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.
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Production Story (7)
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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)
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.
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- #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
- #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)
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- #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.
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Life & Family (13)
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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
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- #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.
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- #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.
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Related pages
- Anthony Heald — Nick Nolte comes up in the facts on that page
- 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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