Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson
source
Name	Woody Harrelson
Caption	Harrelson in 2019
Birth name	Woodrow Tracy Harrelson
Birth date	23 July 1961
Birth place	Midland, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, playwright, activist
Years active	1978–present
Spouse	Laura Louie, 2008
Education	Hanover College (BA)

Woody Harrelson. Woodrow Tracy Harrelson is an American actor, playwright, and activist. He first gained widespread fame for his role as bartender Woody Boyd on the NBC sitcom Cheers, a performance that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award. His career later expanded into acclaimed film work, receiving three Academy Award nominations for his roles in The People vs. Larry Flynt, The Messenger, and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Known for his versatility, Harrelson has appeared in major franchises like The Hunger Games and the Star Wars film Solo: A Star Wars Story, while also being a prominent advocate for environmentalism and cannabis legalization.

Early life and education

Woodrow Tracy Harrelson was born in Midland, Texas, to Diane Lou and Charles Harrelson, a convicted hitman. He spent much of his childhood in Lebanon, Ohio, after his mother moved the family there. Harrelson attended Lebanon High School, where he was active in drama and sports. He pursued higher education at Hanover College in Indiana, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English studies. During his time at Hanover College, he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and performed in several college productions, which solidified his interest in acting.

Career

Harrelson's professional career began on the New York City stage and with minor television roles. His breakthrough came in 1985 when he was cast on the iconic sitcom Cheers, set in a Boston bar, where he remained until the series ended in 1993. His transition to film was marked by both comedic and dramatic roles, including in White Men Can't Jump and Natural Born Killers. His portrayal of Hustler publisher Larry Flynt in Miloš Forman's The People vs. Larry Flynt earned him his first Academy Award for Best Actor nomination. He later received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as a United States Army officer in The Messenger. Harrelson has since taken on diverse projects, from blockbusters like Zombieland and Now You See Me to critically acclaimed work in Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which garnered him another Academy Award nomination. On Broadway, he starred in a 2009 production of The Rainmaker and wrote the play Bullet for Adolf.

Personal life

Harrelson has been married to Laura Louie, a former assistant, since 2008; the couple has three daughters and resides primarily in Maui, Hawaii. A long-time vegan and environmentalist, he is an outspoken advocate for sustainable living, hemp legalization, and cannabis reform. He co-owns a hemp-based product company and has been involved with organizations like PETA and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Harrelson's political activism includes participation in protests against the World Trade Organization and support for Democratic political candidates. He has also publicly discussed his complex relationship with his father, Charles Harrelson, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of Federal Judge John H. Wood.

Filmography

Harrelson's extensive filmography highlights his range across genres. Selected notable films include his early work in Doc Hollywood (1991), his star-making turn in White Men Can't Jump (1992), and his controversial role in Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers (1994). Award-season recognition came with The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) and The Messenger (2009). He joined major franchises as Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games series (2012-2015) and as Tobias Beckett in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). Other significant credits include No Country for Old Men (2007), Zombieland (2009), Now You See Me (2013), Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), and Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021).

Awards and nominations

Throughout his career, Harrelson has received numerous accolades. For his television work on Cheers, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1989 and received several other Emmy nominations. His film performances have been recognized with three Academy Award nominations: Best Actor for The People vs. Larry Flynt and Best Supporting Actor for both The Messenger and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. He has also earned nominations for a Tony Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a British Academy Film Award. In 2017, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:American vegans Category:Activists from Texas