Woody Harrelson
Woody Harrelson
- Full name: Woodrow Tracy Harrelson
- Born: July 23, 1961 (age 61)
- Birthplace: Midland, Texas, U.S.
- Occupation: Actor, activist, playwright
- Years active: 1982–present
- Spouse: Laura Louie (m. 2008)
- Children: Deni, Zoe, Makaani
Early life and education
Woody Harrelson was born in Midland, Texas, the son of Charles Voyde Harrelson, a convicted murderer, and Diane Lou (née Oswald), a legal secretary. He has two older brothers, Jordan and Brett.
Harrelson attended Midland High School, where he was a member of the football and track teams. He graduated in 1979 and enrolled at Hanover College in Indiana, where he majored in theater. However, he dropped out after a year and moved to New York City to pursue an acting career.
Career
Harrelson's first major acting role was in the 1985 television series Cheers, in which he played the bartender Woody Boyd. The series ran for 11 seasons and made Harrelson a household name.
After Cheers ended in 1993, Harrelson went on to star in a number of films, including White Men Can't Jump (1992), Indecent Proposal (1993), Natural Born Killers (1994), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), Wag the Dog (1997), The Thin Red Line (1998), No Country for Old Men (2007), 2012 (2009), Zombieland (2009), Rampart (2011), The Hunger Games trilogy (2012-2015), War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), and Venom (2018).
Harrelson has also directed two films: The Messenger (2009) and Lost in London (2017).
In addition to his acting and directing career, Harrelson is also a playwright. His first play, Furthest From the Sun, was produced in 1983. He has since written several other plays, including The Boys Next Door (1988), On an Average Day (1990), and This Is Our Youth (1996).
Activism
Harrelson is an outspoken activist on a number of issues, including environmentalism, animal rights, and drug legalization. He is a co-founder of the environmental organization Earth Justice, and he has served on the board of directors of the Rainforest Action Network. He is also a vocal critic of the war on drugs, and he has spoken out against the United States' involvement in the Middle East.
Personal life
Harrelson has been married to Laura Louie since 2008. They have three daughters together: Deni, Zoe, and Makaani.
Harrelson is a vegetarian and a teetotaler. He is also a licensed pilot.
Awards and nominations
Harrelson has won a number of awards for his acting, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He has also been nominated for an Emmy Award and a Tony Award.
