Kris Kristofferson has throughout his career built a legacy in the film and music industry. He was an American songwriter, country music singer, and actor. He accumulated a net worth of $160 million. He was vocal about his opinions against the United States’ military interventions and foreign positions in the invasion of Panama, the Gulf, and the Iraq war. However, Kristofferson died on 28th September 2024 at the age of 88.
Military, Music and Film Career
After much influence from his father, who was a US Army Air Corps, Kristofferson joined the US Army as a lieutenant, went for training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and became a helicopter pilot. He formed a band still in the army in the 8th Infantry Division the West Germany station. After being stationed at West Point, he quit the army something the family was not happy about since the reason was to pursue his music career. Although he left the military, he received the American Veteran of the Year Award in 2003.
After leaving the army in 1965, Kristofferson struggled with his musical success and had to do odd jobs to earn a living. He released his first single ‘Viet Nam Blues’ under Dave Dudley and this was his breakthrough as it did so well. He released songs like From the Bottle to the Bottom, Once More with Feeling, Yours’s Time Coming, Best of All Possible Worlds, and Me and Bobby McGee.
He released his first essay The Rock and Gone Are the Days published in The Atlantic Monthly after college talking about his racial encounter. In 1971, he went on to pursue his acting career in Hollywood and was featured in several movies like Pat Garrett, Cisco Pike, Billy the Kid, Blume in Love, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and A Star is Born in 1976. He was passionate about his roles and this was rewarded by receiving the Best Actor Golden Globe Award.
He was featured in the film Disappearances, in 2006, with Genevieve Bujold talking about the Great Depression.
In 2009, he portrayed Joe on the album Ghost Brothers of Dark Land County with John Mellencamp a singer, and Stephen King. Kristofferson had a solo show at the Maui Arts and Cultural Centre in 2011 showcasing all his original songs.
Demos like Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends and The Publishing Demos written while Kristofferson was in Columbia were released in May 2010. His album The Cedar Creek Sessions was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Americana Album in 2016.
During his last concert at the Sunrise Theatre, held in Fort Pierce, Florida, in February 2020 Kristofferson announced his retirement.
Personal Life and Death
Kris Kristofferson was born on the 22nd of June 1936 in Brownsville, Texas. His father Lars Henry Kristofferson was a US Army Air Corps while his mother Mary Ann was a stay-at-home mum. He attended San Mateo High School and later enrolled at Pomona College. He always aspired to be a writer although his dad encouraged him to pursue the military.
Kristofferson married three times and had eight children. He married Frances Mavia Beer in 1961 and had two children but separated in 1969. In 1973, Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge, a singer, got married and had one child but divorced in 1980. He later married Lisa Meyers in 1983 and had five children.
Kristofferson bought a home on Maui Island in Hana, Hawaii, and another in Las Flores Canyon Malibu, California.
Kristofferson died at the age of 88 in his home in Maui with a net worth of $160 million.
