Film actor, born in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. He was thirty-five before he made his debut in the television mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man (1976), and achieved commercial success in 48 Hours (1982). Later films include Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986), Lorenzo's Oil (1992), Jefferson in Paris (1995), Hotel Rwanda (2004), and Neverwas (2005).
Background
Nolte was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His father, Frank Nolte, a farmer's son and an itinerant irrigation pump salesman of part German descent, was an All-American candidate at Iowa State in 1934. Nolte's maternal grandmother ran the student union at Iowa State University.
Nolte was educated at Omaha Benson High School and Westside High School, Omaha; After stints at the Pasadena Playhouse and Stella Adler's Academy in Los Angeles Nolte spent several years travelling the country and working in regional theaters. In 1962, Nolte was given five years probation for selling fake draft cards.
He has a lengthy screen career, including parts in B-movies and television films. Nolte has starred in over 40 films playing a wide variety of characters. Diversity of character is Nolte's signature of his film career. According to a written note owned by Richard Donner, Nolte was the first choice to play Superman in the 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve.
Nolte has been a heavy drinker. Katharine Hepburn remarked about him falling down drunk in every gutter in town, to which Nolte replied, "I've got a few to go yet".
Nolte had a drug problem, but a subsequent rehabilitation helped his career. Nolte had a son with Rebecca Linger, Brawley King Nolte.
Nick Nolte currently resides in Malibu, California.
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