- Born
- Died
- Birth nameKristoffer Kristofferson
- Height5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
- 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.- IMDb Mini Biography By: John Sacksteder <jsack@ka.net>
- SpousesLisa Marie Meyers(February 19, 1983 - September 28, 2024) (his death, 5 children)Rita Coolidge(August 17, 1973 - June 26, 1980) (divorced, 2 children)Frances Mavia Beer(February 11, 1961 - August 15, 1973) (divorced, 1 child)
- ChildrenTracy KristoffersonKristoffer Kristofferson Jr.Casey KristoffersonJesse Turner KristoffersonJody Ray KristoffersonJohn Robert KristoffersonKelly Marie KristoffersonBlake Cameron Kristofferson
- ParentsMary Ann AshbrookLars Henry Kristofferson
- Beard and long hair
- Deep gravelly voice
- He was set to become a Major when he decided to quit the United States Army Rangers after almost five years.
- He is a former United States Army Rangers captain. He graduated Airborne School, Ranger School, and flight school, served in Germany, and volunteered for Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, but instead was offered a professor of English Literature position at USMA West Point. Disappointed that he was not allowed to fight in Vietnam, he resigned his position in 1965.
- He got his start in the music business by landing a helicopter in Johnny Cash's backyard and presenting him with a song he had written. Cash went on to record the song
- He is a good friend of Muhammad Ali and Willie Nelson. He was also a very good friend of the late Johnny Cash.
- When Kristofferson hosted the season finale of Saturday Night Live (1975) in 1976, the cast and crew reported that he was drunk, and were worried that he wouldn't be able to do it. Still, Kristofferson proved himself to be quite the functioning drunk, and the show went pretty well. Kristofferson has remarked on numerous occasions that his drinking was often a way to survive when performing, because he is pretty shy and does not have a great deal of confidence in himself.
- I think between us, Bill Clinton and I have settled any lingering myths about the brilliance of Rhodes scholars.
- The number-one rule of the road is never go to bed with anyone crazier than yourself. You will break this rule, and you will be sorry.
- [on working with Barbra Streisand on A Star Is Born (1976)] Filming with Streisand is an experience which may have cured me of movies.
- (on Heaven's Gate (1980)) I was real surprised to see the critics line up on the side of the philistines so fast. To me, the film was about the American dream, and it shows one of the basic flaws in the dream - the idea that money is more important than people. I'll be proud of that movie as long as I'm in the business. It was a work of art. Michael Cimino, the director, says he's unrepentant and plans to sin again, and I hope he gets the chance.
- (on the current state of America and the world) I remember getting this creepy feeling back when I was doing "Heaven's Gate" which was about the Cattleman's Association getting government backup to go in with mercenaries and kill a bunch of civilians. I remember thinking at the time that maybe there's always been a dark part of this American dream where money was more important than people. That's exactly what's going down now. The money involved in this Iraq reconstruction is shameless. It's right in your face and everyone can see it. I don't know if its apathy or if it's more a feeling of powerlessness. What can we do? They elected Bush without him really winning the election. The Supreme Court is stacked and we're fixing to stack it worse. All this destruction is done in our name. And the simple things that Bush keeps saying are so embarrassing. He says, "These are evil people who hate peace and hate freedom and that's why they're blowing themselves up." Christ.
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