Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson
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Name:
Woody Harrelson
Real name:
Woodrow Tracy Harrelson
Who is:
Birth date:
(63 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Midland, Texas, U.S.
Height:
5'10 ft ()
Weight:
170 lb (77 kg)
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Woody Harrelson

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Woody Harrelson Biography

Woody Harrelson is a powerhouse American actor and producer who's built an impressive career spanning over a hundred films and TV shows. He's made his mark across drama, comedy, and crime genres, earning an Emmy Award along the way. The versatile performer has also scored three Oscar nominations and five Golden Globe nods.
Charismatic Woody Harrelson
Charismatic Woody Harrelson

Childhood and Family

Woody's parents, Charles Voyde Harrelson and Diane Harrelson, had three sons before divorcing when Woody was just three years old. Woody always credited his mother for never badmouthing his father or losing her cool with the kids. Diane Harrelson was a devout person, worked as a secretary, and tried to give her children everything she could.

One day, 11-year-old Woody heard on the radio that a Charles Harrelson was on trial for murdering District Judge John Wood. The boy was stunned but held onto hope until the very end that it wasn't his father—just someone else with the same name. Woody discovered his father was a hitman not from his mother—who'd shielded the kids from this brutal truth—but from newspapers and radio reports. The trial made national headlines—it was the first murder of an American judge in the 20th century. Charles Harrelson already had one murder from 1968, so although he had served five years previously, he was sentenced to two life terms.
Woody Harrelson's Father Was Convicted of Murder
Woody Harrelson's Father Was Convicted of Murder
At the trial, his father claimed financial desperation had driven him to murder. Those words haunted Woody for life, and he vowed to do whatever it took to keep himself and his family from ever falling into poverty. Soon after the trial, Woody's mother packed up her sons and moved them from Texas to Ohio, escaping the media circus and prying neighbors.

Woody apparently inherited his father's complicated nature. He bounced between several schools and even ended up at a school for troubled teens. During his senior year, he picked up wood carving and worked at Kings Island amusement park in his spare time, trying to help support his mother financially. At 22, he got his first arrest for dancing in the middle of a highway after having too much to drink.
Woody Harrelson in His Youth
Woody Harrelson in His Youth
In 1983, Woody graduated from Hanover College in Indiana. He earned a bachelor's degree in theater arts and English. His college years were chaotic and, by his own account, pretty wild. As a college freshman in 1980, Woody campaigned for Reagan, aligned himself with Republicans, and bought into all the "right-wing" promises. Later, Woody looked back on this with heavy irony, having come to view Reagan as one of America's worst presidents.
Woody Harrelson in his youth
Woody Harrelson in his youth
Alongside theater arts, he studied theology, which started shifting his beliefs. At 20, he turned his back on both Reagan and God, becoming interested in environmental politics championed by actor Ted Danson. In a later interview, he called the Bible "just a tool for controlling people."
10 Questions with Woody Harrelson
Woody lived a wild and eventful lifestyle filled with alcohol, women, protests, and demonstrations. But he didn't see it as wasted time—he believed that a rich life leads to the palace of wisdom.

Acting Career

Woody Harrelson launched his acting career in 1978 at just 17 years old, cutting his teeth in stage productions. Woody made his television debut in 1982 during the fourth season of "Cheers," where his character Woodrow Huckleberry Tiberius Boyd stayed with the show through the sixth season. The role made him famous, earning him five Emmy nominations, but he only won the award in 1989.
Woody Harrelson on Landing the Role of Woody Boyd on "Cheers" (2012)
A few years later, Woody decided to leave television behind and pursue his dream of a serious film career. In 1991, he starred in the movie "Doc Hollywood" and over the next three years appeared in "White Men Can't Jump," "Natural Born Killers," and "Indecent Proposal" alongside Robert Redford and Demi Moore.
Woody Harrelson in 'Kingpin'
Woody Harrelson in 'Kingpin'
The comedy "Kingpin," featuring Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid trying to win half a million dollars at a bowling championship, became a memorable crowd-pleaser. Next, the actor tackled the controversial biopic "The People vs. Larry Flynt," playing the publisher of adult magazine "Hustler." He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for this role, but ultimately lost to Geoffrey Rush for his portrayal of David Helfgott.
For the role of Larry Flynt, Woody Harrelson was nominated for an Oscar
For the role of Larry Flynt, Woody Harrelson was nominated for an Oscar
Woody Harrelson's next Oscar nomination came in 2010 – he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the film "The Messenger." Many viewers felt his performance was just as convincing as Ben Foster's character. The actor played the captain of a U.S. Army unit tasked with delivering the terrible news to the families of fallen soldiers. But the coveted statuette went to Christoph Waltz for his role in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds."
DP/30: The Messenger, actors Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster
In 2012, the actor appeared in the first part of the popular series "The Hunger Games" as Haymitch Abernathy, mentor to characters played by Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson. He reprised the role throughout the franchise.
The Hunger Games: Woody Harrelson played Haymitch Abernathy
The Hunger Games: Woody Harrelson played Haymitch Abernathy
In 2013, he joined an excellent acting quartet with Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, and Mark Ruffalo in the thriller "Now You See Me." The plot follows four master magicians who pull off what might be the most audacious heist of the century on live television. Harrelson's character is Merritt McKinney, a hypnotist.
Woody Harrelson in 'Now You See Me'
In 2014, Woody Harrelson stepped into the role of executive producer for HBO's "True Detective." He also starred as one of the main characters alongside Matthew McConaughey. The Louisiana detectives Martin Hart and Rust Cohle dove into an incredibly complex murder case. The twisted plot, multifaceted characters, and powerhouse performances earned "True Detective" international acclaim and countless rave reviews.
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson played together in the TV series 'True Detective'
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson played together in the TV series 'True Detective'
In 2016, Woody Harrelson worked on the film "Suburbicon," directed by George Clooney. The screenplay was penned by the Coen brothers, Ethan and Joel, whom Harrelson had previously worked with on the thriller "No Country for Old Men." The film was set to premiere in 2017, alongside the blockbuster "War for the Planet of the Apes," where Harrelson played the menacing Colonel.
Woody Harrelson in 'Planet of the Apes'
Woody Harrelson in 'Planet of the Apes'
Later in 2017, Woody landed one of the key roles in Martin McDonagh's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." The Screen Actors Guild named the film the best of the past year, and Woody was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Scene
Harrelson joined the "Star Wars" universe in the Han Solo spin-off. The actor played Tobias Beckett, a criminal and mentor to the future pilot of the Millennium Falcon. In 2019, he starred in the comedy "Zombieland: Double Tap."
Woody Harrelson to play the mentor of young Han Solo
Woody Harrelson to play the mentor of young Han Solo
In 2021, Woody entered the Marvel Universe in "Venom: Let There Be Carnage" alongside Tom Hardy. In the Spider-Man spin-off, Woody brought to life Cletus Kasady, a serial killer who becomes Venom's deadly nemesis – Carnage.
Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady
Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady
According to Woody, he does not consider his character to be a straightforward villain. He had a difficult childhood, which scarred his psyche:
He's a child who couldn't deal with his emotional outbursts. Actually, I can't say that I've dealt with them myself.

Woody Harrelson's Personal Life

In 1985, the actor impulsively married Neil Simon's daughter, Nancy Simon. The couple decided to separate almost immediately after the wedding, but paperwork kept them legally married for ten months. After that, Woody Harrelson had many casual relationships, including a few dates with Juliette Lewis and a brief affair with Glenn Close.

Laura Louie worked as Woody's assistant, fending off persistent reporters, driving him home after nights out, preparing herbal concoctions for him, and making his life as comfortable as possible. During filming in Africa, he realized he couldn't stop thinking about Laura and suddenly recognized he was in love with her.
Woody Harrelson and Laura Louie in their youth
Woody Harrelson and Laura Louie in their youth
Woody recalled how he took a guitar and wrote a song, and when he sang it to her, a bashful Laura admitted that she had been in love with him for two years. However, this didn't stop her from taking nearly twenty years to consider Woody's proposal. They finally tied the knot in 2008. The couple has three daughters: Deni Montana, Zoe Giordano, and Makani Ravello, and the proud father always called them "my three goddesses."

The family bought a villa in Hawaii and started growing their own vegetables since Woody is a committed raw foodist vegetarian. In 2012, he even received the title of Sexiest Vegetarian from PETA. He prefers fresh juice blends but once admitted that he enjoys drinking at parties.
Woody Harrelson – vegetarian
Woody Harrelson – vegetarian
Harrelson has always advocated for the legalization of marijuana and promoted laws for its free medical use. The actor has had several run-ins with the police: he was arrested for disorderly conduct after dancing on a highway in Ohio in 1982. In 1996, he was arrested in Kentucky for trying to plant hemp, and in 2008, for a scuffle with a photographer.
Woody Harrelson advocates for the legalization of marijuana
Woody Harrelson advocates for the legalization of marijuana
Woody supports Burberry, and in his free time, he wears jeans and gravitates toward khaki.

The actor hates waking up early and respects people who have their own opinions, so he's impressed by Apple's slogan, "Think Different."

Woody Harrelson Now

In 2022, the actor appeared in the satirical comedy "Triangle of Sadness" as a hard-drinking ship captain who ends up stranded on a deserted island. That same year, the action comedy "The Man from Toronto" hit Netflix, where Harrelson's character is mistaken for a dangerous criminal.
Woody Harrelson on the set of 'Triangle of Sadness'
Woody Harrelson on the set of 'Triangle of Sadness'
Harrelson snagged the lead role in the miniseries "The White House Plumbers," based on the true events of Watergate and its origins. He played Howard Hunt, a U.S. intelligence officer who worked for Richard Nixon.
A still from the series 'The White House Plumbers'
A still from the series 'The White House Plumbers'
In early 2024, the independent drama "Suncoast" premiered at Sundance, starring Nico Parker and Laura Linney. Harrelson was seen as a sort of "beach bum" and activist who befriends the main character and protests against the injustices of the healthcare system.

Woody Harrelson: latest news and articles

  • I`m looking forward to see him in the second part of Venom! The film ended up at the most interesting moment and I think that Woody is the best suited for the role of Carnage. His face is same crazy, hah.
    2021-05-12 23:00:02
  • I love him most for his role Haymitch in The Hunger Games. Woody completely conveyed on the screen the character that I imagined from the book.
    2021-03-17 20:13:30
  • I`m not sure that I like him as an actor of drama films, his serious roles was not that good but as a comedy actor Woody has 10 points out of 10.
    2021-03-12 22:43:09
  • I love his role in the film Welcome to Zombilend. By the way just after this movie I started to like Woody.
    2021-03-11 21:32:42
  • Woody Harrelson is good. Especially after the True Detective, all direct appreciated his talent.
    2021-03-03 22:39:40
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