Woodrow Tracy Harrelson, professionally known as Woody Harrelson, is an American actor, producer, playwright, and activist.
He is best known for portraying Woody Boyd in Cheers, Haymitch Abernathy in The Hunger Games film series, Tallahassee in the Zombieland films, Merritt McKinney in the Now You See Me franchise, and Marty Hart in True Detective.
Essential Data
- Full Name: Woodrow Tracy Harrelson
- Stage Name: Woody Harrelson
- Born: July 23, 1961
- Age: 65 years old
- Birthplace: Midland, Texas, United States
- Occupation: Actor, Producer, Playwright, Activist
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
- Ethnicity: White American (English, Scottish, Dutch, German, and Welsh ancestry)
- Religion: Christianity
- Parents: Charles Voyde Harrelson, Diane Lou Oswald Harrelson
- Siblings: Brett Harrelson, Jordan Harrelson
- Spouse: Laura Louie
- Children: Deni Montana Harrelson, Zoe Giordano Harrelson, Makani Ravello Harrelson
- Relationship: Married
- Net Worth: $70 million USD
Early Life and Education
Woody Harrelson was born on July 23, 1961, in Midland, Texas, United States. He is the son of Charles Voyde Harrelson, a contract killer and convicted criminal, and Diane Lou Oswald Harrelson, a legal secretary.
He is of English, Scottish, Dutch, German, and Welsh ancestry and was raised alongside his brothers, Brett Harrelson and Jordan Harrelson.
After his parents separated, he was primarily raised by his mother in Lebanon, Ohio. He attended Lebanon High School before graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English from Hanover College in Indiana.
Career
Woody Harrelson began his acting career in the early 1980s, but his breakthrough came in 1985 when he joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Cheers as Woody Boyd, a role that earned him widespread recognition and a Primetime Emmy Award.
He successfully transitioned into film with acclaimed performances in White Men Can’t Jump, Natural Born Killers, The People vs. Larry Flynt, and The Thin Red Line.
His work in No Country for Old Men, The Messenger, The Hunger Games film series, Now You See Me, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Triangle of Sadness further established him as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.
Woody received critical acclaim for portraying Marty Hart in HBO’s True Detective, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Beyond acting, he has worked as a producer, playwright, and environmental activist.
His officially confirmed upcoming projects include the Apple TV+ comedy series Brothers, in which he stars alongside Matthew McConaughey, as well as The Man with the Miraculous Hands, Girl from the North Country, The Cackling of the Dodos, and The Most Dangerous Man in America.
Awards and Nominations
- Primetime Emmy Award – Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Cheers) – Winner
- Three Academy Award nominations
- Four Golden Globe Award nominations
- Four Screen Actors Guild Awards
- BAFTA Award nomination
- Multiple Critics’ Choice Award nominations
Social Media
- Instagram: @woodyharrelson
Personal Life
Woody Harrelson, 65, has been married to Laura Louie since 2008. The couple had been together for many years before marrying and have three daughters: Deni Montana Harrelson, Zoe Giordano Harrelson, and Makani Ravello Harrelson.
He was previously married to Nancy Simon from 1985 to 1986. He stands 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall. Outside of acting, Harrelson is passionate about environmental conservation, organic farming, yoga, meditation, and healthy living. He is also well known for supporting humanitarian and environmental causes.
Net Worth
Woody Harrelson has a net worth of $70 million USD. His income is primarily generated through film and television acting, producing, writing, endorsements, and business ventures. His decades-long success in blockbuster films, acclaimed television series, and production projects has made him one of Hollywood’s most accomplished and financially successful actors.
Filmography
- Wildcats
- White Men Can’t Jump
- Natural Born Killers
- The People vs. Larry Flynt
- The Thin Red Line
- No Country for Old Men
- Zombieland
- The Hunger Games
- Now You See Me
- The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
- Now You See Me 2
- War for the Planet of the Apes
- Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
- Venom: Let There Be Carnage
- Triangle of Sadness
- The Electric State
- Last Breath
- Now You See Me: Now You Don’t
- Ella McCay
- The Man with the Miraculous Hands (Upcoming)
- Girl from the North Country (Upcoming)
Television
- Cheers
- Frasier
- Will & Grace
- Game Change
- True Detective
- The Freak Brothers
- Brothers (Upcoming)
- The Most Dangerous Man in America (Upcoming)