Kris Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936, Brownsville, Texas, U.S.—died September 28, 2024, Maui, Hawaii) was an American singer-songwriter and actor known for his gravelly voice and rugged good looks, as well as a string of country music hits, notably “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” “For the Good Times,” and “Once More with Feeling.” He was regarded as one of country’s finest songwriters in the 1960s and ’70s. He was also known for his roles in films such as Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), A Star Is Born (1976), and Lone Star (1996).

As a teenager, Kristofferson was an accomplished writer and athlete. He attended Pomona College in California, where he played football, became a Golden Gloves boxer, a cadet commander of his ROTC battalion, the sports editor of the school paper, and an honor student in English. He also won awards for his short-story writing in a competition sponsored by The Atlantic Monthly. He received a Rhodes scholarship to attend the University of Oxford in England, where he studied the poetry of William Blake and earned a master’s degree.

Kristofferson, a son and grandson of military officers, joined the U.S. Army in 1960, becoming a U.S. Army Ranger and learning to fly helicopters while stationed in West Germany. His studies in literature and poetry prompted an interest in songwriting, and, while in the army, he put together a band. When he finished his military tour, he turned down a teaching position at West Point Academy and settled in Nashville to pursue a music career, despite his parents’ objections. He began selling his songs and working day jobs, eventually meeting Johnny Cash, who introduced him at the 1969 Newport Folk Festival, helping him gain a foothold in the music industry.

In 1971, three of the five Grammy Award nominations for best country song were for songs written by Kristofferson, as were two of the five nominations for song of the year. Although he released an eponymous solo album in 1970 with Monument Records, he continued to be recognized primarily as a songwriter.