Robert Evans was a Hollywood powerhouse, the aspiring producer behind iconic films like Chinatown and The French Connection who reshaped the landscape of 1970s cinema. Though celebrated for his keen eye and box office success, Evans’ personal life was often marked by turbulence, including battles with addiction and a controversial connection to a murder investigation.His increasingly dramatic physical transformation, fueled by numerous plastic surgeries, also became a source of interest and concern within the industry-and ultimately, a point of pointed commentary from close collaborator jack Nicholson.
Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson once famously compared a powerful producer to a cat. The producer in question was Robert Evans, the man behind enduring classics like Chinatown and The French Connection, and a frequent collaborator with Nicholson himself. But by the 1990s, Nicholson had grown distant from Evans, reportedly disturbed by the producer’s excessive plastic surgery and struggles with substance abuse.
Jack Nicholson Was ‘Disgusted’ by Robert Evans’ Appearance
Evans and Nicholson first connected on the set of Chinatown. While Nicholson preferred to be left alone to focus on his work, Evans reportedly spent hours obsessing over minute details, frustrating not only the star but also director Roman Polanski and Faye Dunaway, known for her volatile temperament. Dunaway’s own history of on-set drama made the situation even more tense.
According to accounts from the time, Nicholson once turned to Polanski during filming and said:
This movie would be brilliant if the cat wasn’t sitting on it.
The remark was a pointed jab at Evans, who had already undergone multiple facelifts despite being in his early forties. This anecdote offers a glimpse into the often-turbulent dynamics of Hollywood filmmaking.
Producer Linked to a Murder Case
Chinatown was a massive success, earning Evans an Oscar nomination and solidifying his reputation as one of the decade’s most influential producers. However, the 1980s brought a downturn. He battled a severe cocaine addiction, his behavior became increasingly erratic, and he became entangled in the 1983 murder of producer Roy Radin, a case known as the Cotton Club murder. Evans was connected to the case through multiple avenues, but was never convicted.
A Return to Nicholson’s World, With Conditions
After years away from the spotlight, Evans was brought back by Jack Nicholson to produce The Two Jakes, a quasi-sequel to Chinatown. Rumors circulated that Evans was even offered a small acting role, but Nicholson reportedly vetoed the idea after witnessing the extent of the producer’s plastic surgery. By then in his sixties, Evans’ face was immobile, his voice raspy, and his gaze unsettling – fueling the infamous “cat-like” comparisons. The incident underscores the often-unconventional pressures and transformations within the entertainment industry.
