Kris Kristofferson is a retired singer, songwriter and actor. He is one of the most legendary people in Hollywood, having had success in both singing and acting in his amazing career until the day he retired. He has also received many major songwriting hits for writing songs like “Help Me Make It Through The Night”, “Me and Bobby McGee” and “For the Good Times.” His shaggy looks, raspy voice and love for country music made him an instant fan favorite and hotshot crush of his generation.
After finishing his military service in 1965, he retired from the military as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. After this, he did many odd jobs before entering the music industry and later the acting industry. He made his acting debut with The last movie in 1971, which received much love and praise for his acting. This was followed by an upward trajectory as he starred in many other films such as: Dolphin Story, solidifying his acting career. He is best known for his performance in A Star Is Born (1976) for which he received his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
He retired from the industry in 2021, ending an amazing 55-year career, leaving behind some classics and legendary movies and songs to be remembered. To celebrate this amazing career, here are some of Kris Kristofferson’s best performances.
6/6 The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (1976)
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Directed by Lewis John Carlino, The sailor who fell from grace with the sea is a drama thriller movie with Kris Kristofferson and Sarah Miles. The British film is an adaptation of Yukio Mishima’s Japanese novel of the same name. The story is about a family drama that takes place when single parent Anne is caught off guard by American sailor Jim Cameron. Jim Cameron is a typical soldier with a tough but handsome appearance. He’s a very daring character in both the book and the movie, and Kristofferson embodies that perfectly. He falls head over heels in love with Anne and wants his life to revolve around hers, with many risky public maneuvers.
5/6 Heaven’s Gate (1980)
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Directed by Michael Cimino, Heaven’s Gate is a drama noir film about disputes between landowners and immigrants in Wyoming in the 1980s. It is loosely based on the Johnson County War, starring Jeff Bridges, Kris Kristofferson and Christopher Walken. Kris Kristofferson plays James Averill, the sheriff of Jackson County. He becomes the go-between when the politically connected disputes begin with the European immigrants. Kristofferson perfectly embodies the confusion and questionable nature of James as his character has to make many difficult decisions. The film has gained a lot of support over the years, despite extremely low ratings upon release. In particular, Kristofferson has been widely acclaimed for his significant contribution to making the film what it is today.
4/6 Leaf (1998)
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Based on the Marvel superhero, Sheet was a legendary film starring Wesley Snipes, Traci Lords and Shannon Lee. Kris Kristofferson plays Blade’s mentor, Abraham Whistler. The film follows the character of Blade, a half human and immortal with vampire power. He must quench his thirst in the film to defeat his nemesis. Even though Kristofferson’s character was a minor one, he brought the excitement to the film because of his character’s history and humor. He perfectly portrays the ruthless vampire hunter who feels no sympathy for vampires but at the same time cares for Blade like a son. His character comes to an unfortunate end when he commits suicide after being infected with vampirism.
3/6 Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
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Directed by Martin Scorsese, Alice doesn’t live here anymore is a comedy-drama film starring Ellen Burstyn, Alfred Lutter, Dianne Ladd, and Kris Kristofferson. The film follows the story of a widow who travels through the US Southwest in search of a better life. Kristofferson plays the character of David, the mature and loving man Alice falls in love with as she pursues her better life. He is a real father figure to Alice’s son and does nothing but give his endless love. Even beyond this, their relationship is not the smoothest sailing. While David doesn’t get a lot of rules, his presence is very dominant in the film, leaving viewers hooked on the screen.
2/6 Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973)
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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
This movie, directed by Sam Peckinpah, was one of Kristofferson’s first few movies that really put him on the radar for his acting abilities. This western drama film follows the story of the negotiations between Pat Garrett, a famous man, and Billy the Kid, a nefarious bandit. Kristofferson plays Billy the Kid, a feared man in the county, but also a dangerous one that many people are after. Even though Pat and Billy are childhood friends, Police Officer Garrett must stick to his duty. The film was criticized for a loose script that lacked depth, and many of the interesting scenes between the two childhood friends were shot in slow motion. But even with these reservations, Billy the Kid, played by Kristofferson, is the most endearing character on screen for his nefarious comments.
1/6 A Star Is Born (1976)
Directed by Frank Pierson, A star is born was the musical drama film masterpiece starring Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. It follows the story of an igniting musical romance between two singers, who have had a falling out over music. This complicated love story is a hugely well-known story and was remade again in 2018, starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the lead roles. Kristofferson plays the complex and downward spiral John Norman. Being a singer really helped him portray this character to perfection. He has the perfect voice for John’s character, with the deep country gritty tone to it. In addition to singing in the musical, he also interprets all the emotions of the character at the same time. His performance earned him his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, which was truly deserved in popular opinion.