Kris Kristofferson,A Star Is BornActor and Country Legend, Dies at 88

Mar. 15, 2025

Kris Kristofferson, the renowned actor and country singer-songwriter, has died. He was 88.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all," his family said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

Kristofferson was born on June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas, to Mary Ann (née Ashbrook) and Lars Henry Kristofferson — a first-generation Swedish immigrant and U.S. Army Air Corps officer and Air Force general. His love for country music began at a young age, and, according to a 2013 interview withNPR, Kristofferson penned his first song, “I Hate Your Ugly Face,” at only 11 years old. A military brat, he moved often throughout his childhood until his family landed in San Mateo, Calif., when he was a teenager.

Kris Kristofferson.Mary Ellen Mark

Mary Ellen Mark

Per his official website, Kristofferson had two short stories — “Gone Are the Days” and “The Rock” — published inAtlantic Monthlyat the age of 18. In 1954, he attended Pomona College in California, where he played football, was crowned a Golden Gloves boxer and served as sports editor of the school paper. His athleticism and academic achievements landed him on the cover ofSports Illustrated’s"Faces in the Crowd" issue during his senior year in 1958. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Pomona, Kristofferson earned a Rhodes Scholarship and his master’s in English literature at Oxford University’s Merton College in 1960.

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“I just fell in love with the music community that was going on there,” hetoldClashin 2010 of the country music scene in Nashville. “The way the old heroes helped out the new guys. It was a very soulful business at the time; I don’t know if it’s anything like that now. But it was definitely the best move I’ve ever made.”

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Throughout the ’70s, Kristofferson continued to release albums and singles as a recording artist, among which were “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” and the two-time Grammy nominated song “Why Me.” He also collaborated with country singerRita Coolidge—his second wife—on several joint albums. The pair won two Grammys for 1973’s “From the Bottle to the Bottom” and their 1975 rendition of Clyde McPhatter’s 1962 hit “Lover Please.”

Kris Kristofferson performs during NSAI 50 Years of Songs.Rick Diamond/Getty

Rick Diamond/Getty

“He is a poet rather than a musician, more concerned with interpretation than with quality of voice,“The New York Timeswrote in a 1970 profile. “He is at once blunt and mystical, above petty prejudices, strongly appealing to both the campus and to intellectual sets. He is an important link between country, pop and underground music.”

Kristofferson’s talents extended beyond music and songwriting. He was featured in films likeCisco Pike(1972),Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid(1973) andAlice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore(1974).

In 1974, KristoffersontoldRolling Stonehe felt confident about his foray into Hollywood despite a lack of formal training.

“I’d never even been in no school play, but I read the [Cisco Pike] script, and I could identify with this cat, this dope dealer,” he explained. “People said, ‘Don’t do it, take acting lessons first!’ But it seemed to me that acting must be just understanding a character and then being just as honest as you can possibly be.”

Then his big break came with his star-turning role as self-destructive rock star John Norman Howard in the 1976 remake ofA Star Is Born. CostarringBarbra Streisandas Esther Hoffman — an unknown singer and John Norman’s love interest — the film earned Kristofferson a Golden Globe for best actor in 1977. He also was known for his performances as Whistler in theBladetrilogy oppositeWesley Snipes.

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Music was never far behind, though. Kristofferson formed a country supergroup with Cash,Waylon JenningsandWillie Nelsoncalled The Highwaymen. Their first album,Highwayman,and its titular single topped the country charts in 1985. The band released two more albums — 1990’sHighwayman 2and 1995’sThe Road Goes On Forever.

Kristofferson amassed numerous awards and honors over the course of his decades-long career, including three Grammy wins and alifetime achievement honor from the Recording Academyin 2014. He also received an Oscar nomination in 1985 for Best Original Song for the movieSongwriter, where he starred alongside band member Nelson. In 2004, he was inducted into theCountry Music Hall of Fame.

In 2013, the actor-musician opened up abouthis experience with memory loss. Doctors originally misdiagnosed him with Alzheimer’s disease, though it was actually Lyme disease,per CBS News. However, according to his wife, Lisa Kristofferson (née Meyers), he sought treatment and saw improvement within weeks.

“He was taking all these medications for things he doesn’t have, and they all have side effects,” LisatoldRolling Stonein 2016.

She added, “All of a sudden, he was back. There are still bad days, but some days he’s perfectly normal, and it’s easy to forget that he is even battling anything.”

“Kristofferson is the artist that every artist strives to be,” MHM president and partner Clint Higham wrote in a statement. “He is an artist’s artist. If Mount Rushmore had a place for songwriters, Kris would be on it.”

When asked what he believed to be the secret of life, Kristofferson toldMen’s Journalin 2017, “I had a list of rules I made up one time. It says: Tell the truth, sing with passion, work with laughter, and love with heart. Those are good to start with anyway.”

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He was previously married to Frances Beer, with whom he welcomed daughter Tracy in 1962 and son Kris in 1968. He and Coolidge had their daughter, Casey, in 1974. He is also the father of five children with Lisa, including Jesse (1983), Jody (1985), John (1988), Kelly Marie (1990) and Blake (1994).

source: people.com