Francis Phelan is a fictional character in many of William Kennedy’s Albany novels, though he is featured most prominently in Ironweed. He is a former professional baseball player who left Albany in shame after dropping his infant son Gerald. There are several notable people called William Kennedy: William Nassau Kennedy, second Mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. ... Ironweed book cover Ironweed is a 1983 novel by William Kennedy. ...
The issue of his death is left ambiguous at the conclusion of Ironweed. Ironweed book cover Ironweed is a 1983 novel by William Kennedy. ...
Spoilers end here.
In the film adaptation of the book, Phelan is portrayed by Jack Nicholson. John Joseph Jack Nicholson (born April 22, 1937) is a highly successful, iconic American method actor known for his often dark-themed portrayals of neurotic characters. ...