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Early life

Nolte was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Helen (née King), a department store buyer, and Franklin A. Nolte, a farmer's son who worked in irrigation pump sales[1][2] and was an All-American candidate at Iowa State in 1934. Nolte's father was of German descent.[3] Nolte's maternal grandfather, Matthew Leander King, invented the hollow-tile silo and was prominent in early aviation. His maternal grandmother ran the student union at Iowa State University.

Nolte went to a public high school at Omaha Benson High School, where he was the kicker on the football team. Nolte got kicked out of Benson for digging a hole and hiding beer before practice and then getting caught drinking it during a practice session. After his expulsion, he attended Westside High School in Omaha. He also attended Pasadena City College. Nolte went on to attend Arizona State University (on a football scholarship); Eastern Arizona College, Thatcher, Arizona; and Phoenix College, Phoenix, Arizona. Poor grades eventually ended his studies, at which point his career in theatre began in earnest. While in college, Nolte worked for the Falstaff Brewery in Omaha. After stints at the Pasadena Playhouse and Stella Adler's Academy in Los Angeles, Nolte spent several years traveling the country and working in regional theaters.

Career

Nolte first gained national attention and critical acclaim for his performance in Rich Man, Poor Man, the 1976 television miniseries based on Irwin Shaw's 1970 best-selling novel. Since then he has had a successful career playing a wide variety of characters in more than 40 films. Diversity of character is Nolte's signature of his film career. He is known for his trademark athleticism and gravel-voiced characters. According to a written note owned by Richard Donner, Nolte was the first choice to play Superman in the 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve. He also lost the role of Han Solo to Harrison Ford in the 1977 classic, Star Wars.

Personal life

Nolte has a long history of alcoholism. In July 2007 he was found passed out at the Kauai Airport in Hawaii. Nolte has been married and divorced three times. His wives are Sheila Page, Sharyn Haddad and Rebecca Linger, with whom he has a son named Brawley. He has also been involved with Karen Louise Eklund, Debra Winger, and Vicki Lewis. On October 3, 2007, Nolte's longtime partner Clytie Lane gave birth to their daughter. The baby's name has not yet been publicly revealed.

Nolte has an older sister, Nancy, who was an executive for the Red Cross. His son Brawley Nolte is also an actor, having been prominently featured as Mel Gibson's kidnapped son in the 1996 film Ransom.

Nolte resides in Malibu, California.

Filmography

Voice of Thomas Foran

Joe

Mulgarath/ Voice of Mulgrath

T.L. Pierson

Albrecht Hauser

Ray Cook

Voice of Vincent

Socrates

Elliot

Steve

Colonel Oliver

Father Harlan

Bob

Dr David Banner

Faldo

Adam Verver

Senator Drummond Avery

Harry Le Sabre

Vincent 'Vinnie'T Webb

Wade Whitehouse

Inspector Thomas Cray

Lieutenant Colonel Tall

Lucky 'Fix-It' Mann

Jake McKenna

Howard Campbell

Hoover

Thomas Jefferson

Pete Bell

Peter Brackett

Matt Hobbs

Augusto Odone

Himself

Sam Bowden

Tom Wingo

Detective Jack Cates

Tom O'Toole

Mike Brennan

Sergeant Learoyd

Lionel Dobie

Daniel Lucas

Jack Benteen

Lee Umstetter

Jerry Baskin

Seymour Flint

Alex

Russell Price

Detective Jack Cates

Doc

Neal Cassady

Phillip Elliott

Ray Hicks

David Sanders

Bo Hollinger

Russell

Trivia

He, along with Christopher Walken, were both considered for the role of Han Solo in Star Wars (1977).

In 1962, Nolte was given five years probation for selling fake draft cards.

In 1978 Karen Ecklund, his girlfriend of 5 years, sued him for community property and support.

Nolte gained 50 pounds for his role in Q & A (1990).

Born at 7:00pm-CST.

Lives in Malibu, California.

Father of Brawley Nolte.

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."

Chosen as People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. [1992]

In September 2002, he checked himself into Silver Hill Hospital in Connecticut for counselling after he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Malibu, CA a few days earlier. Tests later showed that he was under the influence of GHB, the "date rape" drug.

12 December 2002 he pleaded no contest to charges of driving under the influence. He was given three years' probation with orders to undergo alcohol and drug counselling with random testing required.

Attended Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska.

Attended Kingsley Elementary School in Waterloo, Iowa

Is of German, Swedish, Irish and Italian descent.

His career started in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Eleanor Moore Agency as a model for print ads.

His paternal grandfather was a German farmer with a farm in Iowa.

His father, Frank Nolte, was an irrigation pump salesman. His father was also an All-American candidate at Iowa State in 1934. His mother, Helen Nolte, was a department store buyer. He has an older sister, Nancy, who is the executive for Red Cross.

Turned down the role of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).

Was supposed to host "Saturday Night Live" (1975) back in 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.

Was considered for the role of Superman/Clark Kent in Superman (1978)_ .

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.

Visited Sarajevo Film Festival (Bosnia, 8/2006)

  1. 1 of VH1's "40 Most Shocking Celebrity Mugshots" - had a Hawaiin shirt and a bed-head.

Father, with girlfriend Clytie Lane, of a girl born on October 3th 2007 in Los Angeles.

Awards and Nominations

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