Born in Brownsville, TX; educated at Pomona College, CA (creative writing) and Oxford University. Former Rhodes scholar and English literature teacher at West Point who turned to songwriting and helped rejuvenate the country & western scene in the late 1960s and early 70s with songs such as "Sunday Morning Comin' Down," "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and "Me and Bobby McGee." Kristofferson made his film acting debut in 1971 with a bit part in THE LAST MOVIE (1971), directed by Dennis Hopper. He has starred opposite actresses including Ellen Burstyn (ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE, 1974) and Barbra Streisand (A STAR IS BORN, 1976). Other notable screen credits include PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID (1973), THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA (1976), CONVOY and SEMI-TOUGH (both 1978), HEAVEN'S GATE (1980), ROLLOVER (1981), LONE STAR (1996), BLADE (1998), LIMBO and THE JOYRIDERS (both 1999), COMANCHE (2000), PLANET OF THE APES, CHELSEA WALLS and WOOLY BOYS (all 2001), D-TOX and BLADE II (both 2002), WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS (2003), SILVER CITY and BLADE: TRINITY (both 2004), THE JACKET, THE WENDELL BAKER STORY and DREAMER: INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY (all 2005), DISAPPEARANCES and ROOM 10 (both 2006), JUMP OUT BOYS and FOR SALE BY OWNER (both 2007), and POWDER BLUE and HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU (both scheduled for 2008). Married to singer Rita Coolidge from 1973 until 1980.  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Original Song Score) 1984: SONGWRITER 1 nomination