Jon Voight Bio
Jonathan Vincent Voight (born December 29, 1938) is an American actor known for his roles in films like Midnight Cowboy and Coming Home. He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including an Academy Award for Best Actor. Voight’s career has spanned several decades, and he has gained recognition for both his film and television work, including his role in the series Ray Donovan, which earned him renewed acclaim. Voight is also known for his political activism and as the father of actress Angelina Jolie.
Early Life and Background
Jonathan Vincent Voight was born on December 29, 1938, in Yonkers, New York, to Barbara and Elmer Voight, a professional golfer. He has two brothers, Barry Voight, a former volcanologist, and James Wesley Voight, known as Chip Taylor, a singer-songwriter. Voight’s paternal grandparents were Slovak immigrants, while his maternal grandparents were German immigrants. He was raised as a Catholic and attended Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York, where he first took an interest in acting. After graduating in 1956, he enrolled at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he majored in art and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1960. He later studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre under Sanford Meisner.
Path to Hollywood
Voight began his career in off-Broadway productions, making his Broadway debut in 1961 in The Sound of Music. In the early 1960s, he appeared in several television shows, including Gunsmoke and Naked City. His film debut came in 1967 with Fearless Frank. However, it was his role in Midnight Cowboy (1969) that marked his breakthrough. Voight played Joe Buck, a naïve hustler, in a film that explored the friendship between two misfits in New York City. The film was critically acclaimed and won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Jon Voight Career
Early Career (1961–1969)
Voight’s early career included various stage roles and television appearances. His performance in Midnight Cowboy earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He followed this success with notable performances in films like Deliverance (1972) and Coming Home (1978), the latter of which won him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Voight’s portrayal of a paraplegic Vietnam veteran in Coming Home was particularly praised, and he became a prominent figure in Hollywood.
Breakthrough (1970–1989)
After his success in Midnight Cowboy, Voight starred in several significant films throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He received critical acclaim for his role in Deliverance, which showcased his versatility as an actor. In 1978, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Coming Home, solidifying his status as a leading actor in Hollywood. Voight continued to take on challenging roles, including in films like The Champ (1979) and Runaway Train (1985), for which he received another Academy Award nomination.
Notable Works and Milestones
Voight’s signature works include Midnight Cowboy, Coming Home, and Runaway Train. He has won multiple awards, including an Academy Award and several Golden Globe Awards, highlighting his contributions to both film and television.
Jon Voight Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Jon Voight has received numerous award nominations, including four Academy Award nominations and multiple Golden Globe nominations, showcasing his talent and impact on the entertainment industry.
Jon Voight Awards Won
Jon Voight has won several prestigious awards, including an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Coming Home and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Ray Donovan.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | 1 | 1979 |
| Golden Globe Awards | 1 | 2014 |
Jon Voight Family
Jon Voight was married to actress Lauri Peters from 1962 to 1967 and later to actress Marcheline Bertrand from 1971 until their divorce in 1980. He has two children, James Haven, born in 1973, and Angelina Jolie, born in 1975, both of whom have pursued careers in the entertainment industry.
Personal Life
Voight has not remarried since his divorce from Marcheline Bertrand. He has been linked to several high-profile relationships over the years, including with Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross. Voight is also known for his political activism and has been a vocal supporter of various political causes throughout his life. He was appointed as a Special Ambassador to Hollywood by President Donald Trump in 2025, a role that aims to strengthen the film industry in the United States.
