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Kris Kristofferson: Biography, Facts and Career

Who is Kris Kristofferson? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

By the Pop Culture Files editorial team4 min read✓ Fact-checked
Kris Kristofferson
Agency: Magna Artists via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was a pioneering figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a more raw, introspective style. Some of his most famous songs include "Me and Bobby McGee" (1970), "For the Good Times" (1968), "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" (1969), and "Help Me Make It Through the Night" (1970), which were also recorded by and became hits for other artists. Kristofferson was born in Brownsville, Texas. The family relocated to San Mateo, California, during his childhood. He enlisted in military service during the early 1960s. After one single for Epic Records, Kristofferson was signed by Monument Records in 1969. Throughout his career, he recorded a total of 10 albums for Monument, two albums for Mercury Records, one album each for Justice Records and Atlantic Records, and two albums each for New West Records and KK Records. In September 1971, Kristofferson made his film debut in The Last Movie and devoted much of the later decade to making Hollywood films. Some of his most famous films include Cisco Pike (1972), A Star Is Born (1976), Convoy (1978), Heaven's Gate (1980), the Blade film trilogy (1998–2004), and Payback (1999). Kristofferson was also a member of the country music supergroup the Highwaymen between 1985 and 1995. He has charted 12 times on the American Billboard Hot Country Songs charts; his highest-peaking singles there are "Why Me" and "Highwayman", which reached number one in 1973 and 1985, respectively. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. He was a three-time Grammy Award winner, out of 13 total nominations. Kristofferson died in 2024 at the age of 88, three years after announcing his retirement.

Quick facts about Kris Kristofferson

  • Full name: Kris Kristofferson
  • Born: 1936-06-22
  • Nationality: United States
  • Known as: Musician
  • Wikidata ID: Q208681

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kris Kristofferson?

Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor.

What nationality is Kris Kristofferson?

Kris Kristofferson is United States.

When was Kris Kristofferson born?

Kris Kristofferson was born on 1936-06-22.

Sources

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