Willie Nelson
Known for

Acting

Credits

181

Gender

Man

Birthday

Apr 30, 1933 (91)

Place of birth

Abbott, Texas, USA

Also known as
The Highwaymen
Willie Hugh Nelson

Willie Nelson

Biography

Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American country singer-songwriter, author, poet, actor, and activist. Nelson was one of the main figures of the Outlaw Movement, a subgenre of Country music that developed between the end of 1960s and early 1980s. The critical success of the albums Shotgun Willie, Phases and Stages, and the commercial success of Red Headed Stranger made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. Nelson is also recognized for his contributions to charity, he is the president and one of the founding members of Farm Aid charity concert, and his activism for the legalization of marijuana and for the use of bio-fuels. Nelson started studying music from mail order material that his grandparents gave him. He wrote his first song at age seven and joined his first band at nine. During high school, he toured locally with the Bohemian Fiddlers as their lead singer and guitar player. After graduating from high school in 1950, he joined the Air Force. However, he was discharged due to back problems. After his return, Nelson attended Baylor University for two years but dropped out because he was succeeding in music. During this time, he worked as a disc jockey in Texas radio stations and a singer in honky tonks. Nelson moved to Vancouver, Washington, where he wrote "Family Bible" and recorded the song "Lumberjack" in 1956. In 1960, he signed a publishing contract with Pamper Music which allowed him to join Ray Price's band as a bassist. During that time, he wrote songs that would become country standards, including "Funny How Time Slips Away", "Hello Walls", "Pretty Paper", and "Crazy". In 1962, he recorded his first album, And Then I Wrote. Due to this success, Nelson signed in 1965 with RCA Victor and joined the Grand Ole Opry. Nelson is a major liberal activist and the co-chair of the advisory board of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which is in favor of marijuana legalization. On the environmental front, Nelson owns the bio-diesel brand Willie Nelson Biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oil. He is the co-founder and president of Farm Aid, and has been contributing to the benefit concert series since the first event in 1985, organizing concerts and performing with other prominent artists. Nelson is also the Honorary Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Texas Music Project, the official music charity of the state of Texas. Description above from the Wikipedia article Willie Nelson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Known for
Acting roles
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
2024The Greatest Night in PopSelf (archive footage)
2024Willie and MeWillie Nelson / Bones
2023JuneSelf
2023Heartbreakers at the BBCSelf (archive footage)
2023Joke ManSelf
2023Willie Nelson & FamilySelf
2023Willie Nelson 90: Long Story ShortSelf
20222022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction CeremonySelf (archive footage)
2022Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic ChristmasHimself
2021Dolly Parton: A MusiCares TributeSelf
2021This Is PopSelf (archive footage)
2020Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll PresidentSelf
2020My Darling VivianSelf (archive footage)
2020Willie Nelson American OutlawSelf
2019Waiting for the Miracle to ComeJimmy Riggs
2019Charley Pride: I'm Just MeSelf
2019Willie Nelson at Austin City LimitsSelf
2018QuincySelf
2018ParadoxRed
2018Also Starring Austin
2017Lost in LondonWillie Nelson
2017Pure Country: Pure HeartHimself
2017OBJECTifiedSelf
2016Zoolander 2Willie Nelson
2016The Best Democracy Money Can BuySelf
2016Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain GirlSelf
2016Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken SpokeSelf
2016The Highwaymen - Live American OutlawsSelf
2016The American Epic SessionsSelf
2016Road to Austin
2016The Highwaymen: Friends Till the EndSelf - Performer
2016Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular SongSelf
2015The Late Show with Stephen ColbertSelf
2015The MuppetsSelf
2015Johnny Cash: American RebelSelf
2015I Am Johnny CashSelf
2014All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star StateSelf
2014Willie Nelson Live @ SXSWself
2014Country Kings at the BBC
2014The Art of McCartneySelf
2014Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 YearsPerformer
2013Supermensch: The Legend of Shep GordonSelf
2013Angels SingNick
2012We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny CashSelf
2012John Mellencamp: It's About YouSelf
2011Paul Williams Still AliveSelf (archive footage)
20119/11 Truth: Hollywood Speaks UpSelf
2011The King of LuckHimself
2011I RideWillie Nelson
2010The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin StorySelf
2010OK Buckaroos
2009The Obama DeceptionSelf
2009Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray CharlesHimself - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
2009Happiness IsHimself
2009Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always LiveSelf - Performer (archive footage)
2008Swing VoteWillie Nelson
2008Surfer, DudeFarmer Bob
2008Beer for My HorsesCharlie
2008A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!Self
2008Hempsters: Plant the SeedHimself
2008Elvis | Viva Las VegasSelf
2008The King of TexasSelf
2008Merle Haggard: The Real DealSelf
2007The Dukes of Hazzard: The BeginningJesse Duke
2007Blonde AmbitionPap Paw
2007Fighting With AngerWill
2007Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, LiveLui même
2007Opry Video Classics: Hall of FameSelf (archive footage)
2007Opry Video Classics : LegendsSelf (archive footage)
2007Last of the Breed: Live in ConcertHimself
2007Glen Campbell: Good Times Againhimself
2006BeerfestSelf (uncredited)
2006Broken Bridgesself
2006Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TXCompositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix
2006Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the LineSelf
2006Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TXCompositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix
2006American Revolutions: The HighwaymenHimself
2005The Dukes of HazzardUncle Jesse Duke
2005The Colbert ReportSelf
2005VH1 StorytellersSelf
2005Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Where the Music Beganself
2005Farm Aid: 20th Anniversary ConcertSelf
2004The Big BounceJoe Lurie
2004Be Here to Love MeSelf - Musician
2004Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & AngelsSelf
2004Willie Nelson - Live at Billy Bob's TexasSelf
2004Ray Charles: Genius Loves CompanySelf
2004CMA Music Festival
2003Real Time with Bill MaherSelf
2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!Self - Musical Guest
2003The Highwaymen: On the Road AgainHimself
2003Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'Self
2003Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper WellSelf
2002MonkWillie Nelson
2002The Country BearsWillie Nelson
2002CMT CrossroadsSelf
2002Farm Aid 2001 - A Concert For AmericaHimself
2002The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charleshimself
2002This Land Is Your Land - Folk Years
2001America | A Tribute to HeroesSelf - Performer
2001The JourneymanSamuel Hancock
2001Willie Nelson: Live in AmsterdamHimself
2001Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El PasoSelf
1999Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged MeWillie Nelson
1999Outlaw JusticeLee Walker
1999A Tribute To Johnny CashSelf - Performer
1999The Story of Darrell RoyalHimself
1999Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits LiveHimself
1998Half BakedHistorian Smoker
1998Willie Nelson at the TeatroSelf
1997Wag the DogJohnny Dean
1997King of the HillWillie Nelson (voice)
1997Gone Fishin'Billy 'Catch' Pooler
1997The ViewSelf
1997AnthemSelf
1996The Daily ShowSelf
1996The Rosie O'Donnell ShowSelf
1996Starlight
1996The Beach Boys: Nashville SoundsSelf
1995Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West StoryWillie Nelson
1994Space Ghost Coast to Coast
1994The World of Jim HensonSelf (archive footage)
1994Dust to Dust
1993Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
1993Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
1993Kris Kristofferson: His Life and WorkSelf
1993Willie Nelson: The Big Six-OSelf
1992The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992Delta
1991WWE WrestleMania VIIHimself (National Anthem)
1991Wild Texas WindWillie Nelson
1991Another Pair of Aces: Three of a KindBilly Roy Rodriguez
1991Hot Country Nights
1990The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau ColiseumSelf
1990Pair of AcesBilly Roy Barker
1990Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.Himself
1989The SimpsonsWillie Nelson (voice)
1989Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So StrongSelf
1988Once Upon a Texas TrainJohn Henry Lee
1988Baja OklahomaSelf
1988Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?Cross
1988Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday CelebrationSelf
1988Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi AbromowitzWillie Nelson
1988Walking After MidnightSelf
1987HeartbeatHimself
1986StagecoachDoc Holliday
1986The Last Days of Frank and Jesse JamesGen. Jo Shelby
1986Red Headed StrangerRev. Julian Shay
1985We Are the World: The Story Behind the SongSelf
1984Miami Vice
1984SongwriterDoc Jenkins
1983Hells Angels ForeverHimself
1983Playboy Video Magazine: Volume 4Himself
1983Willie Nelson Live at the US FestivalHimself
1983Willie Nelson & Family: In ConcertHimself
1982BarbarosaBarbarosa
1982Coming Out of the IceRed Loon
1982Champs-ElyséesSelf (archive footage)
1981ThiefDavid 'Okla' Bertinneau
1980Honeysuckle RoseBuck
1980Solid GoldSelf
1980The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1980
1979The Electric HorsemanWendell
1979Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration
1978The Kennedy Center HonorsSelf
1978Mickey's 50Self
1975Saturday Night LiveSelf - Host & Musical Guest
1975Saturday Night LiveSelf - Musical Guest
1975Austin City LimitsSelf
1975ArenaSelf
1974A Poem Is a Naked PersonSelf
1969The Glen Campbell Goodtime HourSelf
Credits
YearMovie / TV show / OtherRole
2014Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Farm Aid LiveProduction Artist
2004SquidbilliesTheme Song Performance
1986StagecoachOriginal Music Composer
1986StagecoachExecutive Producer
1986Red Headed StrangerProducer
1986Red Headed StrangerMusic
1984SongwriterSongs
1980Honeysuckle RoseOriginal Music Composer
1979The Electric HorsemanSongs