Woody Harrelson grew up in Lebanon, Ohio. He received degrees in theatre arts and English from Hanover College, Indiana. His career began in New York theatre as an understudy in Neil Simon's "Biloxi Blues". Within months, he was cast as Woody on the hit TV series, "Cheers" (1982). Due to conflicts with his TV schedule, Harrelson found it difficult to cross-over to films. His first appearance was in Wildcats (1986) with Goldie Hawn. His next movie, Cool Blue (1988) (V), was releases directly to video. He followed with two cameos, which went uncredited. Meanwhile, he continued to be active in theatre in L.A.: "Zoo Story", "2 on 2" (his own basketball drama), "Brooklyn Laundry" (with Glenn Close and Laura Dern). In 1991, Doc Hollywood (1991) gave him his first widely-seen movie role. The following year, White Men Can't Jump (1992), with Wesley Snipes established him as a box-office draw. He followed immediatly with two hits, Indecent Proposal (1993) and Natural Born Killers (1994). Harrelson lives with his former assistant, Laura Louie, and their 2 daughters.
Is a Vegan
Moonlights as the lead singer in the band Manly Moondog and the Three Kool Hats.
Graduated from Hanover College in 1983 with a degree in theater arts & English. Member Sigma Chi fraternity.
Was married to Neil Simon's daughter, Nancy Simon. Has had relationships with: Carol Kane, Ally Sheedy and Moon Unit Zappa.
Was arrested in Columbus (Ohio) in June 1983, charged of disorderly conduct - he was dancing in the street, halting traffic; he later jumped out of a moving police van laughing maniacally and finally punched one of the two arresting officers to the ground.
Brother of Brett Harrelson
Father, Charles Voyde Harrelson, has been convicted twice for committing paid murders. Once in 1968 and again in 1978 (for the murder of Federal Judge John Wood).
His father, Charles, in addition to being a convicted felon, is believed to be one of "the hobos" taken away from the area known as "the grassy knoll" right after the shooting of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963.
Children are named Deni Montana (b. 1994) and Zoe Giordano (b. 1997).
Admits to having been a sex addict.
Claimed to have 17 jobs in one year.
Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world [1990]
Activist for the legalization of marijuana.
A jury in Beattyville, Kentucky dismissed a marijuana possession charge against him. He was arrested in 1996 for planting 4 marijuana hemp seeds in rural Kentucky and in his defence he said he was challenging a state law that makes no distinction between marijuana and hemp, even though hemp contains little of the drug found in marijuana and can be used to make a variety of industrial products. [25 August 2000]
Woody and approximately a dozen other hemp activists and environmentalists took a bicycle tour across America, Starting in Seattle, Washington and 1000 miles later ending at the University of Santa Barbara in California. The tour was escorted by the "Mothership", a Chicago city transit bus fueled by hemp oil & powered by solar panels. [April 2001]
The ex-son-in-law of playwright Neil Simon, one of Woody's first plays was Simon's "Biloxi Blues" in 1984.
He is on the board of the directors for the Ex'pression Center For New Media, an art school in Emeryville, California.
His friends Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber and Jim 'Soni' Sonefeld of the rock band Hootie & The Blowfish wrote the song "Woody" about him. The number can be found on the group's eponymous 2003-album.
Is co-owner of an oxygen bar in San Francisco, California. [2001]
Lives with Laura Louie and their children in Costa Rica [2004]
Was set to star in the Danny Boyle's firefighter drama "Worcester Cold Storage" with Ed Harris, but the project never came to fruition.
He is the first and (as of 2005) the only regular cast member from "Cheers" (1982) to receive a nomination for an Academy Award
Woody and his wife, Laura Louie, are expecting their third child in Summer, 2006. [October 11, 2005]
"Woody" from "Cheers" (1982) is from Hanover, Indiana.
Wanted to play Jake Brigance in A Time to Kill (1996), but author John Grisham objected to his casting.
Good friends with The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Expecting third child in July 2006
Daughter, Makani Ravello Harrelson, born 3 June 2006.
Lovingly refers to his three daughters as the "Goddess trilogy".
Woody and his wife, Laura, became the parents of their third daughter, Makani Ravello, on Maui on June 3, 2006.
Although he is a vegan, he is a raw faddist (which means he only eats raw and dried foods)
He climbed the golden gate bridge and put up a sign that read: "Hurwitz"
Actor - filmography
(In Production) (2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s)
Then She Found Me (2007) (pre-production)
The Grand (2007) (pre-production) .... One Eyed Jack
No Country for Old Men (2007) (filming)
The Walker (2007) (post-production)
A Scanner Darkly (2006) .... Ernie Luckman
Free Jimmy (2006) (voice) .... RoyArnie
A Prairie Home Companion (2006) .... Dusty
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (2005) .... Kelly Ryan
North Country (2005) .... Bill White
The Big White (2005) .... Raymond Barnell
After the Sunset (2004) .... Stan Lloyd
She Hate Me (2004) .... Leland Powell
Anger Management (2003) .... Galaxia/Security Guard Gary
Scorched (2003/I) .... Jason 'Woods' Valley
"Will & Grace"
- Rules of Engagement (2001) TV Episode .... Nathan
- Loose Lips Sink Relationships (2001) TV Episode .... Nathan
- Past and Presents (2001) TV Episode .... Nathan
- The Third Wheel Gets the Grace (2001) TV Episode .... Nathan
- Sons and Lovers (2001) TV Episode .... Nathan
(2 more)
American Saint (2001) .... Woody as Himself
Play It to the Bone (1999) .... Vince Boudreau
... aka Play It (USA: promotional title)
Edtv (1999) .... Ray Pekurny
... aka Ed TV (USA: poster title)
"Frasier"
- The Show Where Woody Shows Up (1999) TV Episode .... Woody Boyd
The Hi-Lo Country (1998) .... Big Boy Matson
... aka Hi-Lo Country - Im Land der letzten Cowboys (Germany: TV title)
The Thin Red Line (1998) .... Sergeant Keck
... aka Mince ligne rouge, La (Canada: French title)
"Ellen"
- Ellen: A Hollywood Tribute: Part 2 (1998) TV Episode .... Henry
Palmetto (1998) .... Harry Barber
... aka Dumme sterben nicht aus
Wag the Dog (1997) .... Sergeant William Schumann
Welcome to Sarajevo (1997) .... Flynn
"Spin City"
- Meet Tommy Dugan (1996) TV Episode .... Tommy Dugan
The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996) .... Larry Flynt
... aka Larry Flynt (Canada: French title)
Kingpin (1996) .... Roy Munson
The Sunchaser (1996) .... Dr. Michael Reynolds
Money Train (1995) .... Charlie
"The Simpsons"
- Fear of Flying (1994) TV Episode (voice) .... Woody Boyd
Natural Born Killers (1994) .... Mickey Knox
The Cowboy Way (1994) .... Pepper Lewis
I'll Do Anything (1994) .... Ground Zero Hero
"Cheers" .... Woody Boyd (1985-1993)
- One for the Road (1993) TV Episode .... Woody Boyd
- The Guy Can't Help It (1993) TV Episode .... Woody Boyd
- Woody Gets an Election (1993) TV Episode .... Woody Boyd
- Look Before You Sleep (1993) TV Episode .... Woody Boyd
- Loathe and Marriage (1993) TV Episode .... Woody Boyd
(91 more)
Indecent Proposal (1993) .... David Murphy
Cheers: Last Call! (1993) (TV) .... Woody Boyd
"Saturday Night Live"
... aka SNL
... aka SNL 25 (USA: new title)
- Episode #17.20 (1992) TV Episode .... Host
- Episode #15.6 (1989) TV Episode .... Host
White Men Can't Jump (1992) .... Billy Hoyle
Doc Hollywood (1991) .... Hank Gordon
L.A. Story (1991) (uncredited) .... Harris' Boss
Ted and Venus (1991) .... Homeless Vietnam Veteran
Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990) (TV) .... Lou the Lamb
Cheers: 200th Anniversary Special (1990) (TV) .... Woody
Killer Instinct (1988) (TV) .... Charlie Long
... aka Deadly Observation (USA: video title)
Cool Blue (1988) (V) .... Dustin
Bay Coven (1987) (TV) .... Slater
... aka Bay Cove (USA: DVD box title)
... aka Eye of the Demon
... aka Strangers in Town
... aka The Devils of Bay Cove
Wildcats (1986) .... Krushinski
... aka First and Goal
Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978) (uncredited) .... Extra
Himself - filmography
(2000s) (1990s) (1980s)
Spit (2006) .... Himself
"HBO First Look"
- The Making of 'A Prairie Home Companion' (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
"The Bigger Picture"
... aka The Bigger Picture with Graham Norton (USA: long title)
- Episode #2.6 (2006) TV Episode .... Himself
"Friday Night with Jonathan Ross"
- Episode #9.9 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself
"Live with Regis and Kathie Lee"
... aka Live with Regis (USA: new title)
... aka Live with Regis & Kelly (USA: new title)
- Episode dated 19 October 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself
"Late Show with David Letterman"
... aka Late Show Backstage (USA: title for episodes with guest hosts)
... aka The Late Show (USA: informal short title)
- Episode dated 11 October 2005 (2005) TV Episode .... Himself
The Outsider (2005) .... Himself
Before, During and 'After the Sunset' (2005) (V) .... Himself
St. Richard of Austin (2004) (TV) .... Himself
"The Daily Show"
... aka The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (USA: new title)
... aka The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Global Edition (International: English title: cut version)
- Episode dated 18 November 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
"Late Night with Conan O'Brien"
- Episode dated 18 November 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
"Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show"
- Episode dated 15 November 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"
- Episode dated 12 November 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
"The Charlie Rose Show"
- Episode dated 8 November 2004 (2004) TV Episode .... Himself
Skull Session: The Making of 'Anger Management' (2003) (V) .... Himself
... aka The Making of 'Anger Management' (USA)
Hempsters: Plant the Seed (2003) .... Himself
The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special (2003) (TV) .... Host
"Real Time with Bill Maher"
- Episode #1.3 (2003) TV Episode .... Himself
Go Further (2003) .... Himself
This So-Called Disaster: Sam Shepard Directs the Late Henry Moss (2003) .... Himself/taxi
... aka This So-Called Disaster (USA: short title)
Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film (2002) (TV) (voice) .... Narrator
Chaos Rising: The Storm Around 'Natural Born Killers' (2001) (V) .... Himself
"The E! True Hollywood Story"
- Cheers (2000) TV Episode .... Himself
Welcome to Hollywood (2000) .... Himself
"The Rosie O'Donnell Show"
- Episode dated 7 December 1999 (1999) TV Episode .... Himself
Grass (1999) (voice) .... Narrator
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) .... Himself
... aka Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me (USA: video title)
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Stars (1999) (TV) .... Himself
Edtv: Caught in the Camera's Eye (1999) (V) .... Himself
... aka Caught in the Camera's Eye (Europe: English title)
"The Directors"
- The Films of Barry Levinson (????) TV Episode .... Himself
- The Films of Milos Forman (????) TV Episode .... Himself
Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen (1998) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself (audience)
... aka US Comedy Arts Festival Tribute to Monty Python (USA)
I Think I Cannes (1997) (uncredited) .... Himself
... aka All Access (France)
The 69th Annual Academy Awards (1997) (TV) .... Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role
Free to Laugh: A Comedy and Music Special for Amnesty International (1992) (TV) .... Himself
"Saturday Night Live"
... aka SNL
... aka SNL 25 (USA: new title)
- Episode #17.3 (1991) TV Episode (uncredited) .... Himself
Comedy Club All-Star 4 with Woody Harrelson (1990) (TV) .... Himself - Host
She's Having a Baby (1988) (uncredited) .... Himself
"The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"
... aka The Best of Carson (USA: rerun title)
- Episode dated 10 August 1987 (1987) TV Episode .... Himself