Nicholson akatanga kuuya kuHollywood muna 1954, paakanga ava nemakore gumi nemanomwe, kuzoshanyira hanzvadzi yake. Akatora basa semushandi wehofisi yevanogadzira mifananidzo William Hanna naJoseph Barbera paMGM cartoon studio. Vakamupa basa rekutanga semunhu anogadzira mifananidzo, asi akaramba, achitaura nezvechishuwo chake chekuva mutambi. Akadzidziswa kuve mutambi neboka rinonzi Players Ring Theatre, mushure menguva iyo akawana zvikamu zvidiki zvekuita pachikuva uye mumaTV soap opera. Akaita firimu rake rekutanga mune yakaderera-bhajeti yevechidiki mutambo weThe Cry Baby Killer (1958), achitamba zita remusoro. Kwemakore gumi anotevera, Nicholson aigara achishandira pamwe nemugadziri wefirimu, Roger Corman.
The Cry Baby Killer (1958)