ACTOR · BORN 1938
Jon Voight
- Born
- 29 December 1938
39 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
All facts (39)
- #001
Jon Voight became a father for the second time at the age of 36. His second wife, Marcheline Bertrand, gave birth to their daughter Angelina Jolie Voight on 4 June 1975. Angelina would later follow her father into acting and become one of Hollywood's best-known stars. This fatherhood experience marked an important turning point in Voight's personal life.
- #002
Gene Hackman was the first choice for the role of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Pearl Harbor (2001). Hackman turned the role down, however, feeling that appearing in a film about the Japanese attack that drew the United States into World War II would be painful for his wife, who is of Japanese descent. The producers then approached Jon Voight to portray the sitting US president. Voight successfully brought this important historical figure to the screen.
- #003
Jon Voight's younger brother, Wes Voight, is known in the music world under the pseudonym Chip Taylor. The writer of The Troggs' 1966 hit 'Wild Thing', Taylor also penned classics such as 'Angel of the Morning' (Merrilee Rush) and 'I Can't Let Go' (The Hollies). The Voight family's talents were not limited to cinema; they also produced a significant figure in music.
- #004
Jon Voight was offered the role of Matt Hooper in Steven Spielberg's classic thriller Jaws (1975). Voight declined the offer, however, and the part went to Richard Dreyfuss, whose career would take a major leap forward. Dreyfuss became widely known through this performance, and the film entered the ranks of cinema's unforgettable works. Voight's decision is regarded as one of the important turning points in his career.
- #005
Jon Voight's father, Elmer Voytka (who later changed his surname to Voight), was a professional golfer. Born on 29 October 1909, Elmer died in June 1973. His father's identity as an athlete contributed to Voight growing up in a disciplined and competitive environment. Rather than follow in his father's footsteps, however, Jon chose the world of art and built a career in acting.
- #006
For the 1978 Superman film, Jon Voight was among the names considered for the role of Clark Kent/Superman. The iconic role ultimately went to Christopher Reeve. Reeve went down in cinema history with this performance and became a pioneer of the superhero film. Voight, meanwhile, continued his career with strong characters across different genres.
- #007
Jon Voight's daughter Angelina Jolie's godparents are the famous actors Maximilian Schell and Jacqueline Bisset. This choice reflects Voight's connections in the world of art and the value he placed on his daughter. As Angelina built her own career in later years, she felt the support of these godparents behind her.
- #008
In 2000, Jon Voight became closely involved with the Florida Holocaust Museum. He worked alongside its then Executive Director Larry Wasser (who died in 2003) and John Loftus, a well-known author and former prosecutor who had served at the US Department of Justice. Voight still serves as an advisory member on the museum's board and works to ensure the Holocaust is not forgotten.
- #009
Jon Voight turned down the role of Oliver Barrett IV in the 1970 film Love Story, despite being offered a high fee of 10% of the gross. The role eventually went to Ryan O'Neal, who won great acclaim for his performance. Voight's decision shows that he was an actor who made deliberate choices in his career.
- #010
Jon Voight's eldest brother, Barry Voight, was a world-renowned volcanologist. A professor of geology at Penn State University, Barry produced important research on volcanic eruptions. The Voight family is one of the rare families to have achieved success in both the arts and the sciences.
- #011
Jon Voight appeared in three films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Midnight Cowboy (1969), Deliverance (1972) and Coming Home (1978). Of these, Midnight Cowboy won the Best Picture award and secured an important place in cinema history. This achievement proves that Voight was a talented actor who appeared in the most respected productions of his era.
- #012
At the 1982 Academy Awards ceremony, Jon Voight accepted the Best Actress award on behalf of Katharine Hepburn, who was unable to attend. Hepburn had won the award for her performance in On Golden Pond. Voight's taking on this duty shows his standing in the film community and his strong ties with his colleagues.
- #013
Jon Voight appeared in two films selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically' significant: Midnight Cowboy (1969) and Deliverance (1972). These films are considered masterpieces of American cinema and rank among the most important works of Voight's career.
- #014
On 9 December 2001, Jon Voight made a surprise guest appearance on Muppets Tonight (1996), wearing a giant chicken costume alongside Gonzo the Great. This entertaining appearance was part of the first annual MuppetFest fan convention and also aimed to raise donations for Save the Children. Through this event, Voight both met his fans and showed his charitable side.
- #015
Jon Voight's phone ringtone is the song 'Everybody's Talkin'' from the film Midnight Cowboy (1969). The song is the unforgettable melody of one of the most important films in Voight's career. This choice shows his respect for his place in cinema history and the nostalgic bond he has formed with it.
- #016
Jon Voight attended Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York. The school was a Catholic high school that admitted only male students. Voight's education contributed to his upbringing in a disciplined environment and played a part in his later entry into an artistic career.
- #017
In an episode of Seinfeld (1989), George Costanza (Jason Alexander) buys a Chrysler Lebaron convertible he believes once belonged to Jon Voight. He then learns that the car's previous owner was actually a periodontist named 'John' Voight. This comic situation is an entertaining example of how the famous actor's name has been used in popular culture.
- #018
Jon Voight's family background is quite diverse. On his father's side, his grandfather George Voytko was a Slovak immigrant from Nacina Ves near Kosice, and his grandmother Helen Petrick was of Slovak origin. His mother, Barbara Agnes Kamp, was the daughter of German immigrant Joseph Kamp, and her mother, Margaret Franz, was also the daughter of German immigrants of Bavarian origin. This multicultural heritage played an important role in shaping Voight's identity.
- #019
Jon Voight became a father for the first time at the age of 34. His second wife, Marcheline Bertrand, gave birth to their son James Haven Voight on 11 May 1973. James would later build a career in acting and producing and appear in various projects alongside his sister Angelina Jolie. Voight's experience of fatherhood was an important turning point in his life.
- #020
Jon Voight appeared on screen as father and son with the actor Ricky Schroder twice. They played this pair first in the 1979 film The Champ and later in the 1993 series Return to Lonesome Dove. This repeated collaboration is an indication of the rapport and professional relationship between the two actors.
- #021
Jon Voight graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1960. He studied Speech and Drama in his first year before switching his major to Art. Among his classmates at the time was the famous comedian Henry Gibson.
- #022
In May 2002, Jon Voight was honored at a fundraising event in New York for the Joseph Papp Children's Humanitarian Fund. The event brought together prominent figures from the worlds of theater and film. The honor showed that Voight was appreciated not only as an actor but also as an artist who contributed to society.
- #023
In Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Jon Voight played Lord Richard Croft, the father of the title character Lara Croft. Lara was played by his real-life daughter Angelina Jolie. It was a rare case of a father and daughter playing father and daughter in the same film, and the film showcased the pair's on-screen chemistry.
- #024
At the 1970 Academy Awards ceremony, Jon Voight accepted the Best Director award on behalf of John Schlesinger, who was unable to attend. Schlesinger had directed Voight in Midnight Cowboy (1969) and won the Best Director Oscar for that film. Voight's gesture was a sign of the respect and friendship between him and the director.
- #025
Jon Voight took over the role of Woodrow F. Call from Tommy Lee Jones in the 1993 miniseries Return to Lonesome Dove. Three years later, Jonny Lee Miller played a younger version of the same character in the miniseries Dead Man's Walk (1996). That same year, Miller married Voight's daughter Angelina Jolie, making Voight the father-in-law of his own successor. This curious connection highlights how small the world of Hollywood can be.
- #026
Jon Voight was the first choice for the role of Apollo in 'Who Mourns for Adonais?' (1967), one of Star Trek's unforgettable episodes. However, Voight could not take the role because he had already committed to another project at the time. The part eventually went to Michael Forest.
- #027
Jon Voight's personal life has been one of Hollywood's most talked-about subjects. Over the course of his career, Voight was romantically involved with famous names including Charlotte Stewart, Linda Morand, Stacey Pickren, Rebecca De Mornay, Eileen Davidson, Barbra Streisand, Nastassja Kinski and Diana Ross. These relationships shaped both his connections in the film world and his place in the tabloids.
- #028
Over the course of his career, Jon Voight played a coach in three different films: Varsity Blues (1999), Glory Road (2006) and Woodlawn (2015). In these films he generally played characters who inspired their teams and battled adversity. These roles reinforced his on-screen presence as an authoritative and charismatic figure.
- #029
Jon Voight became so identified with the fictional boxer Billy Flynn, whom he played in The Champ (1979), that in real life fans asked him for Billy Flynn's autograph. Voight obliged and signed autographs for his fans as Billy Flynn. The incident shows the strong bond he formed with the character and his interaction with his fans.
- #030
Jon Voight played a boxer twice in his film career: in The All-American Boy (1973) and The Champ (1979). He also portrayed legendary sports broadcaster Howard Cosell in the film Ali (2001). These roles reveal Voight's interest in the world of sports and his ability to bring different characters to life.
- #031
Jon Voight is also known for his political views. A hawk on counterterrorism, Voight voted for George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election. In 2008 he supported Rudy Giuliani's Republican nomination campaign, but later endorsed John McCain. Voight backed Mitt Romney in 2012, and in 2016 he was one of the few celebrities to support Donald Trump for president, speaking at the 2017 inauguration ceremony. He backed Trump again in 2024.
- #032
Jon Voight is the grandfather of his daughter Angelina Jolie's children: Maddox, Zahara, Pax, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox. These six grandchildren come from Angelina's marriage to Brad Pitt and from her adoptions. Voight has taken a close interest in his grandchildren and tried to keep family ties strong.
- #033
Jon Voight is the godfather of the actress Skyler Shaye. This godparent role shows the strong bonds Voight has formed with those close to him. Skyler Shaye has always felt Voight's support behind her throughout her career.
- #034
Jon Voight is the former father-in-law of his daughter Angelina Jolie's ex-husbands Jonny Lee Miller, Billy Bob Thornton and Brad Pitt. These three marriages were important turning points in Voight's family life. Voight stood by his daughter during these periods and took care to preserve family ties.
- #035
In 2007, Jon Voight worked as a partner at the production company Paul Productions. The role allowed him to gain experience in producing, not just acting. This venture was part of his effort to expand his influence in the film industry.
- #036
In early 1981, it was announced that Jon Voight would star in a film titled The Raoul Wallenberg Story. Raoul Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews during World War II. However, the project fell through and the film was never made. Voight's announcement had generated excitement in the film world at the time.
- #037
Jon Voight publicly announced his support for Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The endorsement was a continuation of Voight's political stance. Voight stated that he approved of Trump's policies and leadership and did not hesitate to share this view publicly.
- #038
Jon Voight was born on December 29, 1938, and his time of birth was recorded as 11:50 (EST). Such birth-time information is often used by astrology enthusiasts. Voight's birth chart has given rise to various interpretations of his personality traits.
- #039
In 2019, Jon Voight was awarded the National Medal of Arts at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The award is one of the highest state honors given in the field of arts in the United States. With this award, Voight saw his contributions to American cinema and culture recognized. He still lives in Los Angeles, California, and continues his acting career.
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