Woody Harrelson is an American actor, director and writer.

Early years

He was born on July 23, 1961. in Midland, the state of Texas.

When he was 3 years old his parents got divorced and Woody and his two brothers moved to his mother’s birth place in Ohio, in a town called Lebanon.

There he attended Lebanon High School and during that period he worked as a wood carver in the local amusement park.

He went to college in Hanover, Indiana and there he received a Bachelor of Arts.

His childhood was impacted by the fact that his father was a murderer,convicted to a life time sentence.

Career

Harrelson’s first famous role was in the NBC sitcom „Cheers“ in which he starred from 1985.to 1993. For a role of bartender Woody he won an  Emmy Award in 1989.

After that he guest-starred in the sitcom „Frasier“ in 1999. with the same character of Woody Boyd.

He starred in a lot of famous movies : „Wild Cats“, „Money Train“, „Indecent Proposal“, and „Natural Born Killers“.

Harrelson’s big break as a movie star was in 1992. „White Men Can’t Jump“, in which he played a charming L.A. hustler.

The film that put him into spotlight and turned him to more serious roles was Miloš Forman’s „The People vs. Larry Flint“.

He starred in“ Welcome to Sarajevo“ and „Wag the dog“ in 1997.

He also had a leading role in 2007. Thriler „No Country for Old Men“who won an Oscar.

In 2012, the actor appeared as a mentor to two young actors  in the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ „The Hunger Games“.

He returned to TV series in 2014. with the HBO crime serial  „True detective“.

Philantropic work 

He is a known activist for the legalization of marijuana.

He is also an environmental activist connected to many world associations.

He was strongly against the 2003. invasion of Iraq.

He is a proud owner of honorary degree by  York University for contributing environment protection. You can see his „green side“ through his daily vegan menu.

He had a leading role in a documentary movie taking a road trip on a bus ran by bio-fuel to show how we can be responsible to the nature.

Personal life

In 1985. he married Nancy Simon and was married to her for 10 months.

In 2008. he married Laura Lonie who gave birth to their three daughters. They have met in 1987 on set while filming the TV show Cheers and she was his assistant for a few years.

Their relationship is among longest in Hollywood.

All through his career he often had trouble with law and was arrested for a few times, mostly because of provocing police officers and conflicting with papparazzi.

Harrelson is a raw vegan and a vegeterian.

He lives with his family on an organic farm on Maui and his company, Prairie Paper Ventures, makes paper from crop waste and not from trees.

Quick summary: 

Full name: Woodrow Tracy Harrelson

Date of birth: July 23, 1961.

Birth place: Midland, Texas

Age: 55

Profession: actor, activist

Height: 1,77 m

Weight: 83 kg

Net worth: $65 million