Jon Voight Biography: Jonathan Vincent Voight born December 29, 1938 is a renowned American actor with a career spanning several decades. He has earned widespread recognition, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, four Golden Globe Awards, and four Primetime Emmy nominations.
Jon Voight Biography
Jon Voight is an American actor of German and Slovak heritage. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Luke Martin, a paraplegic Vietnam War veteran, in the 1978 war drama Coming Home. He received two additional nominations for Best Actor—first for his role as Joe Buck, an aspiring gigolo, in Midnight Cowboy (1969), and later for portraying escaped convict Oscar “Manny” Manheim in Runaway Train (1985).
Jon Voight Biography 2025 Details
| Born |
Jonathan Vincent Voight
December 29, 1938 |
|---|---|
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Lauri Peters (m. 1962; div. 1967)
Marcheline Bertrand (m. 1971; div. 1980)
|
| Relations | Barry Voight (brother) Chip Taylor (brother) |
| Children | James Haven Angelina Jolie |
| Alma mater | Catholic University of America (BA) Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Category | Singers Bio |
| Years active | 1961–present |
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Jon Voight Achievements
Voight was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of sports journalist Howard Cosell in Ali (2001). Born in Yonkers, New York, in 1938, Voight is the son of professional golfer Elmer Samuel Voight (born Elemír Vojtka) and Barbara Agnes (Kamp). His paternal grandfather immigrated from Slovakia, and his paternal grandmother’s parents were also Slovak immigrants. On his mother’s side, his grandfather was a German immigrant, and her maternal grandparents were of German descent as well.
About Jon Voight
Jonathan Vincent Voight is an American actor. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and four Golden Globe Awards as well as nominations for four Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2019, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts.
Jon Voight Personal Life
In 2019, he was honored with the National Medal of Arts. Collectively, the films he has starred in have grossed over $5.2 billion worldwide. Voight became a prominent figure during the countercultural movement of the late 1960s, gaining acclaim for his emotionally charged and rebellious roles. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as a paraplegic Vietnam War veteran in Coming Home (1978). He also received Oscar nominations for his performances as Joe Buck in Midnight Cowboy (1969), a desperate bank robber in Runaway Train (1985).
Jon Voight Wiki
- Born: 29 December 1938 (age 86 years), Yonkers, New York, United States
- Spouse: Marcheline Bertrand (m. 1971–1980), Lauri Peters (m. 1962–1967)
- Awards: Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role ·
- Children: Angelina Jolie, James Haven
- Grandchildren: Shiloh Jolie, Vivienne Jolie, Zahara Marley Jolie ·
- Height: 1.89 m
Early Life and Education
Jonathan Vincent Voight was born on December 29, 1938, in Yonkers, New York, to Barbara (née Kamp) and Elmer Voight (originally Voytka), a professional golfer. He has two brothers: Barry Voight, a former volcanologist at Pennsylvania State University, and James Wesley Voight, better known as Chip Taylor, a singer-songwriter famous for penning hits like “Wild Thing” and “Angel of the Morning.” Voight’s heritage includes Slovak roots on his father’s side—his paternal grandfather and the parents of his paternal grandmother were Slovak immigrants. On his mother’s side, his maternal grandfather and the parents of his maternal grandmother were German immigrants.
His maternal great-uncle was political activist Joseph P. Kamp. Raised in the Catholic faith, Voight attended Archbishop Stepinac High School, an all-boys Catholic school in White Plains, New York. It was there that he developed an early interest in acting. After graduating in 1956, he went on to study at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he majored in art and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960.
Jon Voight at a Glance
- Category: Richest Celebrities › Actors
- Net Worth: $55 Million
- Birthdate: December 29, 1938 (86 years old)
- Birthplace: Yonkers, New York
- Gender: Male
- Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.89 m)
- Profession: Actor, Film Producer, Screenwriter
- Nationality: American
Career Highlights
Voight began his career with TV roles in the 1960s, appearing in shows such as Gunsmoke, Naked City, The Defenders, and Cimarron Strip. He also performed on Broadway, including in A View from the Bridge. His film debut came in 1967 with Fearless Frank, but it was Midnight Cowboy (1969) that made him a household name. The film, the only X-rated movie to win Best Picture at the Oscars, was a box office success. He followed with acclaimed roles in Catch-22, Deliverance, and The Champ. In 1978, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Coming Home. In the 1980s, Voight earned another Oscar nomination for Runaway Train (1985).
He continued to take on major roles through the 1990s, including appearances in Heat (1995), Mission: Impossible (1996), Anaconda, Rainmaker, and Enemy of the State (1998). Voight starred in Pearl Harbor and appeared alongside his daughter Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. He took on fatherly roles in Zoolander and Ali, and was featured in films such as Glory Road, Transformers, and National Treasure. He gained further attention with roles in 24 and Ray Donovan.
Personal Life and Political Views
Voight has been known for his evolving political beliefs. In his youth, he held left-leaning, anti-war views and supported President John F. Kennedy. By 2008, however, he had become a vocal conservative, writing op-eds expressing Republican views and criticizing the Democratic Party. He later became an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump, calling him “the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.”
Relationships
Voight married actress Lauri Peters in 1962 after they co-starred on Broadway, but the couple divorced in 1967. He later married actress Marcheline Bertrand in 1971. They had two children—Angelina Jolie and James Haven—before divorcing in 1980. Although Voight has been linked to several high-profile relationships since, he has never remarried.
Real Estate
Jon Voight purchased a 3.3-acre estate in Beverly Hills for $1.3 million. In 2019, he listed the property for sale at $19.75 million. The gated estate includes a massive yard nearly the size of a professional soccer field.
What is Jon Voight’s Net Worth 2025?
Jon Voight is a highly respected American actor with an estimated net worth of $55 million. He gained widespread acclaim for his breakout role in Midnight Cowboy (1969), which earned him his first Academy Award nomination and established him as a major presence in Hollywood. During the 1970s, Voight starred in a string of critically acclaimed films, including Deliverance (1972) and Coming Home (1978), the latter earning him an Oscar for Best Actor. Known for his versatility, Voight has played a wide range of roles across various genres throughout his career. In the following decades, he delivered powerful performances in Runaway Train (1985) and Heat (1995). He also found success on television, winning a Golden Globe for his role in The Last of His Tribe (1992). His career experienced a resurgence in the 2000s with roles in high-profile films such as Mission: Impossible (1996), Pearl Harbor (2001), and National Treasure.
FAQs
How did Jon Voight become famous?
Jon Voight rose to fame with his role as Joe Buck in the groundbreaking 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, which earned him his first Academy Award nomination and established him as a leading actor in Hollywood.
What TV shows has Jon Voight appeared in?
Jon Voight has appeared in several television projects, including the award-winning series Ray Donovan (2013–2020), and notable TV movies like The Last of His Tribe. He also made a memorable guest appearance on Seinfeld.
Did Jon Voight act alongside Angelina Jolie?
Yes, Jon Voight appeared with his daughter, Angelina Jolie, in the 2001 action film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, where he played her character’s father.
What are Jon Voight’s political views?
Jon Voight has publicly shifted from early liberal activism to becoming a strong conservative voice. He has been an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump and frequently shares his political opinions through public speeches and social media.
Has Jon Voight won any major awards?
Yes, Jon Voight has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Actor, four Golden Globe Awards, and a National Medal of Arts in 2019.
What Broadway plays has Jon Voight performed in?
Early in his career, Jon Voight performed on Broadway in plays such as A View from the Bridge, which helped him gain recognition as a serious stage actor before transitioning fully to film and television.