Relationships | Son of Mary Ann Ashbrook and Lars Henry Kristofferson (US Air Force major general). His mother had English, Scots-Irish, German, Swiss-German, and Dutch ancestry Grandson of Swedish emigrants. His grandfather was an officer in the Swedish Army. Former partner of Janis Joplin Former spouse of Fran Mavia Beer, and Rita Coolidge Spouse of Lisa Meyers |
Biography | Kris Kristofferson was an American country singer, songwriter and actor. Among his songwriting credits are "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night", all of which were hits for other artists.
In 1985, Kristofferson joined fellow country artists Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash in the country music supergroup the Highwaymen, which was a key creative force in the outlaw country music movement that eschewed the traditional Nashville country music machine in favor of independent songwriting and producing.
As an actor, Kristofferson was known for his roles in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Blume in Love (1973), Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), A Star Is Born (1976) (which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor), Convoy (1978), Heaven's Gate (1980), Stagecoach (1986), Lone Star (1996), and the Blade film trilogy (19982004). Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. |