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How Dustin Hoffman unknowingly prevented Geena Davis from hooking up with Jack Nicholson

Why Geena Davis turned down a date with Jack Nicholson

Popverse’s coverage of C2E2 is brought to you by Signet Collectibles, the go-to place for authentic autographed items! Embrace your collecting Journey. 


Hollywood is filled with power couples. It’s not unusual for actors to get caught up in the moment and begin a whirlwind romance with a co-star, colleague, or an industry friend. However, it’s interesting to think about the romances that never happened. For example, did you know that Geena Davis almost got together with Jack Nicholson? According to the Thelma and Louise actress, the only thing that stopped her was some advice from her Tootsie co-star Dustin Hoffman.

“Working with Dustin Hoffman was the best thing that ever happened to me because he took a very strong interest in me and my career,” Geena Davis revealed during a spotlight panel at C2E2 2026. “He was constantly giving me advice about my future career and stuff. It was fantastic. And one time he said, ‘Never sleep with your costar. Just don’t. It’s a bad idea. It will ruin the sexual tension. Just don’t do it.’”

“Not long after that, I happened to be at a dinner with Jack Nicholson and some other people. I didn’t know him whatsoever. Somebody knew him and he was at the dinner. When I got to my hotel there was a message that said 'Call Jack Nicholson,' and a phone number. And I was like, ‘What? I’m going to keep this forever.’ People wrote down messages at that time.”

“I called the number and said, ‘Mr. Nicholson, this is Geena the model. I understand you called me.’ He says, ‘[Nicholson voice] Hey Geena. When is it going to happen?’ And I was like, ‘Oh. Mr. Nicholson, I think you have the wrong idea.’ And he’s like, ‘No, come on. I’ll send a car.’ I said, ‘Well, Jack, I have a strong feeling that we are going to work together at some point, and I would hate to have ruined the sexual tension between us.’ And he said, ‘Oh man, who told you to say that?’”

As of this writing, the two haven’t appeared together in any films. However, if they do, at least the sexual tension won’t be ruined. Thanks Dustin.


Popverse’s coverage of C2E2 is brought to you by Signet Collectibles, the go-to place for authentic autographed items! Embrace your collecting Journey. 


 

About C2E2

Comics, cosplay, gaming, authors, and anime abound in the only pop culture convention in the heart of Downtown Chicago! We've gathered your favorite celebrities, unique exhibitors, incredible comic creators, and larger-than-life literary authors into one place to celebrate the fandoms you love. From the halls of Artist Alley to the depths of the Show Floor, our goal is to provide a space of creativity and fun, but most importantly, one that cultivates a sense of belonging, safety, and inclusiveness.

Dates

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Location

Chicago's McCormick Place
United States

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Joshua Lapin-Bertone

Joshua Lapin-Bertone: Joshua is a pop culture writer specializing in comic book media. His work has appeared on the official DC Comics website, the DC Universe subscription service, HBO Max promotional videos, the Batman Universe fansite, and more. In between traveling around the country to cover various comic conventions, Joshua resides in Florida where he binges superhero television and reads obscure comics from yesteryear.

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