ACTOR · BORN 1941
Nick Nolte
- Born
- 8 February 1941, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Known for
- Hotel Rwanda (2004), Die My Love (2025), The Company You Keep (2012), A Walk in the Woods (2015)
43 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Nick Nolte (born 8 February 1941) is an actor best known for Hotel Rwanda, Die My Love and The Company You Keep.
43 Interesting Facts About Nick Nolte
Interesting Facts (9)
- #001
Nolte was a heavy drinker until 1990. When Katharine Hepburn accused him of falling down drunk in every gutter in town, he replied: "I've got a few to go yet.".
- #002
In 1962, Nolte was convicted for selling fake draft cards and was sentenced to a seventy-five year jail sentence and a $75,000 fine. He was suspended under the terms of the Youth Corrections Act and was on probation throughout the length of the Vietnam War. He was warned by the judge that if he was arrested for any other crime he would be jailed under the original conviction terms.
- #003
He missed out on several roles that went to Kurt Russell. He was offered the role of Snake Plissken in Escape from New York (1981), but he was not interested. He was then considered for R.J. MacReady in The Thing (1982). He was also set to star in Tequila Sunrise (1988), but dropped out.
- #004
He eagerly pursued the role of Captain Benjamin L. Willard in Apocalypse Now (1979). When Harvey Keitel was fired, Nolte thought he had the role, which Coppola gave to Martin Sheen.
- #005
Appeared in a Clairol print commercial for Clairol's "Summer Blonde". The campaign was such a success that the company later used the photograph on the box of dye itself, the only time a guy ever appeared on a woman's hair-color package.
- #006
Director Keith Gordon took a one-day role in I Love Trouble (1994) to personally ask Nick Nolte to read the screenplay for Mother Night (1996), after being initially dismissed by Nolte's agent.
- #007
Ranked #1 of VH1's "40 Most Shocking Celebrity Mugshots" - had a Hawaiian shirt and a bed-head.
- #008
He spent some 14 years touring on stage before making films.
- #009
While in New York waiting for a television commercial to begin filming, Nolte audited acting classes of Sandy Meisner and Stella Adler.
Production Story (7)
- #010
He was considered for the role of Superman/Clark Kent in Superman (1978), which went to Christopher Reeve. Legend has it that he wanted to play the role as a schizophrenic.
- #011
Was cast in Pride and Glory (2008), but just before shooting began, an old knee injury flared up from his footballing days and he had to drop out.
- #012
He lobbied hard for the role of Ned Braden in Slap Shot (1977), but there was no time for him to learn how to skate. The role went to Michael Ontkean.
- #013
Was supposed to host Eddie Murphy/Lionel Richie (1982) as part of the promotional tour for 48 Hrs. (1982), which was the film debut of then Saturday Night Live (1975) star Eddie Murphy, but fell ill at the last minute and had to drop out, so Murphy hosted in his place.
- #014
Director Keith Gordon took a one-day role in I Love Trouble (1994) to personally ask Nick Nolte to read the screenplay for Mother Night (1996), after being initially dismissed by Nolte's agent.
- #015
He eagerly pursued the role of Captain Benjamin L. Willard in Apocalypse Now (1979). When Harvey Keitel was fired, Nolte thought he had the role, which Coppola gave to Martin Sheen.
- #016
He was considered for Harrison Ford's roles in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Blade Runner (1982), one of three roles that ultimately went to Harrison Ford. In addition, Walter Hill wanted to direct The Fugitive (1993) with with Nolte starring, but Nolte reportedly said he was tired with action movies, and too old.
Behind the Scenes (1)
- #017
Nolte gained 50 pounds for his role in Q&A (1990).
Characters & Cast (5)
- #018
In his 2018 memoir, he wrote that his leading lady Debra Winger is "beautiful in her own way" but that he didn't like her antics when they worked together on Cannery Row (1982). He doesn't explain why he chose to work with her again on Everybody Wins (1990) or of their rumored real-life romance.
- #019
He was considered for the role of Superman/Clark Kent in Superman (1978), which went to Christopher Reeve. Legend has it that he wanted to play the role as a schizophrenic.
- #020
He was considered for Harrison Ford's roles in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Blade Runner (1982), one of three roles that ultimately went to Harrison Ford. In addition, Walter Hill wanted to direct The Fugitive (1993) with with Nolte starring, but Nolte reportedly said he was tired with action movies, and too old.
- #021
He was considered for the role of Detective John McClane in Die Hard (1988), which went to Bruce Willis.
- #022
In his 2018 memoir, he wrote that his leading lady Debra Winger is "beautiful in her own way" but that he didn't like her antics when they worked together on Cannery Row (1982). He doesn't explain why he chose to work with her again on Everybody Wins (1990) or of their rumored real-life romance.
Career & Awards (8)
- #023
In 1966, he was cast in the role of Helen Keller's brother in the Phoenix Little Theatre production of "The Miracle Worker" opposite Sheila Page (as Annie Sullivan) who became his first wife where they had an open marriage.
- #024
Appeared in a Clairol print commercial for Clairol's "Summer Blonde". The campaign was such a success that the company later used the photograph on the box of dye itself, the only time a guy ever appeared on a woman's hair-color package.
- #025
His production company is Kingsgate Films.
- #026
While in New York waiting for a television commercial to begin filming, Nolte audited acting classes of Sandy Meisner and Stella Adler.
- #027
In 1972, he appeared in the Southwest Ensemble Theatre of Phoenix world premiere of William Inge's "The Last Pad" in the role of Jess, a young man scheduled to be electrocuted for murdering his wife. The play opened at the Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale, Arizona before moving to the Unitarian Church in Phoenix, Arizona. The play moved to Los Angeles in early Summer 1973 where it opened at the Contempo Theatre (now the Geffen) in Westwood.
- #028
Performed in Summer Stock at Little Theatre of the Rockies in Greely, Colorado. He performed in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" as both Willy Loman and Biff and then Maxwell Anderson's "Winterset" as Mio Romagna. In 1966, his third Summer doing Summer Stock at Little Theatre of the Rockies, he appeared as Martin Luther in John Osborne's "Luther". This was the only production his father ever saw him perform in.
- #029
Appeared in a U.S. Air Force training film in the mid 1960's, as a young fighter pilot.
- #030
The longest he has gone without an Academy Award nomination is 13 years, between Affliction (1997) and Warrior (2011).
Life & Family (13)
- #031
In September 2002, he checked himself into Silver Hill Hospital in Connecticut for counseling after he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Malibu, California, a few days earlier. Tests later showed that he was under the influence of GHB, the "date rape" drug.
- #032
In 1962, Nolte was convicted for selling fake draft cards and was sentenced to a seventy-five year jail sentence and a $75,000 fine. He was suspended under the terms of the Youth Corrections Act and was on probation throughout the length of the Vietnam War. He was warned by the judge that if he was arrested for any other crime he would be jailed under the original conviction terms.
- #033
Has a granddaughter via his son Brawley and daughter-in-law Navi Rawat.
- #034
There is a long-standing misconception that Dr. Charles Nolte, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, is Nick Nolte's father.
- #035
Nolte's father, Franklin A. Nolte, was an All-American candidate at Iowa State in 1934. He served in the Pacific Theater in World War II, with the elite US Marine Raiders. When he was discharged, he went home to his family, but according to Nick Nolte, he was a different man and didn't speak often. Nolte consulted his father while preparing for Who'll Stop the Rain (1978) where he played a Vietnam veteran.
- #036
Became a father for the second time at age 66 when his girlfriend Clytie Lane gave birth to their daughter Sophie Lane on October 3, 2007.
- #037
Nolte was a heavy drinker until 1990. When Katharine Hepburn accused him of falling down drunk in every gutter in town, he replied: "I've got a few to go yet.".
- #038
Became a father for the first time at age 45 when his third wife Rebecca Linger gave birth to their son Brawley Nolte on June 20, 1986.
- #039
In September 2002, he checked himself into Silver Hill Hospital in Connecticut for counseling after he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Malibu, California, a few days earlier. Tests later showed that he was under the influence of GHB, the "date rape" drug.
- #040
Was supposed to host Eddie Murphy/Lionel Richie (1982) as part of the promotional tour for 48 Hrs. (1982), which was the film debut of then Saturday Night Live (1975) star Eddie Murphy, but fell ill at the last minute and had to drop out, so Murphy hosted in his place.
- #041
Nolte's father, Franklin A. Nolte, was an All-American candidate at Iowa State in 1934. He served in the Pacific Theater in World War II, with the elite US Marine Raiders. When he was discharged, he went home to his family, but according to Nick Nolte, he was a different man and didn't speak often. Nolte consulted his father while preparing for Who'll Stop the Rain (1978) where he played a Vietnam veteran.
- #042
On December 12, 2002, he pleaded no contest to charges of driving under the influence. He was given 3-years' probation with orders to undergo alcohol and drug counseling with random testing required.
- #043
Nick Nolte and poet Ted Kooser, grew up only a block apart in Historic Old Town Neighborhood of Ames, Iowa.
Related pages
- Talia Shire — Nick Nolte comes up in the facts on that page
- Don Johnson — Nick Nolte comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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