Kris Kristofferson's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Dead Man's Gun (CA) Narrator

Main Movie Roles 2009 - He's Just Not That Into You 2009 - Powder Blue 2009 - For Sale By Owner 2008 - Jump Out Boys 2007 - Disappearances 2006 - Room 10 2006 - Fast Food Nation 2005 - The Wendell Baker Story 2005 - Trudell 2005 - Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story 2005 - The Jacket 2004 - Blade Trinity 2003 - Where The Red Fern Grows 2002 - D-Tox 2002 - Blade II 2001 - Planet of the Apes 2001 - Wooly Boys 1999 - Payback 1998 - Girls' Night 1998 - Dance With Me 1998 - Blade 1997 - Fire Down Below 1996 - Lone Star 1989 - Millennium 1988 - Big Top Pee-wee 1985 - Trouble in Mind 1984 - Flashpoint 1981 - Rollover 1980 - Heaven's Gate 1978 - Convoy 1977 - Semi-Tough 1976 - A Star Is Born 1974 - Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia 1974 - Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore 1973 - Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

BIOGRAPHY:

Kris Kristofferson's father was an 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. He ultimately joined the 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 West Point. He got a job sweeping floors in Nashville studios. There he met Johnny Cash (I), who initially took some of his songs but ignored them. He was also working as a commercial 'copter 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 went was voted 1970's 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 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.


TRIVIA:

• Was a member of The Highwaymen with fellow country music stars 'Johnny Cash (I)' (qv), 'Waylon Jennings' (qv) and 'Willie Nelson' (qv).
• Tested for the part of Superman in _Superman (1978)_ (qv).
• Wrote two tribute songs to his friend 'Sam Peckinpah' (qv). He called them "Sam's Song (Ask Any Working Girl)" and "One for the Money".
• Brother of 'Karen Kirschenbauer' (qv).
• Favorite actors are 'William Holden (I)' (qv), 'Robert Ryan (I)' (qv) and 'Gregory Peck' (qv).
• It is speculated that either Kristofferson, 'Warren Beatty' (qv), 'Cat Stevens' (qv) or 'Mick Jagger' (qv) "inspired" the famous song "You're so Vain" by Carly Simon. Kristofferson doesn't think so himself, and said the following when an interviewer asked him about it: "It couldn't have been me, 'cause I've never flown in a Lear jet like that guy in the song.".
• He was one of many names tossed around for the potential role of 'John Rambo' in _First Blood (1981)_. Some producers hoped it would kindle the interest of Kristofferson's friend 'Sam Peckinpah' (qv).
• A young Kris Kristofferson can be seen on one of of his album covers in 'Martin Scorsese' (qv)'s _Taxi Driver (1976)_ (qv).