base, from this influential fan base, decided to attack Moses Ingram online and send her the most horrendous, racist DMs," the Obi-Wan Kenobi star said. "And I heard some of them this morning, and it just broke my heart. Moses is a brilliant actor. She's a brilliant woman, and she's absolutely amazing in this series. She brings so much to the series, she brings so much to the franchise. And it just sickened me to my stomach to hear that this had been happening. I just want to say, as the leading actor in the series, as the executive producer of the series, that we stand with Moses. We love Moses. [...] There's no room for racism in this world."The official Star Wars social media accounts took a similarly strong stance: "There are more than 20 million sentient species in the Star Wars galaxy, don’t choose to be a racist. We are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family and excited for Reva’s story to unfold. If anyone intends to make her feel in any way unwelcome, we have only one thing to say: we resist."Moses Ingram: "There's Nothing Anybody Can Do About This"Moses Ingram as Reva Sevander, the Third Sister, in Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)The forceful messages from McGregor and Lucasfilm in support of Ingram were welcomed by many fans. They're direct and unvarnished, addressing the problem in no uncertain terms. But, of course, they shouldn't be necessary. Moses Ingram shouldn't find herself the subject of online threats and insults for any reason, let alone simply for being a person of color involved in a Star Wars project.But, as Ingram acknowledged, there's an infuriating inevitability to such attacks as elements of fandom grow more toxic.RELATED: The Most Motivational Star Wars Quotes from a Galaxy Far, Far Away“There's nothing anybody can do about this," she said. "There's nothing anybody can do to stop this hate. I question what my purpose is even being here in front of you, saying that this is happening. … But I think the thing that bothers me, is this feeling that I've had inside of myself -- which no one has told me -- but this feeling that I've just got to shut up and take it. That I've just got to grin and bear it. And I'm not built like that.”Lucasfilm at least braced Ingram for what to expect, a lesson learned from the earlier online mistreatment of Boyega and Tran, and perhaps the company's own missteps. “It was something that Lucasfilm actually got in front of, and said, ‘This is a thing that, unfortunately, likely will happen. But we are here to help you; you can let us know when it happens,'" Ingram told The Independent ahead of the Obi-Wan Kenobi premiere. “Of course there are always pockets of hate,” she added. “But I have no problem with the block button.”Racist Star Wars Fans Are Nothing NewKelly Marie Tran and John Boyega in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)Racist Star Wars fans lashed out at actor John Boyega virtually from the moment in 2014 when the teaser for Star Wars: The Force Awakens dropped, and revealed his character, Finn, to be a renegade stormtrooper. Comments ranged from briefly questioning the footage's authenticity -- how can there be a Black stormtrooper? -- to outright racist bile. Things grew worse, and more complicated, from there -- and not only for Boyega.Kelly Marie Tran, the Vietnamese-American actor introduced in The Last Jedi as Resistance mechanic Rose Tico, likewise drew backlash. Online harassment grew so bad that, in June 2018, Tran her Instagram posts. She subsequently abandoned social media entirely. RELATED: The Best Quotes from Star War’s Yoda About Fear, Patience and KnowledgeAll of that unfolded against the backdrop of a shifting trilogy storyline. The Force Awakens set up Finn as a central character, and The Last Jedi paired him with Rose for a shared subplot. However, the finale,The Rise of Skywalker, greatly diminished their roles. Finn and Rose were effectively sidelined as the primary focus turned to Daisy Ridley's Rey and Adam Driver's Kylo Ren. (Ridley's character was subjected to sexist criticism by those who viewed her as a Mary Sue.)"What I would say to Disney is do not bring out a black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are and then have them pushed to the side," Boyega told British GQ in 2020. "[...] “Like, you guys knew what to do with Daisy Ridley, you knew what to do with Adam Driver. You knew what to do with these other people, but when it came to Kelly Marie Tran, when it came to John Boyega, you know f*** all."Ahmed Best Was an Early Target of Toxic Star Wars FansAhmed Best and Jake Lloyd, on the set of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)Star Wars has a long, complicated history with race that dates back to its very origins. Creator George Lucas was heavily influenced by Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress, to the point that the signature elements of the Jedi become cultural appropriation. That's in an original trilogy in which Billy Dee Williams is the only prominent actor of color to appear onscreen.Lucas' Star Wars prequels, on which so much of Obi-Wan Kenobi's drama hinges, certainly diversified the Jedi Order. But, beginning with 1999's The Phantom Menace, they also infamously introduced a slew of characters that are frequently interpreted as racist caricatures. Among them were the Neimoidians, who controlled the Trade Federation, and Watto, the junk dealer who owned young Anakin Skywalker and his mother. The most prominent, however, was Jar Jar Biinks, the clumsy Gungan intended as the trilogy's comic relief, but who became widely reviled by fans.Portrayed by Ahmed Best, Jar Jar was quickly labeled "an intergalactic Stepin Fetchit," an unflattering reference to vaudeville comedian and film star, Lincoln Percy. Although it's legitimate to scrutinize Jar Jar's characterization, the ridicule heaped upon him, and, by extension, Best, went beyond that. The actor acknowledged in 2018 that the media backlash nearly drove him to take his own life. Why Ewan McGregor's Response Is So ImportantMoses Ingram as Reva Sevander, the Third Sister, in Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)The Disney era has made meaningful progress toward diversifying Star Wars. More women and people of color appear in key roles, in franchise films and series, than ever before. That, unfortunately, goes a long way toward explaining the push-back from racist Star Wars fans.Lucasfilm failed Ahmed Best; that much is clear. Sixteen years later, the company was perhaps unprepared for the growing toxicity of the internet, and the harassment encountered by actors like John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran. Sure, the Star Wars Facebook page famously defended Rose Tico, while The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson and star Mark Hamill lent their support to Tran. But this time, with Moses Ingram, feels different, even if the racist messages are familiar. Lucasfilm was proactive, warning the actor of what she would encounter, and, in Ingram's words, executives put in place "the proper systems in place so I feel safe as we do the work." The company's response this time wasn't a mere Facebook clapback; it was a repudiation of racist trolls. That was followed by Ewan McGregor's full-throated support for Ingram.His declaration that, "If you're sending her bullying messages, you're not a Star Wars fan, in my mind," was heartfelt, and powerful. Beloved for his role as Obi-Wan, McGregor is using that status to draw a line in the sand. That's the kind of gatekeeping most people can get behind.KEEP READING: Darth Vader Quotes That Reveal the Power of the Dark Side
