Award-winning actor Woody Harrelson was born on July 23, 1961 in Midland, Texas. He spent his childhood in Lebanon, Ohio with his mother, where he eventually entered high school. He later graduated from Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana, with degrees in theater arts and English, in 1983. He then moved to New York, intent on pursuing an acting career.
Harrelson’s big break came in 1985, when he was drafted into the cast of the classic sitcom Cheers. Upon the sudden death of cast member Nicholas Colasanto, producers scrambled to devise a new character that will essentially take the place of the forgetful but genial “Coach” Pantusso. He eventually joined as “Woody” Boyd, the new assistant bartender at Cheers, who in many respects is similar to his predecessor—the way he fails to understand the most obvious jokes, comments and concepts. His portrayal earned him an Emmy in 1989.
During the time, Harrelson also began appearing in several successful films. He began playing minor roles, beginning with 1986’s Wildcats, but doors opened for him in the 1993 Robert Redford-starrer Indecent Proposal. The following year, he appeared in what some consider his more memorable role to date, troubled serial killer Mickey Knox in the Oliver Stone-directed film Natural Born Killers. He would only get recognition, however, in the controversial 1996 film The People vs. Larry Flynt; his portrayal of !$#!#graphic magazine editor Larry Flynt was well received, and led to Oscar and Golden Globe nomination.
Harrelson’s later career was mostly concentrated on films, with appearances in high-profile releases such as The Thin Red Line, Anger Management, North Country, No Country for Old Men and Semi-Pro. He nevertheless continued making occasional television appearances, notably his several reprisals of his Cheers character on its spin-off Frasier, as well as a recurring role in Will & Grace, where he played Grace’s (Debra Messing) boyfriend Nathan in the comedy’s third season.