Willie Nelson
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1933-04-30 (92 years old)
Place of Birth
Abbott, Texas, USA
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
(2024)
The Greatest Night in Pop
as Self (archive footage)
(2024)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: 10th Anniversary Special
as Self (archive footage)
(2024)
Willie and Me
as Willie Nelson / Bones
(2023)
June
as Self
(2023)
(2023)
Joke Man
as Self
(2023)
Heartbreakers at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
(2022)
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
as Self (archive footage)
(2022)
(2022)
Willie Nelson: Live at Budokan
as himself
(2021)
(2020)
My Darling Vivian
as Self (archive footage)
(2020)
(2020)
(2019)
Waiting for the Miracle to Come
as Jimmy Riggs
(2019)
Charley Pride: I'm Just Me
as Self
(2019)
(2018)
Quincy
as Self
(2018)
Paradox
as Red
(2018)
(2017)
Lost in London
as Willie Nelson
(2017)
Pure Country: Pure Heart
as Himself
(2016)
Zoolander 2
as Willie Nelson
(2016)
(2016)
(2016)
(2016)
(2016)
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
as Self - Performer
(2016)
The American Epic Sessions
as Self
(2016)
(2016)
(2015)
Johnny Cash: American Rebel
as Self
(2015)
I Am Johnny Cash
as Self
(2014)
The Art of McCartney
as Self
(2014)
(2014)
Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years
as Self - Performer
(2014)
(2014)
Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW
as self
(2013)
Angels Sing
as Nick
(2013)
(2012)
(2012)
(2011)
Paul Williams Still Alive
as Self (archive footage)
(2011)
The King of Luck
as Himself
(2011)
(2011)
I Ride
as Willie Nelson
(2010)
(2010)
(2009)
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
as Self (archive footage)
(2009)
The Obama Deception
as Self
(2009)
Happiness Is
as Self
(2009)
Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always Live
as Self - Performer (archive footage)
(2009)
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles
as Himself - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
(2008)
Surfer, Dude
as Farmer Bob
(2008)
Swing Vote
as Willie Nelson
(2008)
Beer for My Horses
as Charlie
(2008)
Elvis | Viva Las Vegas
as Self
(2008)
Hempsters: Plant the Seed
as Himself
(2008)
(2008)
The King of Texas
as Self
(2008)
Merle Haggard: The Real Deal
as Self
(2007)
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
as Jesse Duke
(2007)
Blonde Ambition
as Pap Paw
(2007)
(2007)
Opry Video Classics : Legends
as Self (archive footage)
(2007)
Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame
as Self (archive footage)
(2007)
(2007)
(2007)
Last of the Breed: Live in Concert
as Himself
(2007)
Fighting With Anger
as Will
(2006)
Beerfest
as Self (uncredited)
(2006)
Broken Bridges
as self
(2006)
(2006)
Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX
as Compositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix
(2006)
American Revolutions: The Highwaymen
as Himself
(2006)
Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX
as Compositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix
(2005)
The Dukes of Hazzard
as Uncle Jesse Duke
(2005)
(2005)
(2004)
The Big Bounce
as Joe Lurie
(2004)
(2004)
Be Here to Love Me
as Self - Musician
(2004)
(2004)
(2003)
(2003)
The Highwaymen: On the Road Again
as Himself
(2003)
(2002)
The Country Bears
as Willie Nelson
(2002)
(2002)
(2002)
Farm Aid 2001 - A Concert For America
as Himself
(2001)
America | A Tribute to Heroes
as Self - Performer
(2001)
The Journeyman
as Samuel Hancock
(2001)
Last Party 2000
as Self
(2001)
(2001)
Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam
as Himself
(1999)
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
as Willie Nelson
(1999)
Outlaw Justice
as Lee Walker
(1999)
Dill Scallion
as Self
(1999)
A Tribute To Johnny Cash
as Self - Performer
(1999)
The Story of Darrell Royal
as Self
(1999)
Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits Live
as Himself
(1998)
Half Baked
as Historian Smoker
(1998)
Willie Nelson at the Teatro
as Self
(1997)
Wag the Dog
as Johnny Dean
(1997)
Gone Fishin'
as Billy 'Catch' Pooler
(1997)
Anthem
as Self
(1996)
(1996)
(1995)
Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
as Willie Nelson
(1994)
The World of Jim Henson
as Self (archive footage)
(1994)
(1993)
(1993)
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
as Self
(1993)
(1991)
WWE WrestleMania VII
as Self - National Anthem
(1991)
Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind
as Billy Roy Rodriguez
(1991)
Wild Texas Wind
as Willie Nelson
(1990)
Pair of Aces
as Billy Roy Barker
(1990)
(1990)
Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.
as Himself
(1989)
(1989)
(1988)
Once Upon a Texas Train
as John Henry Lee
(1988)
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
as Willie Nelson
(1988)
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
as Cross
(1988)
Baja Oklahoma
as Self
(1988)
Walking After Midnight
as Self
(1988)
(1987)
Heartbeat
as Himself
(1987)
(1986)
Stagecoach
as Doc Holliday
(1986)
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
as Gen. Jo Shelby
(1986)
Red Headed Stranger
as Rev. Julian Shay
(1985)
(1984)
(1984)
Songwriter
as Doc Jenkins
(1983)
Hells Angels Forever
as Himself
(1983)
Playboy Video Magazine: Volume 4
as Himself
(1983)
Willie Nelson Live at the US Festival
as Himself
(1983)
Willie Nelson & Family: In Concert
as Himself
(1982)
Barbarosa
as Barbarosa
(1982)
Coming Out of the Ice
as Red Loon
(1981)
Thief
as David 'Okla' Bertinneau
(1980)
Honeysuckle Rose
as Buck
(1980)
(1979)
The Electric Horseman
as Wendell
(1979)
(1978)
Mickey's 50
as Self
(1974)
A Poem Is a Naked Person
as Self
Crew
Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies
Executive Producer
(2014)
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Farm Aid Live
Production Artist
(1986)
Red Headed Stranger
Producer, Music
(1986)
Stagecoach
Original Music Composer, Executive Producer
(1984)
Songwriter
Songs
(1980)
Honeysuckle Rose
Original Music Composer
(1979)