American actor
His younger brother is songwriter Wes Voight who, under the alias Chip Taylor , wrote The Troggs 1966 smash hit "Wild Thing". His other songs include "Angel of the Morning" (Merrilee Rush ) and "I Cant Let Go" (The Hollies ).
Godfather of Skyler Shaye.
Attended Archbishop Stepinac High School, an all-boy school in White Plains, New York.
Was cast as President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Pearl Harbor after Gene Hackman declined the role. Hackmans wife was of Japanese ancestry, and appearing in a film about the Japanese attack that precipitated the entry of the United States into World War II would have been painful for her, so Hackman turned down the role.
His father Elmer Voytka, later Voight (born 29 October 1909 and died June 1973), was a professional golfer.
Honored at a fundraiser for Joseph Papp Childrens Humanitarian Fund in New York City in May 2002.
Attended and graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. in 1960. Changed his major after his freshman year from Speech and Drama to Art. Fellow classmate was Henry Gibson.
His paternal grandfather, George Voytka, was a Slovak immigrant, and his paternal grandmother, Nellie, was of Slovak ancestry. His mother Barbara Kamp (Barbara Voight ) (born in New York, 7 January 1910 and died in Palm Beach County, Florida, 3 December 1995) was the daughter of Joseph Kamp, a German immigrant, and wife Margaret Franz, also the daughter of German immigrants.
Has played father to Ricky Schroder twice: The first time in The Champ and the second time in "Return to Lonesome Dove" .
In 1982, he (Presenter) accepted the Oscar for "Best Actress in a Leading Role" on behalf of Katharine Hepburn , who was not present at the awards ceremony.
In 1970, he accepted the Oscar for Best Director on behalf of John Schlesinger , who was not present at the awards ceremony. Schlesinger directed Voight in Midnight Cowboy .
Turned down the role of Matt Hooper in Jaws , which went to Richard Dreyfuss.
In 1993, he took over the role of Woodrow F. Call from Tommy Lee Jones in "Return to Lonesome Dove" . Three years later, he was succeeded by Jonny Lee Miller , who played the younger version of Call in "Dead Mans Walk" . That same year, Miller married Voights daughter, Angelina Jolie , making Voight a short-term father-in-law to his own successor.
Has played a boxer in two films: The All-American Boy and The Champ . Was also in Ali , but played the role of legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell.
Has played a coach in two films: Varsity Blues and Glory Road .
Turned down the role of Oliver Barrett IV (played by Ryan ONeal ) in Love Story , despite being offered 10% of the gross.
His eldest brother Barry Voight, a volcanologist, was a geology professor at Penn State University.
In an episode of "Seinfeld" , George (Jason Alexander ) buys a Chrysler Lebaron convertible he believes once belonged to Jon Voight only to discover that the previous owner was actually "John" Voight, a periodontist.
On December 9, 2001, he appeared as a surprise guest on "Muppets Tonight" dressed as a giant chicken with Gonzo the Great. The event was part of the first annual MuppetFest fan convention and a fundraiser for Save the Children.
Was considered for the role of Clark Kent/Superman in Superman , which went to Christopher Reeve.
Godparents of his daughter Angelina are Maximilian Schell and Jacqueline Bisset.
Grandfather of Maddox Jolie-Pitt , Zahara Jolie-Pitt , Pax Jolie-Pitt (aka "Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt"), Shiloh Jolie-Pitt , Vivienne Jolie-Pitt and Knox Lon Jolie-Pitt.
A hawk on the war on terror, he voted for George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election. He actively supported Rudy Giuliani s campaign to win the Republican nomination in 2008, but later endorsed the eventual nominee Senator John McCain. He also attended the Republican National Convention in 2008. He was also one of the few American celebrities to declare his support for Donald J. Trump as president and spoke at his inauguration in 2017.
Good friends with fellow actor Eric Martic.
Has been asked, in real life, for "Billy Flynns" autograph... and given it (Flynn was his fictional boxer-character from The Champ ).
In 2000, Voight became involved with the Florida Holocaust Museum and worked very closely with then-Executive Director Larry Wasser (deceased 2003) and President John Loftus , famous U.S. Justice Department official, author and former prosecutor. Voight serves today as an advisory member of their Board. His contributions in supporting the Florida Holocaust Museums programs have made a long-lasting impact to helping the children in Florida become better citizens through character education.
Worked as partner at Paul Productions.
Became a father for the 1st time at age 34 when his [now 2nd ex] wife Marcheline Bertrand gave birth to their son James Haven Voight, aka James Haven , on May 11, 1973.
Became a father for the 2nd time at age 36 when his [now 2nd ex] wife Marcheline Bertrand gave birth to their daughter Angelina Jolie Voight, aka Angelina Jolie , on June 4, 1975.
As of 2015, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Midnight Cowboy , Deliverance and Coming Home . Of those, Midnight Cowboy is a winner in the category.
Former father-in-law of actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton.
The ringtone on his phone plays "Everybodys Talkin" (from Midnight Cowboy ).
In most ways it was a damn good picture. But if we remade,Midnight Cowboy (1969) today, the whole relationship between,Buck and Ratso would have to be sexualized or at least made, you know,like in love. . . to be sexually or erotically honest.
This is a perilous time, and more than ever, the world needs a united,and strong America. If, God forbid, we live to see Mr. Obama president,we will live through a socialist era that America has not seen before,and our country will be weakened in every way.
I was caught up in the hysteria during the Vietnam era, which was,brought about through Marxist propaganda underlying the so-called peace,movement. The radicals of that era were successful in giving the,communists power to bring forth the killing fields and slaughter 2. 5,million people in Cambodia and South Vietnam. Did they stop the war, or,did they bring the war to those innocent people? In the end, they,turned their backs on all the horror and suffering they helped create,and walked away. . the left have blood on their hands and I do too.
It seems to me that if Mr. Obama wins the presidential election, then,Messrs. Farrakhan, Wright, Ayers and Pfleger will gain power for their,need to demoralize this country and help create a socialist America.
I went to Russia in 1991, right in the middle of glasnost. It was an,amazing experience, to see what socialism and communism does to people.
I was raised Catholic - I fell in love with certain ideals. The idea of,right and wrong, being righteous, acknowledging when you make a,mistake, repentance - all these important things I got from my Catholic,background.
I made a lot of mistakes as a young father. I made a lot of mistakes as,a young man. I paid dearly, and my children paid dearly.
And now I hear Obama trying to convince the American people that if we,give up our nuclear weapons, this will set a fine example and all other,countries will follow suit. What a dangerous and naive notion that is.
[President Obama] wants to legalize all the illegal Mexicans, and every,other illegal immigrant from other countries as well. Why? For their,vote, for the 2016 election, for the Democrats. It will make no,difference on the billions of dollars it will cost the American tax,payers.
Sometimes a little heartbreak is a lesson, and the best thing to do is just learn the lesson.
I was caught up in the hysteria during the Vietnam era, which was brought about through Marxist propaganda underlying the so-called peace movement. .
