Willie Nelson
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 30, 1933 (age 93)
- Birthplace
- Abbott, Texas, USA
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
Photos
Filmography
Willie Nelson - Austin City Limits '74
Movie · as Himself
Willie Nelson & Friends: Stars & Guitars
Movie · as Himself
The Man with the Big Hat
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies
Movie · as Self
The Greatest Night in Pop
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Willie and Me
Movie · as Willie Nelson / Bones
Heartbreakers at the BBC
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short
Movie · as Self
Joke Man
Movie · as Self
June
Movie · as Self
Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration
Movie · as Self
Willie Nelson & Family
TV · as Self · 4 eps
Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
Movie · as Self
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Willie Nelson: Live at Budokan
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute
Movie · as Self
This Is Pop
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
Movie · as Self
My Darling Vivian
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Willie Nelson American Outlaw
Movie · as Self
Charley Pride: I'm Just Me
Movie · as Self
Waiting for the Miracle to Come
Movie · as Jimmy Riggs
Willie Nelson at Austin City Limits
Movie · as Self
Paradox
Movie · as Red
Also Starring Austin
Movie
Quincy
Movie · as Self
Lost in London
Movie · as Willie Nelson
Pure Country: Pure Heart
Movie · as Himself
Revolution: The Legacy of the Sixties
Movie
OBJECTified
TV · as Self · 1 ep
American Epic
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Road to Austin
Movie · as Self
Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke
Movie · as Self
Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl
Movie · as Self
Zoolander 2
Movie · as Willie Nelson
The American Epic Sessions
Movie · as Self
The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws
Movie · as Self
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
Movie · as Self - Performer
Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
Movie · as Self
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Movie · as Self
Johnny Cash: American Rebel
Movie · as Self
I Am Johnny Cash
Movie · as Self
The Muppets
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
TV · as Self - Musical Guest, Self - Guest/Musical Guest · 3 eps
All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
Movie · as Self
Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW
Movie · as self
The Art of McCartney
Movie · as Self
Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years
Movie · as Self - Performer
Country Kings at the BBC
Movie
Late Night with Seth Meyers
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Angels Sing
Movie · as Nick
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
Movie · as Self
John Mellencamp: It's About You
Movie · as Self
We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash
Movie · as Self
9/11 Truth: Hollywood Speaks Up
Movie · as Self
The King of Luck
Movie · as Self
I Ride
Movie · as Willie Nelson
Save the Farm
Movie
Country at the BBC
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story
Movie · as Self
OK Buckaroos
Movie
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles
Movie · as Self - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
Happiness Is
Movie · as Self
Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always Live
Movie · as Self - Performer (archive footage)
The Obama Deception
Movie · as Self
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Surfer, Dude
Movie · as Farmer Bob
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
Movie · as Self
Hempsters: Plant the Seed
Movie · as Himself
Beer for My Horses
Movie · as Charlie
Swing Vote
Movie · as Willie Nelson
The King of Texas
Movie · as Self
Merle Haggard: The Real Deal
Movie · as Self
Elvis | Viva Las Vegas
Movie · as Self
Willie Nelson / Wynton Marsalis - Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC
Movie · as Chanteur
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
Movie · as Self
Blonde Ambition
Movie · as Pap Paw
Fighting With Anger
Movie · as Will
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
Movie · as Uncle Jesse
Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live
Movie · as Self
Opry Video Classics : Legends
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Last of the Breed: Live in Concert
Movie · as Himself
Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007
Movie · as Self
Beerfest
Movie · as Self (uncredited)
Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line
Movie · as Self
Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX
Movie · as Self - Vocals (archive footage)
Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX
Movie · as Self
American Revolutions: The Highwaymen
Movie · as Self
Broken Bridges
Movie · as self
It's Happiness: A Polka Documentary
Movie · as Self
The Dukes of Hazzard
Movie · as Uncle Jesse Duke
Farm Aid: 20th Anniversary Concert
Movie · as Self
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Where the Music Began
Movie · as self
Willie Nelson & Leon Russel - Partners In Music
Movie
VH1 Storytellers
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Colbert Report
TV · as Self (uncredited) · 1 ep
Be Here to Love Me
Movie · as Self - Musician
Willie Nelson - Live at Billy Bob's Texas
Movie · as Self
The Big Bounce
Movie · as Joe Lurie
Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels
Movie · as Self
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
Movie · as Self
CMA Music Festival
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Highwaymen: On the Road Again
Movie · as Self
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
Movie · as Self
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
Movie · as Self
Ringo Rama
Movie · as Himself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV · as Self - Musical Guest, Self - Guest · 2 eps
Real Time with Bill Maher
TV · as Self · 3 eps
The Country Bears
Movie · as Self
This Land Is Your Land - Folk Years
Movie
Farm Aid 2001 - A Concert For America
Movie · as Himself
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
Movie · as Self
The Country Bears Concert for America
Movie · as Self
Monk
TV · as Willie Nelson · 2 eps
CMT Crossroads
TV · as Self · 3 eps
Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam
Movie · as Himself
Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso
Movie · as Self
The Journeyman
Movie · as Samuel Hancock
America: A Tribute to Heroes
Movie · as Self - Performer
Last Party 2000
Movie · as Self
Austin City Limits: Country
TV · as Self · 5 eps
Chet Atkins: A Life in Music
Movie · as Self
Outlaw Justice
Movie · as Lee Walker
A Tribute to Johnny Cash
Movie · as Self - Performer
The Story of Darrell Royal
Movie · as Self
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Movie · as Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits Live
Movie · as Himself
Dill Scallion
Movie · as Self
Willie Nelson at the Teatro
Movie · as Self
Half Baked
Movie · as Historian Smoker
Wag the Dog
Movie · as Johnny Dean
Gone Fishin'
Movie · as Billy 'Catch' Pooler
Willie Nelson: Down Home
Movie · as Self
Anthem
Movie · as Self
The View
TV · as Self - Guest · 3 eps
King of the Hill
TV · as Willie Nelson (voice) · 1 ep
The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds
Movie · as Self
Starlight
Movie
The Daily Show
TV · as Self · 2 eps
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
Movie · as Willie Nelson
Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II
Movie · as Self
The World of Jim Henson
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Dust to Dust
Movie
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work
Movie · as Self
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
Movie · as Self
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
Movie · as Self
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
TV · as Marshall Elias Burch · 2 eps
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV · as Self - Guest · 4 eps
Delta
TV · 1 ep
Adventures in Wonderland
TV · as The Troubadour · 1 ep
Later... with Jools Holland
TV · 1 ep
Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind
Movie · as Billy Roy Rodriguez
Wild Texas Wind
Movie · as Willie Nelson
WWE WrestleMania VII
Movie · as Self - National Anthem
Hot Country Nights
TV · 1 ep
The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum
Movie · as Self
Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.
Movie · as Self
Pair of Aces
Movie · as Billy Roy Barker
Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So Strong
Movie · as Self
In the Hank Williams Tradition
Movie · as Self
Some Enchanted Evening With Willie Nelson
Movie · as Self
The Simpsons
TV · as Willie Nelson (voice) · 1 ep
Once Upon a Texas Train
Movie · as John Henry Lee
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
Movie · as Cross
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Movie · as Self
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
Movie · as Willie Nelson
Walking After Midnight
Movie · as Self
Baja Oklahoma
Movie · as Self
Willie Nelson, Texas Style
Movie · as Self
Heartbeat
Movie · as Himself
Chet Atkins and Friends
Movie
Stagecoach
Movie · as Doc Holliday
Red Headed Stranger
Movie · as Rev. Julian Shay
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
Movie · as Gen. Jo Shelby
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
Movie · as Self
NWA World Championship Wrestling
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Songwriter
Movie · as Doc Jenkins
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
Movie · as Self - Performer
Miami Vice
TV · as Texas Ranger Jake Pierson · 1 ep
Hells Angels Forever
Movie · as Self
Willie Nelson Live at the US Festival
Movie · as Himself
Playboy Video Magazine, Volume 4
Movie · as Himself
Willie Nelson & Family: In Concert
Movie · as Himself
Barbarosa
Movie · as Barbarosa
Coming Out of the Ice
Movie · as Red Loon
Champs-Elysées
TV · as Self (archive footage) · 1 ep
Thief
Movie · as David 'Okla' Bertinneau
Honeysuckle Rose
Movie · as Buck
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1980
Movie
Solid Gold
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Electric Horseman
Movie · as Wendell
Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration
Movie
Mickey's 50
Movie · as Self
The Kennedy Center Honors
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The South Bank Show
TV · 2 eps
Austin City Limits
TV · as Self · 7 eps
Saturday Night Live
TV · as Self - Host & Musical Guest, Self - Musical Guest · 1 ep
A Poem Is a Naked Person
Movie · as Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
TV · as Self · 2 eps
CMA Awards
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV · as Self · 3 eps