Even Hollywood’s most famous family names don’t always come with confidence.
Ray Nicholson — son of screen legend Jack Nicholson — recently shared how actor Eric Dane stepped up to support him during a make-or-break moment in his early acting career.
The 33-year-old rising star opened up about a shaky table read for the dark comedy Borderline and how the kind gesture from Dane, best known for Euphoria and Grey’s Anatomy, helped him turn things around.
Crumbling Under Pressure at the First Table Read
Nicholson admitted to feeling the pressure during his first major table read for Borderline, where he plays an escaped mental patient obsessed with a pop star, played by Samara Weaving.
Surrounded by seasoned professionals — including Weaving and her husband, director Jimmy Warden — Nicholson said he “tanked” the reading so badly, he feared he might get fired.
“I totally tanked it,” he confessed, recalling how he tried to psych himself up with jumping jacks in the bathroom.
“I was watching Samara look at her husband like, ‘This kid’s going to ruin your movie.’”
Eric Dane’s Simple Gesture Made a Huge Difference
Instead of being judged, Nicholson found unexpected support from co-star Eric Dane, who invited him to lunch after the table read.
That gesture, Nicholson says, changed everything.
“He was so kind, loving, and supportive,” Nicholson shared.
“I told him, ‘I’m the most nervous to work with you,’ and he said, ‘No dude, I’m nervous to work with you.’ It was this really sweet moment.”
From that point on, Nicholson says Dane became someone he could lean on throughout filming.
“He’s an empowering and giving scene partner,” Nicholson added. “I really love him a great deal.”
Nepo Baby or Not, He’s Still Fighting Inner Demons
Despite being the son of Jack Nicholson and actress Rebecca Broussard, Ray says the “nepo baby” label doesn’t shield him from self-doubt.
He still wrestles with imposter syndrome and a harsh inner critic he calls “the saboteur.”
“I’ve worked really hard to quiet that voice,” he told Us Weekly.
“Even when I say I’m nervous, what I’m really doing is preparing myself to fail — convincing myself I’m not good enough.”
Acting as a Way to Discover Himself
Nicholson said that acting continually pushes him to learn more about who he is — and sometimes reveals strength he didn’t know he had.
“What I love about this job is it’s the thing that tests me the most,” he explained.
“Each role demands something new from me that I didn’t know I had.”
Working on Borderline was no exception, and he said the experience — both the highs and the stumbles — left a lasting impression.
Reflecting on His Famous Father and Their Bond
Ray also opened up about the complicated feelings that come with being Jack Nicholson’s son.
He doesn’t shy away from the pressure that comes with the name — but he’s learning to embrace it.
“Do I feel that pressure? I don’t know. Maybe,” he said.
“But step by step, I begin to understand him more.
He becomes more human to me, and I love him more — even if we don’t always talk about it.”
Borderline Pushes the Limits in a Twisted Thriller
In Borderline, Nicholson plays Paul, a disturbed romantic who escapes a mental institution and invades the home of a ’90s pop icon (played by Weaving), convinced they’re destined to be married.
Eric Dane portrays her protective bodyguard, trying to stop the dangerous obsession from turning deadly.
The film — a blend of thriller and dark comedy — was released on March 14 and is now available to stream.