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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
April 30, 1933
Place of Birth
Abbott, Texas, USA
Also Known As
- The Highwaymen
- Willie Hugh Nelson
Willie Nelson
0.8 Popularity
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
0.0
Self
Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies
2025
5.7
Willie Nelson / Bones
Willie and Me
2024
7.9
Self (archive footage)
The Greatest Night in Pop
2024
9.0
Self
Willie Nelson & Family
2023
0.0
Self
Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration
2023
5.2
Self
June
2023
5.0
Self
Joke Man
2023
0.0
Self
Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short
2023
6.5
Self (archive footage)
Heartbreakers at the BBC
2023
6.5
Self
Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
2022
Credits
Willie Nelson Presents: King of the Roadies
as Self
2025
0.0
Willie and Me
as Willie Nelson / Bones
2024
5.7
The Greatest Night in Pop
as Self (archive footage)
2024
7.9
Willie Nelson & Family
as Self
2023
9.0
Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration
as Self
2023
0.0
June
as Self
2023
5.2
Joke Man
as Self
2023
5.0
Willie Nelson 90: Long Story Short
as Self
2023
0.0
Heartbreakers at the BBC
as Self (archive footage)
2023
6.5
Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas
as Self
2022
6.5
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
as Self (archive footage)
2022
8.2
Willie Nelson: Live at Budokan
as Self (archive footage)
2022
0.0
Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute
as Self
2021
6.7
This Is Pop
as Self (archive footage)
2021
5.9
Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
as Self
2020
6.9
My Darling Vivian
as Self (archive footage)
2020
6.8
Willie Nelson American Outlaw
as Self
2020
0.0
Waiting for the Miracle to Come
as Jimmy Riggs
2019
5.8
Charley Pride: I'm Just Me
as Self
2019
3.8
Willie Nelson at Austin City Limits
as Self
2019
9.0
Quincy
as Self
2018
7.3
Also Starring Austin
2018
7.0
Paradox
as Red
2018
3.8
OBJECTified
as Self
2017
5.0
Revolution: The Legacy of the Sixties
2017
0.0
Pure Country: Pure Heart
as Himself
2017
7.2
American Epic
as Self
2017
7.2
Lost in London
as Willie Nelson
2017
5.9
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
as Self
2016
7.2
Road to Austin
2016
8.0
The Highwaymen: Friends Till the End
as Self - Performer
2016
0.0
The Highwaymen - Live American Outlaws
as Self
2016
9.0
The American Epic Sessions
as Self
2016
7.0
Honky Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke
as Self
2016
7.0
Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl
as Self
2016
7.8
Zoolander 2
as Willie Nelson
2016
4.9
Willie Nelson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song
as Self
2016
0.0
The Muppets
as Self
2015
7.0
Johnny Cash: American Rebel
as Self
2015
8.2
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
as Self
2015
6.2
I Am Johnny Cash
as Self
2015
6.6
Country Kings at the BBC
2014
6.3
Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years
as Self - Performer
2014
0.0
The Art of McCartney
as Self
2014
2.0
All About Ann: Governor Richards of the Lone Star State
as Self
2014
7.6
Willie Nelson Live @ SXSW
as self
2014
8.0
Late Night with Seth Meyers
as Self
2014
5.3
Angels Sing
as Nick
2013
5.6
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
as Self
2013
7.1
We Walk The Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash
as Self
2012
7.1
John Mellencamp: It's About You
as Self
2012
5.0
🎬
9/11 Truth: Hollywood Speaks Up
as Self
2011
5.8
🎬
Save the Farm
2011
6.0
🎬
I Ride
as Willie Nelson
2011
0.0
The King of Luck
as Self
2011
0.0
OK Buckaroos
2010
0.0
The Greatest Ears in Town: The Arif Mardin Story
as Self
2010
4.7
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis Play the Music of Ray Charles
as Self - Vocals and Acoustic Guitar
2009
7.0
🎬
Happiness Is
as Self
2009
6.0
The Obama Deception
as Self
2009
6.0
Dolly Parton & Friends: Love Always Live
as Self - Performer (archive footage)
2009
0.0
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para Recordar
as Self (archive footage)
2009
0.0
Merle Haggard: The Real Deal
as Self
2008
0.0
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!
as Self
2008
6.9
Elvis | Viva Las Vegas
as Self
2008
7.3
Surfer, Dude
as Farmer Bob
2008
4.6
Beer for My Horses
as Charlie
2008
4.8
Swing Vote
as Willie Nelson
2008
5.7
Hempsters: Plant the Seed
as Himself
2008
6.1
The King of Texas
as Self
2008
6.0
Blonde Ambition
as Pap Paw
2007
4.5
Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007
as Self
2007
7.1
Opry Video Classics : Legends
as Self (archive footage)
2007
10.0
Opry Video Classics: Hall of Fame
as Self (archive footage)
2007
10.0
Last of the Breed: Live in Concert
as Himself
2007
7.0
Jerry Lee Lewis: Last Man Standing, Live
as Self
2007
8.0
The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning
as Jesse Duke
2007
6.1
🎬
Fighting With Anger
as Will
2007
2.5
Glen Campbell | Good Times Again
as Self
2007
9.0
American Revolutions: The Highwaymen
as Self
2006
10.0
Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX
as Self
2006
7.0
It's Happiness: A Polka Documentary
as Self
2006
0.0
Broken Bridges
as self
2006
7.4
Beerfest
as Self (uncredited)
2006
5.9
Celebrating the Man in Black: The Making of Walk the Line
as Self
2006
0.0
Willie Nelson: Live from Austin TX
as Self - Vocals (archive footage)
2006
8.7
🎬
Farm Aid: 20th Anniversary Concert
as Self
2005
0.0
The Dukes of Hazzard
as Uncle Jesse Duke
2005
5.6
🎬
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge: Where the Music Began
as self
2005
4.0
VH1 Storytellers
as Self
2005
8.7
Willie Nelson & Leon Russel - Partners In Music
2005
0.0
Willie Nelson & Friends: Outlaws & Angels
as Self
2004
8.3
Be Here to Love Me
as Self - Musician
2004
7.1
🎬
Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company
as Self
2004
0.0
🎬
CMA Music Festival
as Self
2004
0.0
The Big Bounce
as Joe Lurie
2004
4.9
🎬
Willie Nelson - Live at Billy Bob's Texas
as Self
2004
0.0
Emmylou Harris: From a Deeper Well
as Self
2003
8.5
Ringo Rama
as Himself
2003
0.0
The Highwaymen: On the Road Again
as Self
2003
9.0
🎬
Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin'
as Self
2003
10.0
Real Time with Bill Maher
as Self
2003
6.0
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self - Musical Guest
2003
5.5
🎬
Farm Aid 2001 - A Concert For America
as Himself
2002
10.0
The Country Bears
as Willie Nelson
2002
4.7
Monk
as Willie Nelson
2002
8.0
The Willie Nelson Special - With Special Guest Ray Charles
as Self
2002
8.5
The Country Bears Concert for America
as Self
2002
0.0
🎬
This Land Is Your Land - Folk Years
2002
0.0
CMT Crossroads
as Self
2002
8.3
Last Party 2000
as Self
2001
6.1
America | A Tribute to Heroes
as Self - Performer
2001
6.2
Willie Nelson: Live in Amsterdam
as Himself
2001
0.0
The Journeyman
as Samuel Hancock
2001
5.0
Kinky Friedman: Proud To Be An Asshole From El Paso
as Self
2001
0.0
Chet Atkins: A Life in Music
as Self
2000
0.0
Dill Scallion
as Self
1999
5.6
Willie Nelson: Greatest Hits Live
as Himself
1999
0.0
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
as Willie Nelson
1999
6.3
A Tribute to Johnny Cash
as Self - Performer
1999
8.0
Outlaw Justice
as Lee Walker
1999
6.7
🎬
The Story of Darrell Royal
as Self
1999
10.0
Half Baked
as Historian Smoker
1998
6.3
Willie Nelson at the Teatro
as Self
1998
0.0
Wag the Dog
as Johnny Dean
1997
6.9
🎬
Willie Nelson: Down Home
as Self
1997
0.0
The View
as Self
1997
4.3
Anthem
as Self
1997
5.0
Gone Fishin'
as Billy 'Catch' Pooler
1997
4.8
King of the Hill
as Willie Nelson (voice)
1997
7.4
The Beach Boys: Nashville Sounds
as Self
1996
2.0
The Daily Show
as Self
1996
6.4
Starlight
1996
2.3
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
as Self
1996
3.9
Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein II
as Self
1995
0.0
Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story
as Willie Nelson
1995
3.0
The World of Jim Henson
as Self (archive footage)
1994
7.3
Dust to Dust
1994
7.3
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
1994
7.8
Kris Kristofferson: His Life and Work
as Self
1993
0.0
Willie Nelson: The Big Six-O
as Self
1993
0.0
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
as Marshall Elias Burch
1993
7.6
Delta
1992
6.0
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
5.4
Adventures in Wonderland
as The Troubadour
1992
7.7
🎬
Hot Country Nights
1991
0.0
Wild Texas Wind
as Willie Nelson
1991
5.4
WWE WrestleMania VII
as Self - National Anthem
1991
7.4
Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind
as Billy Roy Rodriguez
1991
3.7
The Highwaymen: Live at Nassau Coliseum
as Self
1990
8.5
Pair of Aces
as Billy Roy Barker
1990
5.0
Waylon: Renegade. Outlaw. Legend.
as Self
1990
0.0
The Simpsons
as Willie Nelson (voice)
1989
8.0
Kenny, Dolly & Willie: Something Inside So Strong
as Self
1989
9.0
🎬
In the Hank Williams Tradition
as Self
1989
0.0
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!?
as Cross
1988
3.8
Once Upon a Texas Train
as John Henry Lee
1988
5.1
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
as Willie Nelson
1988
0.0
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
as Self
1988
0.0
Baja Oklahoma
as Self
1988
6.3
Walking After Midnight
as Self
1988
0.0
Chet Atkins and Friends
1987
0.0
Heartbeat
as Himself
1987
5.5
Red Headed Stranger
as Rev. Julian Shay
1986
4.8
Stagecoach
as Doc Holliday
1986
5.3
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James
as Gen. Jo Shelby
1986
5.2
NWA World Championship Wrestling
as Self
1985
0.0
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song
as Self
1985
8.5
Songwriter
as Doc Jenkins
1984
5.1
Miami Vice
as Texas Ranger Jake Pierson
1984
7.5
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
as Self - Performer
1984
0.0
Hells Angels Forever
as Himself
1983
6.7
Willie Nelson Live at the US Festival
as Himself
1983
0.0
Playboy Video Magazine: Volume 4
as Himself
1983
1.0
🎬
Willie Nelson & Family: In Concert
as Himself
1983
0.0
Coming Out of the Ice
as Red Loon
1982
7.0
Barbarosa
as Barbarosa
1982
5.8
Champs-Elysées
as Self (archive footage)
1982
6.3
Thief
as David 'Okla' Bertinneau
1981
7.2
Solid Gold
as Self
1980
6.0
Honeysuckle Rose
as Buck
1980
5.2
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1980
1980
7.0
The Electric Horseman
as Wendell
1979
6.1
🎬
Willie Nelson's 4th of July Celebration
1979
0.0
The Kennedy Center Honors
as Self
1978
7.4
Mickey's 50
as Self
1978
0.0
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host & Musical Guest
1975
7.0
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Musical Guest
1975
7.0
Austin City Limits
as Self
1975
6.2
A Poem Is a Naked Person
as Self
1974
7.6
Bob Dylan: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration
as Self
1972
7.5
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
as Self
1969
5.8
CMA Awards
as Self
1967
9.0
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1962
7.5