Anecdotes

He was set to become a Major when he decided to quit the United States Army Rangers after almost five years.

He is a former United States Army Rangers captain. He graduated Airborne School, Ranger School, and flight school, served in Germany, and volunteered for Vietnam as a helicopter pilot, but instead was offered a professor of English Literature position at USMA West Point. Disappointed that he was not allowed to fight in Vietnam, he resigned his position in 1965.

He got his start in the music business by landing a helicopter in Johnny Cash's backyard and presenting him with a song he had written. Cash went on to record the song

He is a good friend of Muhammad Ali and Willie Nelson. He was also a very good friend of the late Johnny Cash.

When Kristofferson hosted the season finale of Saturday Night Live (1975) in 1976, the cast and crew reported that he was drunk, and were worried that he wouldn't be able to do it. Still, Kristofferson proved himself to be quite the functioning drunk, and the show went pretty well. Kristofferson has remarked on numerous occasions that his drinking was often a way to survive when performing, because he is pretty shy and does not have a great deal of confidence in himself.

Was a member of The Highwaymen with fellow country music stars Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

In 2013 he admitted he has suffered from short-term memory loss for several years. He was also diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease that year, although it was later revealed to be a misdiagnosis.

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004.

A fitness fanatic for most of his life, he worked out rigorously up to the mid-1990s, running seven miles daily, worked out on a punching bag and rowing machine and swimming.

First grew a beard during a hospital stay. He kept it because it made him look older.

After seeing Kristofferson perform at the popular tavern The Troubadour in Los Angeles and his appearance in Cisco Pike (1971), Sam Peckinpah decided to cast him as Billy the Kid in Pat Garrett et Billy le Kid (1973).

He got the leading male role of Une étoile est née (1976) after Elvis Presley couldn't do it. Elvis has also recorded a song written by Kristofferson.

His brother Kraigher Kristofferson is, like Kris, a veteran of the Armed Forces. Kraigher was a United States Navy fighter pilot and served in the Vietnam War.

Friends with Jeff Bridges and fellow Texan Tommy Lee Jones. Was also friends with the late Warren Oates.

Inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame on March 10, 2006 in Austin, Texas. The other inductees were Matthew McConaughey, JoBeth Williams, Cybill Shepherd and Lyle Lovett.

He wrote the song "Me and Bobbie (later Bobby) McGee" which Janis Joplin recorded. The song was a hit for Roger Miller in 1969, who started recording it even before Kristofferson was done writing it.

A couple of years after he got out of the army, Kristofferson joined the Tennessee National Guard. He flew helicopters.

The Rhodes Scholarship, which Kristofferson won to study at Oxford University in England, is widely considered the world's most prestigious academic scholarship. Other notable Rhodes scholars include: Bill Clinton (the 42nd President of the United States), United States Secretary of State Dean Rusk, astronomer Edwin Hubble, film director Terrence Malick, feminist author and critic Naomi Wolf, and political adviser and commentator George Stephanopoulos.

Played football with Burt Reynolds in preparation for Les faux-durs (1977). Both men had been outstanding footballers in college - Reynolds almost turned pro.

Father of Tracy Kristofferson (b1962) and Kris Kristofferson (b. 1968) with Frances Beir. Daughter Casey Kristofferson (b. 1974) with Rita Coolidge. Jesse Turner Kristofferson (b. 1984), Jody Ray Kristofferson (b. 1985), Johnny Kristofferson (b. 1988), Kelly Marie Kristofferson (b. 1991) and Blake Cameron Kristofferson (b. 1994) with Lisa Marie Meyers.

Used to work as a commercial helicopter pilot.

Became good friends with the late James Coburn. They worked together on Pat Garrett et Billy le Kid (1973), Le convoi (1978) and Payback (1999). Coburn also sang some backup vocals on Kristofferson's album "Who's to Bless and Who's to Blame".

1970: Won the coveted Country Music Song of the Year Award for his song, "Sunday Morning Coming Down", as well as the Country Music Songwriter of the Year Award.

One of the few male celebrities to have appeared as a model in both Playgirl and Playboy. The Playboy piece was especially daring, with Kristofferson posing with co-star Sarah Miles as a promo for Le marin qui abandonna la mer (1976). Kristofferson regretted it, and admitted he had been drunk and couldn't even remember doing it. He posed in Playgirl as a favor to his good friend Jane Fonda, who was interviewed about their movie Une femme d'affaires (1981).

Attended Pomona College in Claremont, California, with a B.A. in Creative Literature; graduated in 1958.

Was a skilled boxer, rugby, and football player until a string of serious injuries forced him to quit.

It is speculated that either Kristofferson, Warren Beatty, Cat Stevens or Mick Jagger "inspired" the famous song "You're so Vain" by Carly Simon. Kristofferson doesn't think so himself, and said the following when an interviewer asked him about it: "It couldn't have been me, 'cause I've never flown in a Lear jet like that guy in the song.".

Is one of the Four Horsemen of the Country Music Apocalypse along with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

In June 1999, Kristofferson underwent elective heart bypass.

He was one of many names tossed around for the potential role of John Rambo in Rambo (1982). Some producers hoped it would kindle the interest of Kristofferson's friend Sam Peckinpah.

He was going to star as the lead in Guerre et passion (1979), but dropped out to mount a concert tour instead. Harrison Ford got the part.

Is friends with singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. The two have also toured together. Kristofferson mentions Brown in his song "Eddie the Eunuch".

He was asked to try out for the United States Special Forces, but didn't fancy it.

A young Kris Kristofferson can be seen on one of of his album covers in Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976).

He and his second wife Rita Coolidge were one of three married couples to make guest appearances in Le Muppet Show (1976). The other two were Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and Robert Shields and Lorene Yarnell Jansson.

He did not talk to his mother for 25 years.

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985.

He never had an acting lesson.

Wrote two tribute songs to his friend Sam Peckinpah. He called them "Sam's Song (Ask Any Working Girl)" and "One for the Money".

Avid golfer.

Close friend of Joan Baez.

Turned down the opportunity of teaching literature at West Point because he wanted to be a songwriter so went to Nashville.

Tested for the part of Superman in Superman (1978).

Favorite actors are William Holden, Robert Ryan and Gregory Peck.

As a kid, his heroes were Hank Williams and Rocky Graziano.

Cameron Crowe posed as a student at Clairemont High School to get material for the screenplay for Ça chauffe au lycée Ridgemont (1982). The principal of Clairemont was not thrilled with the idea, but when he asked Crowe about musicians that he had met, he mentioned Kris Kristofferson. The principal was a big fan of Kristofferson and agreed to let Crowe on campus.

Among his personal heroes are Martin Luther King, Jr., Jesus Christ, and Mohandas Gandhi.

He was the first choice for the role of "The Driver" in Macadam à deux voies (1971).

The American Veteran Awards named him Veteran of the Year in 2002.

Got a Phd in literature at Oxford during which time he did construction work amongst other jobs.