What's this? This is an unbiased just-the-facts news timeline ('newsline') about Woody Harrelson, created by Newslines contributors. Become a contributor

Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson24 posts

Woody Harrelson is an American film and television actor. Born in 1961 in Midland, Texas, his first claim to fame was his role as bartender Woody Boyd in the TV sitcom, Cheers. He went on to star in various films such as White Men Can’t Jump, Natural Born Killers, and Money Train. He earned Oscar nominations for his performances in The People vs. Larry Flynt and The Messenger. A raw vegan, he is also an advocate of environmental causes and the legalization of marijuana. He has three daughters with wife, Laura.

Latest News view > Click for Biography view
6 Oct, 2015

Mockingjay Part 2 official trailer

Trailer0 Comments

Lionsgate releases the official trailer for Mockingjay Part 2, the final installment of the Hunger Games series.

Jul 2015

Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 trailer

Trailer0 Comments

The official Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2 trailer is released. Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence):

Snow has to die for what he’s done. We all have one enemy. He corrupts everyone and everything! He turns the best of us against each other.

10 Jul, 2014

Emmy nomination

Nomination0 Comments

Harrelson is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards for portraying Detective Martin Hart on True Detective. He speaks of co-nominee, Matthew McConaughey:

It’s flattering to be nominated, but I have to throw my vote to Matthew, who I thought delivered the best performance of his life, which is saying something.

2014 Emmy Nominations Announced

Dec 2013

Origin interview

Interview0 Comments

Harrelson is interviewed by Origin magazine, where he discusses his new paper company Prairie Pulp and Paper, upcoming films and give his wife’s recipe for Painted Fruit.

As a forest lover, it’s very exciting for me. After climbing the Golden Gate Bridge and protesting the destruction of the ancient redwoods in Northern California, I came to realize that protesting does no good. If you stop them here, they cut over there. Since half of all trees cut go to making paper, the only meaningful way to address destruction of our forest is to change the way paper is made. We now have a company called Prairie Pulp and Paper. We are making a brand of paper called Step Forward, which is eighty percent non-wood, is made from wheat, and costs the same as recycled paper. We’re planning to have a mill within three years, at which time we will be able to make tree-free paper that will cost less than heavily-subsidized tree-based paper. Exciting times!

21 May, 2013

Now You See Me

0 Comments

Harrelson stars in this heist thriller directed by Louis Leterrier. He plays Merritt McKinney, a hypnotist and psychic who belongs to a group of illusionists called “The Four Horsemen”. He and his colleagues are investigated by an FBI agent after they steal money from various business leaders and give it away to their shows’ audiences.

Well, it’s a pretty cool experience because we are onstage in front of these full theaters, so even though it’s all illusion, but we’re onstage while we’re shooting all day long in front of all these people. So, it does give that feeling of performing.

Now You See Me Official Trailer #2 (2013) - Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman Movie HD

7 Sep, 2012

Seven Psychopaths

0 Comments

Harrelson stars in this comedy crime film directed by Martin McDonagh. He plays a ruthless L.A. gangster named Charlie Costello who targets three friends responsible for the kidnapping of his prized Shih Tzu, Bonny. He co-stars with Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, and Christopher Walken.

Yeah, yeah. I really loved playing the character. Being on that set with all these great actors and this immensely talented writer director Martin, I feel really lucky.

Bullet for Adolf

0 Comments

Harrelson directs this play, which he co-writes with Frankie Hyman. The plot is set in 1980’s Houston and revolves around three very different male characters who form an unlikely bond amidst their racial and cultural differences. The cast includes Tyler Jacob Rollinson, David Coomber, and Brandon Coffey. It premieres at Off-Broadway’s New World stages and is runs until September 9th.

I started in theater many years ago, really, when I was in high school I started doing theater and then all through college. I always loved it. I’ve always been a big fan of theater, and I go a couple of times a year to New York just to catch up on all what theater’s going on.

Bullet For Adolf - Woody Harrelson Commercial

10 Mar, 2012

Game Change

Film Appearance0 Comments

Harrelson plays Steve Schmidt, a GOP strategist and senior adviser to John McCain’s Presidential campaign, in this drama written for the screen by Danny Strong and directed by Jay Roach. Schmidt taps Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, as the Vice Presidential candidate for the Republican party. The film follows the campaign from convention to ultimate defeat. Co-starring Julianne Moore, Sarah Paulson, and Ed Harris. Harrelson speaks of the real Steve Schmidt.

I really found myself liking him. He’s a political animal, but I feel like he’s an idealist and not bogged down in all the bullshit.

Game Change: Trailer (HBO Films)

10 Feb, 2012

Rampart

0 Comments

Harrelson stars in this drama film written by James Ellroy and directed by Oren Moverman. playing a corrupt LAPD cop named Dave Brown who is caught on video physically assaulting a black man. He picks up a woman in the bar, played by Robin Wright, who is actually a defense attorney.

Well, I thought that the character would be a great challenge. To play a likable character is… I don’t know if it’s as much of a challenge. I think there are things that are likable about him and I also think there are a lot of things that are not, and to me that’s more intriguing.

Feb 2012

GQ interview

Interview0 Comments

Harrelson discusses his faith, new films Rampart and Hunger Games, meditation, Clint Eastwood and mothers in a wide-ranging interview with GQ magazine.

I was very religious growing up. My mom still is. We went to church all the time, went to Bible study; we even did Bible study at my house. I went to a Presbyterian college, you know, I was in….all the way, and so I remember doing my first sermon when I was 17, I was in high school. It wasn’t a full twenty-five minute sermon but for like ten minutes I got up and they let me do that and it was on faith.

Biggest regret:

I was doing a play in L.A. with John Cassavetes. I had a full realization of how amazing this guy was, although I didn’t understand in terms of his larger body of work and his influence on independent movies and so forth. But I didn’t understand all of that at the time. I was twenty-five or something. I was one of three guys who was being considered for a part for a movie in Rome, and so I left the play and flew over there. I didn’t get the part. I could have come back and he would have let me back in the play. I didn’t. I regret leaving it. One of the worst decisions of my life…Not just on a professional level because I don’t know how much of a difference it would have made, but on a more personal level. I should have stuck by that guy. He took a chance on me. That was a real lack of integrity on my part.

22 Jul, 2011

Friends with Benefits

0 Comments

Harrelson stars in this romantic comedy directed by Will Gluck. He plays an openly gay sports editor at GQ magazine. He is friends with lead character Dylan Harper, played by Justin Timberlake, and ocassionally gives him advice on how to handle his relationship with Jamie Rellis, played by Mila Kunis. On comparing himself with his character:

We both love sports, you know. We both try to make our friends laugh and have a good concept of a good time. Dissimilarities: he likes penises and I don’t.

Friends With Benefits (2011) - Official Trailer

13 Nov, 2009

2012

0 Comments

Harrelson stars in this sci-fi disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich. He plays a radio show host who believes in unconventional scientific theories about the end of the world. He co-stars with John Cusack, who plays the protagonist, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, and Oliver Platt among others.

I like playing characters that are really out there, and I like to be able to go over the top and for it be okay. Because usually, I just go over the top, and it’s just exactly that – over the top.

The Messenger

0 Comments

Harrelson stars in this war drama film and directorial debut of Oren Moverman. He plays Capt. Tony Stone, a senior officer at the Casualty Notification Office. He serves as mentor to Sgt. Will Montgomery, played by Ben Foster, and advises him to avoid getting emotionally involved with the dead soldiers’ families. The film also stars Steve Buscemi and Jena Malone.

I was also walking around in my Class A’s and my fatigues in Bucharest and reading books, including Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, just trying everything I could to get into the mindset of this character.

2 Oct, 2009

Zombieland

0 Comments

Harrelson stars in this zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer. He plays Tallahassee, a trigger-happy and Twinkie-loving survivor of a recent zombie apocalypse in the USA. He teams up with three other survivors played by Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin to evade the zombies.

Yeah, I thought the script was phenomenal. And then I met Reuben and really liked him and I thought this guy is a go-getter.  He’s really going to make a terrific movie and so far I’m really impressed with him.

Zombieland Trailer(HD)

28 Dec, 2008

Harrelson, Louis marry

Marriage0 Comments

Harrelson marries Louis at their off-grid home in a sustainably community in Maui. The couple met while filming Cheers; Louis was Harrelson’s assistant at the time. Alanis Morissette sings at the couple’s ceremony.

19 Dec, 2008

Seven Pounds

0 Comments

Harrelson stars in this romantic drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino. He plays Ezra Turner, a blind telemarketing agent who becomes one of the qualified recipients of protagonist Tim Thomas’ vital organs. The film also features Will Smith as Tim Thomas, Michael Ealy, Rosario Dawson, and Barry Pepper.

There’s just a beauty in the story, a warmth and compassion to it – it’s really admirable, you know. I don’t see many big stars – I mean, Will Smith is probably the biggest star in the world – I don’t see many big stars doing stories with this kind of heart.

29 Feb, 2008

Semi-Pro

0 Comments

Harrelson stars in this sports comedy film directed by Kent Alterman. He plays Ed Monix, a former NBA benchwarmer who returns to his hometown of Flint, Michigan to assist Flint Tropics owner Jackie Moon in improving the team’s performance. He also tries to rekindle his relationship with his ex-wife, played by Maura Tierney. On his basketball skills:

I’d like to think so. Of course I’m not the one to say it, but yeah. I still feel like I love the game, I love playing, and I don’t feel any slower.

Semi-Pro Official Trailer

9 Nov, 2007

No Country for Old Men

0 Comments

Harrelson stars in this neo-Western thriller directed by the Coen brothers. He plays Carson Wells, a bounty hunter hired by a businessman to find a man carrying two million dollars. This man, played by Josh Brolin comes upon the cash in the desert when he sees the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. The film also stars Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, and Kelly Macdonald. On changing a line in the script:

I’m one of those actors who is going to come in with 2,500 ideas. You can shoot down 2,499, but one of them you’re going to like.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN - TRAILER