Jack Torrance
John Daniel Edward "Jack" Torrance is the main antagonist of Stephen King's horror novel The Shining (1977). He was portrayed by Jack Nicholson in the novel's 1980 movie adaptation and by Steven Weber in the 1997 miniseries. The American Film Institute rated the character (as played by Nicholson) the 25th greatest film villain of all time. In 2008, Jack Torrance was selected by Empire Magazine as one of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters.Premiere Magazine also ranked Torrance on their list of The 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
He is married to Wendy Torrance, the father of Daniel Torrance and Lucy Stone and grandfather of Abra Stone.
Biography
In novel
Jack Torrance grew up in Compton, California, where his father worked in the Compton Community Hospital. He is a writer and former teacher whose alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual appetite and volatile temper cost him his teaching position at a small preparatory school and nearly ended his marriage to Wendy Torrance. He gives up the drinking and drug abuse after breaking his son Danny's arm in a blind rage and promises Wendy that she can leave him if he ever drinks or uses again. He accepts a position maintaining the isolated Overlook Hotel in Colorado for the winter, hoping this will salvage his family, re-establish his career, and give him the time and privacy to finish a promising play. He moves to the hotel with Wendy and Danny, who is telepathic and sensitive to supernatural forces. Danny receives guidance from an imaginary friend he calls "Tony". Danny is also comforted by meeting the hotel's kindly cook, Dick Hallorann, who shares Danny's telepathic abilities.
Jack Torrance (athlete)
John "Jack" Torrance (June 20, 1912 – November 10, 1969) was an American shot putter and football player. Torrance broke the shot put world record several times in 1934, his eventual best mark of 17.40 m remaining unbeaten until 1948. At the 1936 Summer Olympics he placed fifth.
Biography
Torrance studied at Louisiana State University, competing for the LSU Tigers in a variety of sports and events. Although shot put was his best event, he was also a good discus thrower, football player and basketball player. In 1933, his junior year, he won his first NCAA championship in the shot, throwing a meet record 16.10 m (52 ft 10 in) to beat his challengers by more than two feet. In addition, he placed third in the discus. LSU won the NCAA team title that year, narrowly beating favored University of Southern California. Torrance also won the national championship in the shot that year, throwing 15.68 m (51 ft 4 7⁄8 in) to beat Stanford's Gordon Dunn and John Lyman. His winning mark at the NCAAs was the best in the world that year and only four inches short of František Douda's world record of 16.20 m.
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