Kris Kristofferson, the US country singer and actor, who perfectly balanced a prolific acting and singing career, has died aged 88. Kristofferson’s family confirmed his death on Sunday night, they said that he had passed away peacefully at home on Saturday. His family also added that they are so blessed for their time with him. His wife, his eight children, and seven grandchildren said in a statement, “Thank you for loving him all these many years”. The family also said that when you see a rainbow, know he is smiling and looking at you.
Kris Kristofferson was the soulful country music superstar, who wrote “Me and Bobby McGee”, and “Help Me Make It Through The Night”. Kris Kristofferson is a native of South Texas and starred in Football and Rugby and won a Golden Gloves boxing tournament while attending Pomona College in California.
He earned a Rhodes Scholarship to study literature abroad and piloted Helicopters for the US Army. He threw away a career in the military and started working as a Janitor at Columbia Records. He watched as Bob Dylan recorded his seminal 1966 album Blonde on Blonde.
Kris Kristofferson received the Best Country Song Grammy award for writing “Help Me Take It Through The Night”. Later, he added various trophies in 1973 and 1975 for his duets “From The Bottle to the Bottom” and “Lover Please”.
Admired for the emotional vulnerability and craft of Kristofferson’s country songwriting, he frequently topped the US country charts. Kris Kristofferson’s songs were hits for artists including Gladys Knight, Johnny Cash, Janis Joplin, and more.
Later, Kristofferson brought his manly, and craggy persona to the fore in various films including Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garett & Billy The Kid (1973), the Michael Cimino debacle Heaven’s Gate (1980), and more. Kris Kristofferson’s movies such as A Star is Born, and Limbo were box office hits.
In the 1980s, Kris Kristofferson was a vocal critic of US President Ronald Reagan and foreign policy in Central America. His acting career was given a fillip in 1996 by playing a villainous sheriff Charlie Wade.
Kristofferson retired in 2021 and his final film role was in the Ethan Hawke-directed Drama Blaze (2018). His most recent album was The Cedar Greek Sessions in 2016.
Kris Kristofferson was married three times in his lifetime. he is survived by his third wife, Lisa Meyers, Kristofferson married her in 1983, and had five children, adding to three other children from his first two marriages.