Jon Voight

Born on Dec. 29, 1938, in Yonkers, N.Y., Jon Voight began acting on the stage before appearing in small television and film roles. He created a splash in 1969 with his portrayal of vulnerable bumpkin Joe Buck in Midnight Cowboy, one of the seminal films of the 1960s.

Voight received numerous honors for the role, including Best Actor Golden Globe and BAFTA awards and an Oscar nomination. His 1978 turn as a wounded Vietnam veteran in Coming Home nabbed him the Oscar for Best Actor. Voight received additional Oscar applause for Runaway Train and Ali.

Other notable films include Catch-22, Deliverance, Heat, Mission: Impossible, The Rainmaker and The Manchurian Candidate. Voight continues to work in film and television, and earned an Emmy nod for his portrayal of Pope John Paul II in the eponymous 2005 television movie. Voight is the father of actress Angelina Jolie.

Filmography