Tom Cruise Punched Jack Nicholson on 'A Few Good Men' Set, Co-Star Kevin Pollak Recounts

Actor Kevin Pollak has shared an anecdote about a playful physical interaction between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson on the set of the 1992 film "A Few Good Men." Pollak recounted that Cruise punched Nicholson in the shoulder following a tense courtroom scene where their characters, Lt. Daniel Kaffee and Col. Nathan Jessup, were in a heated exchange.

During an appearance on the "Still Here Hollywood" podcast, Pollak, who also starred in the film, described the moment when Cruise's character, Kaffee, delivered the line, "I want the truth." Pollak explained that during the close-up shot of Nicholson's character, where Nicholson had to position his face near the camera lens, Nicholson made a "ridiculous clown face."

According to Pollak, Cruise, while staying in character, continued the scene and then delivered the punch to Nicholson's shoulder. Both actors reportedly laughed afterward, indicating the interaction was lighthearted. "So, that was Jack and my experience," Pollak said.

"A Few Good Men," directed by Rob Reiner and written by Aaron Sorkin, is a legal drama that follows Lt. Kaffee as he defends two U.S. Marines accused of murder at Guantánamo Bay. The film also stars Demi Moore as Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway and features Kevin Bacon, Kiefer Sutherland, and J.T. Walsh in supporting roles. The movie was a critical and commercial success, earning four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Nicholson.

Pollak also recently shared insights into working with director Rob Reiner, recalling Reiner's philosophy on set. "The big thing with Rob was just, if we're not having fun, there's no point in any of this," Pollak told People. "And he said that while we're doing a very intense courtroom drama, and it was a great lesson and a great way to work."

Pollak also recounted an amusing anecdote about Reiner, who, when asked by a passerby what he was working on in Washington D.C., jokingly replied "The Godfather" instead of "A Few Good Men," to avoid a lengthy explanation about a lesser-known Broadway play.