Willie Nelson
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
Credits
- 2024 · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: 10th Anniversary Special as Self (archive footage)
- 2024 · Willie and Me as Willie Nelson / Bones
- 2024 · The Greatest Night in Pop as Self (archive footage)
- 2023 · Willie Nelson & Family as Self
- 2023 · June as Self
- 2023 · Joke Man as Self
- 2023 · Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short as Self
- 2023 · Heartbreakers at the BBC as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas as Self
- 2022 · 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as Self (archive footage)
- 2019 · Waiting for the Miracle to Come as Jimmy Riggs
- 2018 · Also Starring Austin as
- 2017 · Pure Country: Pure Heart as Himself
- 2016 · The Best Democracy Money Can Buy as Self
- 2016 · The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws as Self
- 2016 · The American Epic Sessions as Self
- 2016 · Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl as Self
- 2015 · I Am Johnny Cash as Self
- 2014 · All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State as Self
- 2012 · We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash as Self
- 2011 · 9/11 Truth: Hollywood Speaks Up as Self
- 2009 · Happiness Is as Self
- 2009 · The Obama Deception as Self
- 2008 · A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! as Self
- 2008 · Hempsters: Plant the Seed as Himself
- 2008 · The King of Texas as Self
- 2007 · Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame as Self (archive footage)
- 2007 · Opry Video Classics : Legends as Self (archive footage)
- 2007 · Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live as Self
- 2006 · Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line as Self
- 2005 · Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Where the Music Began as self
- 2004 · Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels as Self
- 2004 · Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company as Self
- 2003 · Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well as Self
- 2003 · The Highwaymen: On the Road Again as Himself
- 2003 · Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin' as Self
- 2002 · Farm Aid 2001 - A Concert For America as Himself
- 1999 · A Tribute To Johnny Cash as Self - Performer
- 1999 · The Story of Darrell Royal as Self
- 1998 · Willie Nelson at the Teatro as Self
- 1997 · Anthem as Self
- 1996 · Starlight as
- 1995 · Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story as Willie Nelson
- 1993 · Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work as Self
- 1993 · Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O as Self
- 1991 · Wild Texas Wind as Willie Nelson
- 1990 · Pair of Aces as Billy Roy Barker
- 1988 · Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration as Self
- 1988 · Walking After Midnight as Self
- 1983 · Hells Angels Forever as Himself
- 1983 · Playboy Video Magazine: Volume 4 as Himself
- 1980 · The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1980 as
- 1974 · A Poem Is a Naked Person as Self
- Future · Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies as Self
- 2022 · Willie Nelson: Live at Budokan as himself
- 2021 · Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute as Self
- 2021 · This Is Pop as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President as Self
- 2020 · My Darling Vivian as Self (archive footage)
- 2020 · Willie Nelson American Outlaw as Self
- 2019 · Charley Pride: I'm Just Me as Self
- 2019 · Willie Nelson at Austin City Limits as Self
- 2018 · Quincy as Self
- 2018 · Paradox as Red
- 2017 · OBJECTified as Self
- 2017 · American Epic as Self
- 2017 · Lost in London as Willie Nelson
- 2016 · Road to Austin as
- 2016 · The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End as Self - Performer
- 2016 · Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke as Self
- 2016 · Zoolander 2 as Willie Nelson
- 2016 · Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song as Self
- 2015 · The Muppets as Self
- 2015 · Johnny Cash: American Rebel as Self
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- 2014 · Country Kings at the BBC as
- 2014 · Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years as Self - Performer
- 2014 · The Art of McCartney as Self
- 2014 · Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW as self
- 2014 · Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
- 2013 · Angels Sing as Nick
- 2013 · Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon as Self
- 2012 · John Mellencamp: It's About You as Self
- 2011 · Paul Williams Still Alive as Self (archive footage)
- 2011 · I Ride as Willie Nelson
- 2011 · The King of Luck as Himself
- 2010 · OK Buckaroos as
- 2010 · The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story as Self
- 2009 · Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles as Himself - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
- 2009 · Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always Live as Self - Performer (archive footage)
- 2009 · O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar as Self (archive footage)
- 2008 · Merle Haggard: The Real Deal as Self
- 2008 · Elvis | Viva Las Vegas as Self
- 2008 · Surfer, Dude as Farmer Bob
- 2008 · Beer for My Horses as Charlie
- 2008 · Swing Vote as Willie Nelson
- 2007 · Blonde Ambition as Pap Paw
- 2007 · Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 as Self
- 2007 · Last of the Breed: Live in Concert as Himself
- 2007 · The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning as Jesse Duke
- 2007 · Fighting With Anger as Will
- 2007 · Glen Campbell | Good Times Again as Self
- 2006 · American Revolutions: The Highwaymen as Himself
- 2006 · Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX as Compositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix
- 2006 · Broken Bridges as self
- 2006 · Beerfest as Self (uncredited)
- 2006 · Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX as Compositeur, Guitare, Artiste principal, Voix
- 2005 · Farm Aid: 20th Anniversary Concert as Self
- 2005 · The Dukes of Hazzard as Uncle Jesse Duke
- 2005 · VH1 Storytellers as Self
- 2004 · Be Here to Love Me as Self - Musician
- 2004 · CMA Music Festival as Self
- 2004 · The Big Bounce as Joe Lurie
- 2004 · Willie Nelson - Live at Billy Bob's Texas as Self
- 2003 · Real Time with Bill Maher as Self
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self - Musical Guest
- 2002 · The Country Bears as Willie Nelson
- 2002 · Monk as Willie Nelson
- 2002 · The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles as Self
- 2002 · This Land Is Your Land - Folk Years as
- 2002 · CMT Crossroads as Self
- 2001 · Last Party 2000 as Self
- 2001 · America | A Tribute to Heroes as Self - Performer
- 2001 · Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam as Himself
- 2001 · The Journeyman as Samuel Hancock
- 2001 · Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso as Self
- 1999 · Dill Scallion as Self
- 1999 · Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits Live as Himself
- 1999 · Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me as Willie Nelson
- 1999 · Outlaw Justice as Lee Walker
- 1998 · Half Baked as Historian Smoker
- 1997 · Wag the Dog as Johnny Dean
- 1997 · The View as Self
- 1997 · Gone Fishin' as Billy 'Catch' Pooler
- 1997 · King of the Hill as Willie Nelson (voice)
- 1996 · The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds as Self
- 1996 · The Daily Show as Self
- 1996 · The Rosie O'Donnell Show as Self
- 1995 · Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II as Self
- 1994 · The World of Jim Henson as Self (archive footage)
- 1994 · Dust to Dust as
- 1994 · Space Ghost Coast to Coast as
- 1993 · Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration as
- 1993 · Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Marshall Elias Burch
- 1992 · Delta as
- 1992 · The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as
- 1992 · Adventures in Wonderland as The Troubadour
- 1991 · Hot Country Nights as
- 1991 · WWE WrestleMania VII as Self - National Anthem
- 1991 · Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind as Billy Roy Rodriguez
- 1990 · The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum as Self
- 1990 · Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend. as Himself
- 1989 · The Simpsons as Willie Nelson (voice)
- 1989 · Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So Strong as Self
- 1989 · In the Hank Williams Tradition as Self
- 1988 · Where the Hell's That Gold?!!? as Cross
- 1988 · Once Upon a Texas Train as John Henry Lee
- 1988 · Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz as Willie Nelson
- 1988 · Baja Oklahoma as Self
- 1987 · Chet Atkins and Friends as
- 1987 · Heartbeat as Himself
- 1986 · Red Headed Stranger as Rev. Julian Shay
- 1986 · Stagecoach as Doc Holliday
- 1986 · The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James as Gen. Jo Shelby
- 1985 · We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song as Self
- 1984 · Songwriter as Doc Jenkins
- 1984 · Miami Vice as Texas Ranger Jake Pierson
- 1984 · The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team as
- 1983 · Willie Nelson Live at the US Festival as Himself
- 1983 · Willie Nelson & Family: In Concert as Himself
- 1982 · Coming Out of the Ice as Red Loon
- 1982 · Barbarosa as Barbarosa
- 1982 · Champs-Elysées as Self (archive footage)
- 1981 · Thief as David 'Okla' Bertinneau
- 1980 · Solid Gold as Self
- 1980 · Honeysuckle Rose as Buck
- 1979 · The Electric Horseman as Wendell
- 1979 · Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration as
- 1978 · The Kennedy Center Honors as Self
- 1978 · Mickey's 50 as Self
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host & Musical Guest
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
- 1975 · Arena as Self
- 1975 · Austin City Limits as Self
- 1969 · The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour as Self
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- Future · Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration as