Jack Nicholson's rep dismisses reports of retirement

A representative for Jack Nicholson has dismissed reports suggesting the movie icon has quietly retired from acting because he is finding it harder to remember his lines.

Sources claimed The Departed star, who started acting in the 1950s and last appeared in a film three years ago, had stepped out of the spotlight "without fanfare" and had no plans to return to acting, but a spokesman for the star insists that's not the case.

The rep tells NBC the 76 year old is "suffering no memory loss" and is currently reading scripts for "future film projects".

Reports suggest producers for the upcoming film Nebraska wanted the three-time Oscar winner to play an alcoholic father, but he turned the role down and it subsequently went to Bruce Dern.