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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Brian Klugman to Michael Lantieri
Kris Kristofferson Biography (1936-)
Born June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, TX; son of Henry C. (a U.S. Air Force major general) and Mary Ann (maiden name, Ashbrook) Kristofferson; married FranBeir, 1960 (divorced, 1969); married Rita Coolidge (a singer and composer), August 19, 1973 (divorced, 1980); married Lisa Meyers (an attorney), February18, 1983; children: (first marriage) Tracy, Kris; (second marriage) Casey; (third marriage) Jesse Turner, Jody Ray, Johnny, Kelly Marie, Blake Cameron. Addresses: Agent: IFA Talent Agency, 8730 Sunset Blvd., Suite 490, Los Angeles, CA 90069.; Manager: Current Entertainment, 1411 Fifth St., Suite 405,Santa Monica, CA 90401.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Actor, composer, singer
- Birth Details
- June 22, 1936
- Brownsville, Texas, United States
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Film Appearances
- (Film debut) Minstrel Wrangler, The Last Movie (also known as Chinchero), Universal, 1971
- Title role, Cisco Pike, Columbia, 1971
- Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,1973
- Elmo Cole, Blume in Love, Warner Bros., 1973
- Vocalist, The Gospel Road, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1973
- Paco, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (also known as Traiganme la cabeza de Alfredo Garcia), United Artists, 1974
- David, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Warner Bros., 1975
- John Norman Howard, A Star Is Born, Warner Bros., 1976
- Aaron Arnold, Vigilante Force, United Artists, 1976
- Jim Cameron, The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, Avco-Embassy, 1976
- Marvin "Shake" Tiller, Semi-Tough, United Artists, 1977
- Rubber Duck, Convoy, United Artists, 1978
- James Averill, Heaven's Gate (also known as Johnson County Wars), United Artists, 1980
- Hub Smith, Rollover, Warner Bros., 1981
- Blackie Buck, Songwriter, TriStar, 1984
- Bob Logan, Flashpoint, TriStar, 1984
- Hawk, Trouble in Mind, Island Alive, 1986
- Mace Montana, Big Top Pee-Wee, Paramount, 1988
- Lieutenant Jack Robbins, Welcome Home, Columbia, 1989
- Bill Smith, Millennium, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1989
- Tom Holte, Sandino, 1990
- Stan Wozniak, Perfume of the Cyclone (also known as Night of the Cyclone), Republic Home Video, 1990
- Jack Saunders, Original Intent, Paramount, 1992
- Gabriel, Knights, Paramount, 1993
- Joe Garvey, No Place to Hide, Cannon, 1993
- Tom, Cheatin' Hearts (also known as Paper Hearts), TrimarkPictures, 1993
- Preacher, Pharaoh's Army, Orion Home Entertainment, 1995
- Sheriff Charlie Wade, Lone Star, Sony Pictures Classics, 1996
- Himself, Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival, Castle MusicPictures, 1997
- Orin Hanner, Sr., Fire Down Below, Warner Bros., 1997
- Ghost of Hank Williams, Forever Is a Long Time, 1997
- Bill Willis, A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (also known as Lafille d'un soldat ne pleure jamais), October Films, 1998
- Voice of Doc, The Land before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock (animated), Universal Home Video, 1998
- Cody, Girls' Night, Granada Films, 1998
- Abraham Whistler, Blade, New Line Cinema, 1998
- John Burnett, Dance with Me, Columbia, 1998
- Eddie, The Joyriders, Trident Releasing, 1999
- Bronson, Payback, Paramount, 1999
- Rudolph Meyer, Father Damien (also known as Molokai: The Storyof Father Damien and Damiaan), Vine International Pictures, 1999
- Smilin' Jack, Limbo, Sony Pictures Entertainment, 1999
- Himself, The Ballad of Ramblin' Jack, Lot 47 Films, 2000
- Himself, Immaculate Funk, FBN Motion Pictures Inc., 2000
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Comanche, 2000
- Older Billy Coleman, Where the Red Fern Grows, Doty-Dayton Releasing, 2000
- Karubi, Planet of the Apes, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2001
- Bud, Chelsea Walls (also known as Chelsea Hotel), 2001
- Shuck, Wooly Boys, PFG Entertainment, 2001
- Doctor "Doc" John Mitchell, D-Tox (also known as Eye See You,
Detox, and Im Auge der Angst), MCA/Universal, 2002
- Abraham Whistler, Blade II, New Line Cinema, 2002
- Narrator, John Ford Goes to War, FBN Motion Pictures, 2002
- Himself, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood, 2003
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Film Work
- (With Rita Coolidge) Singer, The Last Movie, Universal, 1971
- Singer, Fat City, 1972
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Television Appearances
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Series
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Super Dave, Showtime, 1987
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The Texas Connection, TNN, 1990
- Song performer, Country Music Spotlight, The Family Channel, 1994
- Host and narrator, Adventures of the Old West, The Disney Channel,1994
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Movies
- Ben Cole, The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck (also known as Act ofPassion), CBS, 1984
- Jesse James, The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James, NBC, 1986
- Ringo, Stagecoach, CBS, 1986
- Noble Adams, The Tracker (also known as Dead or Alive), HBO, 1988
- Captain Rip Metcalf, Pair of Aces, CBS, 1990
- Captain Rip Metcalf, Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind, CBS, 1991
- Jericho Adams, Miracle in the Wilderness, TNT, 1991
- Jefferson Jones, Christmas in Connecticut, TNT, 1992
- Stan Mather, Trouble Shooters: Trapped beneath the Earth (also known as Trapped), NBC, 1993
- Destiny, Sodbusters, Showtime, 1994
- Abraham Lincoln, Tad, The Family Channel, 1995
- Captain Jack Guthrie, Inflammable, CBS, 1995
- Himself, Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story (alsoknown as Paper Mansions: The Dottie West Story), CBS, 1995
- Davis, Brother's Destiny (also known as The Road Home and Long Road Home), 1996
- Owen Whistler, Blue Rodeo, CBS, 1996
- Narrator, Dead Man's Gun, Showtime, 1997
- Torrance, Outlaw Justice (also known as The Long Kill), CBS, 1998
- Hugh Allison, Two for Texas, TNT, 1998
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Miniseries
- Abner Lait, Freedom Road, NBC, 1979
- Curt Maddox, Blood and Orchids, CBS, 1986
- Devin Milford, Amerika, ABC, 1987
- Narrator, America's Music: The Roots of Country, TBS, 1996
- Steve Day, Tom Clancy's Netforce (also known as NetForce),ABC, 1999
- Lou Smit, Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenet and the City of Boulder, CBS, 2000
- Narrator, American Roots Music, PBS, 2001
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Specials
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I Believe in Music, NBC, 1973
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Marlo Thomas and Friends in Free to Be ... You and Me (also knownas Free to Be ... You & Me), ABC, 1974
- Himself/John Norman Howard, Barbra: With One More Look at You (also known as The Making of "A Star Is Born"), 1976
- Himself, A Salute to American Imagination, 1978
- Himself, A Gift of Song: The Music for UNICEF Special (also knownas A Gift of Song: The Music for UNICEF Concert), 1979
- Host, The Unbroken Circle: A Tribute to Mother Maybelle Carter, 1979
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Johnny Cash: The First 25 Years, CBS, 1980
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Country Comes Home, CBS, 1981
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A Special Anne Murray Christmas, CBS, 1981
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Glen Campbell and Friends: The Silver Anniversary, HBO, 1984
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Johnny Cash: Christmas on the Road, CBS, 1984
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The 10th Anniversary Johnny Cash Christmas Special, CBS, 1985
- Himself, Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz, 1985
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The Door Is Always Open, syndicated, 1985
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Texas 150: A Celebration Special, ABC, 1986
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The Best of Farm Aid: An American Event, HBO, 1986
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The Academy of Country Music's 20th Anniversary Reunion, NBC, 1986
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A Tribute to Ricky Nelson, syndicated, 1987
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Welcome Home, HBO, 1987
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Kenny Rogers Classic Weekend, ABC, 1988
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A Country Music Celebration: The 30th Anniversary of the Country MusicAssociation, CBS, 1988
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An All-Star Celebration: The '88 Vote, ABC, 1988
- Host, Buddy Holly and the Crickets--A Tribute, PBS, 1988
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Judy Collins: Going Home, The Disney Channel, 1989
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Grammy Living Legends, CBS, 1989
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Texas and Tennessee ... A Musical Affair, TNN, 1990
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In the Hank Williams Tradition, PBS, 1990
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Farm Aid IV, TNN, 1990
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Martin Luther King, Jr., National Holiday Parade, TBS, 1992
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Highwaymen Live!, The Disney Channel, 1991
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The Highwaymen, TNN, 1992
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Farm Aid V, TNN, 1992
- Host, In Country: Songs of the Vietnam War, PBS, 1992
- Himself, Sam Peckinpah: Man of Iron (also known as Sam Peckinpah: A Retrospective), Arts and Entertainment, 1992
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Willie Nelson, the Big Six-O: An All-Star Birthday Celebration (also known as Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O), CBS, 1993
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Farm Aid VI, TNN, 1993
- Host, The Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Celebration (also known as In the Spotlight), PBS, 1993
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Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work, 1993
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Willie Nelson: My Life, Arts and Entertainment, 1994
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Elvis Aron Presley: The Tribute, syndicated, 1994
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Coming and Going, PBS, 1994
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American Music Shop, TNN, 1994
- Host and narrator, "The Songs of Six Families," Great Performances, PBS, 1994
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Kris Kristofferson: Songwriter, The Disney Channel, 1995
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Dolly Parton: Treasures, CBS, 1996
- Himself, The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1996
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The 25th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award: A Salute to Martin Scorsese, CBS, 1997
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Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western, TNT, 1997
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The Life and Times of Willie Nelson, TNN, 1997
- Himself, Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival, 1997
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CMA 40th: A Celebration, CBS, 1998
- Himself, Roger Miller Remembered, TNN, 1998
- Himself, The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1998
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An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash, TNT, 1999
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Kris Kristofferson, Arts and Entertainment, 1999
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The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize Celebrating the Humor of Richard Pryor, Comedy Central, 1999
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AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Barbra Streisand, Fox, 2001
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Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin', USA Network, 2003
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Awards Presentations
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The 21st Annual Grammy Awards, 1979
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The 22nd Annual Grammy Awards, 1980
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The 18th Annual Country Music Association Awards, CBS, 1984
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The 19th Annual Country Music Association Awards, CBS, 1985
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The American Music Awards, ABC, 1986
- Host, The 20th Annual County Music Association Awards, CBS, 1986
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The 29th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1987
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The 23rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, NBC, 1988
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The 21st Annual NAACP Image Awards, NBC, 1989
- Presenter, The 32nd Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1990
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The 26th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, NBC, 1991
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The 27th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, NBC, 1992
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The 27th Annual Country Music Association Awards, CBS, 1993
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Music City News Country Songwriters Awards, TNN, 1995
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The 30th Annual CMA Awards, 1996
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The 32nd Annual CMA Awards, 1998
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The Kennedy Center Honors, CBS, 1998
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Episodic
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Dean Martin Presents Music Country, U.S.A., NBC, 1973
- Host, Saturday Night Live, NBC, 1976
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The Muppet Show, 1978
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The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1992
- Himself, "Arthur's Crises" (also known as "Artie's Crisis"), The LarrySanders Show, HBO, 1994
- Narrator, Legends, VH1, 1996
- Narrator, Dead Man's Gun, Showtime, 1997
- Also appeared as guest, Johnny Cash Show, ABC; Rollin' on the River, syndicated; The Tonight Show, NBC; Late Night with DavidLetterman, NBC.
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Stage Appearances
- Concert tours and appearances include Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI,1969, and Welcome Home, Washington, DC, 1987. Numerous tours, with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson, as part of country band, the Highwaymen. Appeared in England as folk singer under the name Kris Carson.
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RECORDINGS
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Videos
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A Celebration, DID Productions, 1981
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Albums
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Kristofferson, Monument, 1970
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Me & Bobby McGee, Monument, 1971
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The Silver-Tongued Devil and I, Monument, 1971
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Jesus Was a Capricorn, Monument, 1972
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Border Lord, One Way, 1972
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Full Moon, A&M, 1973
- (With Rita Coolidge) Breakaway, Monument/Sony, 1974
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Spooky Lady's Sideshow, One Way, 1974
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Who's to Bless and Who's to Blame, One Way, 1975
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Third World Warrior, Mercury, 1976
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Surreal Thing, One Way, 1976
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The Songs of Kristofferson, Monument, 1977
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A Star Is Born, Monument, 1977
- (With Coolidge) Natural Act, A&M, 1978
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Easter Island, Columbia, 1978
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Big Sur Festival, 1978
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Shake Hands with the Devil, Columbia, 1979
- (With Willie Nelson) A Tribute to Willie and Kris, Columbia, 1981
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To the Bone, Columbia, 1981
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Winning Hand, Monument, 1983
- (With Nelson) Music from Songwriter, Columbia, 1984
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My Songs, CBS, 1984
- (With the group The Highwaymen [with Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings]) Highwayman, Columbia, 1985
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Repossessed, Mercury, 1987
- (Contributor) Randy Travis, Heroes & Friends, Warner, 1990
- (With The Highwaymen) Highwayman 2, Columbia, 1990
- (With The Borderlords) Third World Warrior, Mercury, 1990
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The Best of Kris Kristofferson, Sony, 1991
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Singer, Songwriter, Monument, 1991
- (With others) Live at the Philharmonic, Monument, 1992
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The Best of Kris Kristofferson, Sony, 1995
- (With The Highwaymen) The Road Goes on Forever, Liberty, 1995
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The Austin Sessions, Atlantic, 1999
- Also recorded (with Rita Coolidge) Full Moon.
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WRITINGS
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Film Songwriter
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Songwriter, TriStar, 1984
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Cheatin' Hearts, Trimark Pictures, 1993
- Kristofferson's songs have appeared in numerous films, including The Last Movie (also known as Chinchero), Cisco Pike,
Two-Lane Blacktop,
Clay Pigeon (also known as Trip to Kill), Fat City,
The Gospel Road,
Blume in Love,
Janis,
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea,
Saint Jack,
Honeysuckle Rose,
One-Trick Pony,
Beyond Reasonable Doubt,
Traveler,
Maeve,
Trouble in Mind,
Something Wild,
Mascara,
Walking after Midnight,
The War at Home, and U-Turn.
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Television Specials
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Just Friends, 1970
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Songwriter
- "Vietnam Blues," Buckhorn Music, 1965
- "For the Good Times," Buckhorn Music, 1968
- (With Fred L. Foster) "Me and Bobby McGee," Combine Music, 1969
- "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," Combine Music, 1969
- "Help Me Make It through the Night," Combine Music, 1970
- "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)," Combine Music, 1970
- (With Shel Silverstein) "Once More with Feeling," Combine Music, 1970
- (With Silverstein) "The Taker," Evil Eye Music, 1970
- "Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends," Combine Music, 1971
- "I'd Rather Be Sorry," Buckhorn Music, 1971
- "Why Me?," Resaca Music, 1972
- Also wrote numerous other songs, including "Jody and the Kid" and "When ILoved Her"; and with wife, Rita Coolidge, "From the Bottle to the Bottom," "Lover Please," and "Loving Arms."
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books
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Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Schirmer, 2001
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Contemporary Musicians, Volume 4, Gale Research, 1990
- Kalet, Beth, Kris Kristofferson, Quick Fox, 1979
Periodicals
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Billboard, April 20, 1996, p. 50
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Entertainment Weekly, September 25, 1998, p. 68
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Interview, September, 1998, p. 124
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People Weekly, September 21, 1998, p. 103
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Texas Monthly, March, 1997, p. 126
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