In what film does Jack Nicholson play a character named Garrett Breedlove?

After two years without making a film, Jack Nicholson returned in "Terms of Endearment" (1983). He plays Garrett Breedlove, a fictional astronaut trying to adjust his life, after his glory days in space are over. Paunchy, frequently drunk, seeking solace in the beds of younger women, Garrett finally comes down to earth when he begins an affair with his next-door neighbor. She is a wealthy, middle-aged Houston widow named Aurora Greenway.

Nicholson said, ''I was glad to do this character on the comic side. I knew another film, "The Right Stuff" was coming out." He wanted to see the film when they started working on it, but nothing was put together. So he decided he didn't want to view it. He decided to give a skillful performance; he tried to present something truthful about astronauts. Based upon what he learned, Nicholson stated to the press, "I don't think this is really outlandish or impossible behavior for a former astronaut.''

Garrett Breedlove is not the main character in ''Terms of Endearment,'' which was written for the screen and directed by James L. Brooks. Based on Larry McMurtry's novel, the film tells the story of a mother-daughter relationship over a period of 30 years. Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger have the leading roles; the various men in their lives are supporting actors. Yet, Garrett Breedlove is called the character who holds the key to this film. He is one character invented for this movie, and his presence indicates the director's goal.