Kris Kristofferson

Music Artist, Actor, Composer

Birthdate: Jun 22, 1936

Birthplace: Brownsville, Texas, USA

Died: Sep 28, 2024

Kris Kristofferson was born in Brownsville, Texas, to Mary Ann (Ashbrook) and Lars Henry Kristofferson. His paternal grandparents were Swedish, and his father was a United States Air Force general who pushed his son to a military career. Kris was a Golden Gloves boxer and went to Pomona College in California. From there, he earned a Rhodes scholarship to study literature at Oxford University. He ultimately joined the United States Army and achieved the rank of captain. He became a helicopter pilot, which served him well later. In 1965, he resigned his commission to pursue songwriting. He had just been assigned to become a teacher at USMA West Point. He got a job sweeping floors in Nashville studios. There he met Johnny Cash, who initially took some of his songs but ignored them. He was also working as a commercial helicopter pilot at the time. He got Cash's attention when he landed his helicopter in Cash's yard and gave him some more tapes. Cash then recorded Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down", which was voted the 1970 Song of the Year by the Country Music Association. Kris was noted for his heavy boozing. He lost his helicopter pilot job when he passed out at the controls, and his drinking ruined his marriage to singer Rita Coolidge, when he was reaching a bottle and half of Jack Daniels daily. He gave up alcohol in 1976. His acting career nose-dived after making Heaven's Gate (1980). In recent years, he has made a comeback with his musical and acting careers. He does say that he prefers his music, but says his children are his true legacy.

Known For

Payback
Payback

(1999)

Blade II
Blade II

(2002)

Kris Kristofferson Movies

actor

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Previous (85)

  • 2024 |
    Passion & Poetry - Peckinpah's last western
  • 2019 |

    Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration

    asSelf - Performer
  • 2018 |
    Lawless Rangeas Boss Flood
  • 2018 |

    A Star Is Born

    asJohn Norman Howard
  • 2018 |

    Blaze

    asEdwin Fuller
  • 2017 |
    Hickokas George Knox
  • 2017 |
    Wheeler
  • 2017 |

    The Star

    asOld Donkey
  • 2016 |
    The Red Maple Leafas President John Francis Marshall
  • 2016 |
    Tradedas Billy
  • 2015 |
    Johnny Cash: American Rebel
  • 2015 |
    We're Still Here: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited
  • 2014 |
    7 Minutesas Mr. B
  • 2014 |
    Passion & Poetry: Sam's Favorite Film
  • 2014 |

    Dolphin Tale 2

    asReed Haskett
  • 2013 |
    Angels Singas The Colonel
  • 2013 |
    Midnight Stallionas Jack Shephard
  • 2013 |
    Passion & Poetry: Sam's Trucker Movie
  • 2012 |
    The Motel Lifeas Earl Hurley
  • 2012 |
    Deadfallas Chet Mills
  • 2012 |

    Joyful Noise

    asBernard Sparrow
  • 2011 |
    The Greening of Whitney Brownas Dusty Brown
  • 2011 |

    Dolphin Tale

    asReed Haskett
  • 2010 |
    Bloodworthas E. F. Bloodworth
  • 2010 |
    The Child Wanderersas Old Yohan
  • 2010 |
    The Last Rites of Ransom Prideas Shepherd Graves
  • 2009 |
    For Sale by Owneras Ferlin Smith
  • 2009 |
    Leonard Cohen: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970
  • 2009 |
    Powder Blueas Randall
  • 2008 |
    Lords of the Streetas Raymond
  • 2007 |
    I'm Not Thereas Narrator
  • 2006 |
    Disappearancesas Quebec Bill Bonhomme
  • 2006 |
    Brats: Our Journey Homeas Narrator
  • 2006 |
    Requiem for Billy the Kidas Billy the Kid
  • 2006 |
    Sacred Tibet: The Path to Mount Kailashas Narrator
  • 2005 |
    Trudell
  • 2005 |
    Passion & Poetry: The Ballad of Sam Peckinpah
  • 2005 |
    The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico
  • 2005 |
    The Wendell Baker Storyas L.R. Nasher
  • 2004 |
    Be Here to Love Me
  • 2005 |
    Dreameras Pop Crane
  • 2005 |
    The Jacketas Dr. Thomas Becker
  • 2004 |
    Pre-Madonna
  • 2004 |
    Blade: Trinityas Whistler
  • 2001 |
    Wooly Boysas Shuck
  • 2003 |
    Where the Red Fern Growsas Older Billy Coleman
  • 2002 |
    Eye See Youas Doc
  • 2001 |
    Chelsea Wallsas Bud
  • 2002 |
    Blade IIas Whistler
  • 2001 |
    Planet of the Apesas Karubi
  • 2001 |

    Planet of the Apes

    asKarubi
  • 2000 |
    Immaculate Funk
  • 2000 |
    The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack
  • 1999 |
    Molokaias Rudolph Meyer
  • 1999 |
    The Joyridersas Eddie
  • 1998 |
    A Soldier's Daughter Never Criesas Bill Willis
  • 1998 |
    Dance with Meas John Burnett
  • 1998 |

    Blade

    asWhistler
  • 1997 |
    Fire Down Belowas Orin, Sr.
  • 1995 |
    Pharaoh's Armyas Preacher
  • 1993 |
    Knightsas Gabriel
  • 1993 |
    Paper Heartsas Tom
  • 1992 |
    No Place to Hideas Joe Garvey
  • 1991 |
    Willie Nelson: My Life
  • 1990 |
    Night of the Cycloneas Stan
  • 1990 |
    Sandinoas Tom Holte
  • 1989 |
    Welcome Homeas Jake
  • 1989 |
    Millenniumas Bill Smith
  • 1988 |
    Walking After Midnight
  • 1988 |
    Big Top Pee-weeas Mace Montana
  • 1985 |
    Trouble in Mindas Hawk
  • 1984 |
    Songwriteras Blackie Buck
  • 1984 |
    Flashpointas Bobby Logan
  • 1981 |
    Rolloveras Hubbell Smith
  • 1980 |

    Heaven’s Gate

    asAverill
  • 1978 |
    Convoyas Rubber Duck
  • 1977 |
    Semi-Toughas Shake Tiller
  • 1976 |
    The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Seaas Jim Cameron
  • 1976 |
    Vigilante Forceas Aaron Arnold
  • 1974 |
    Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garciaas Biker
  • 1974 |
    Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymoreas David
  • 1973 |
    Pat Garrett & Billy the Kidas Billy The Kid
  • 1973 |
    Blume in Loveas Elmo
  • 1971 |
    Cisco Pikeas Cisco Pike
  • 1971 |
    The Last Movie