Nick Nolte, 85, returned to the red carpet after four years at the Venice Film Festival to promote Casey Affleck’s Company. (Photo: Getty Images)

Nick Nolte has made his first red carpet appearance in four years, stepping out at the Venice Film Festival to promote his new gothic anthology film Company. The 85-year-old three-time Oscar nominee posed for photographers alongside his co-star, writer and director Casey Affleck.Nolte’s appearance marks a notable public return for the veteran actor, who was last seen on a red carpet in 2022 at the Philadelphia Film Festival premiere of The Golden Voice. His latest outing has drawn attention not only because of the long gap but also because of his role in one of the festival’s new films.

Nick Nolte plays an aging hermit in ‘Company’

Company follows a mysterious woman named Evelyn who arrives uninvited at a holiday gathering and begins telling a series of interconnected stories.According to the film’s official synopsis, one of those stories centres on Tom, an aging hermit played by Nolte, who rescues a stranded actress during a Colorado blizzard in 1953.As the night progresses, the actress tells another story about a farming couple who take in a troubled young drifter while a series of grisly murders spreads fear across the frontier.The gothic anthology gives Nolte the opportunity to play a deeply vulnerable and isolated character, something the actor said required considerable preparation.

Nick Nolte opens up about preparing for his hermit role

Nick Nolte made a rare public appearance at Venice, where Casey Affleck’s Company earned a four-minute standing ovation. (Photo: Getty Images)

When reporters asked Nolte how he prepared to portray the hermit in Company, the actor explained that preparation was largely about allowing himself enough time to find the character.“It’s preparation, it’s the amount of time. You get the story, and then I started to prepare for it,” Nolte said, according to People.He added that the process works best when preparation aligns with the filming schedule, allowing an actor to reach moments that might otherwise be difficult to access.Nolte also praised the collaborative relationship between an actor and director, explaining that a good filmmaker does not necessarily force a performance but instead helps draw it out naturally.

Casey Affleck praises Nolte’s acting ability

Affleck, who directed and co-wrote the film, was quick to praise his veteran co-star and joked that Nolte required “no coaxing necessary.”“It was extraordinary to watch,” Affleck said, describing how Nolte could move into vulnerable and emotional territory “very, very quickly” and repeat the process when required.Affleck attributed that ability to Nolte’s decades-long career, saying it was the kind of skill that comes from “a lifetime of doing it and doing it well.”He also revealed that the entire cast and crew were excited to see Nolte work once he joined the production.According to Affleck, Nolte delivered consistently strong performances, with every take offering something valuable. The challenge, he suggested, was not getting a good performance but deciding which take to use.

Nick Nolte’s recent film comeback

Company marks Nolte’s fourth film in the past two years. His recent work includes The Golden Voice, Die My Love and Crime 101, adding to an already celebrated filmography spanning several decades.Nolte has earned three Academy Award nominations throughout his career. He received Best Actor nominations for The Prince of Tides and Affliction, before earning a Supporting Actor nomination for Warrior.Beyond his acclaimed acting career, Nolte remains known for being named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 1992. At the time, the publication famously described him as a “big-lug Adonis with the heart of gold.”