Biography for
Jon Voight More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

29 December 1938, Yonkers, New York, USA

Birth Name

Jonathan Vincent Voight

Height

6' 3" (1.91 m)

Spouse

Marcheline Bertrand	(12 December 1971 - 14 April 1980) (divorced) 2 children
Lauri Peters	(1962 - 1967) (divorced)

Trade Mark

Models a unique voice and accent for each role

Towering height and slender frame

Trivia

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 Can't Let Go" (The Hollies).

Father of actor James Haven (b. 1973) and actress Angelina Jolie (b. 1975) with Marcheline Bertrand.

Godfather of Skyler Shaye.

Attended Archbishop Stepinac High School, and all-boy school in White Plains, New York.

Was cast as President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Pearl Harbor (2001) after Gene Hackman declined the role. Hackman's wife was of Japanese decent, 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 part.

His father Elmer Voytka, later Voight (born 29 October 1909 and died June 1973), was a professional golfer.

Honored at fund-raiser for Joseph Papp Children's Humanitarian Fund in New York City, May 2002.

Graduated from Catholic University of America, 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 was a Slovak immigrant. His mother Barbara Kamp (Barbara Voight) (born in New York, 7 January 1910 and died Palm Beach Co., Florida, 3 December 1995) was the daughter of Joseph Kamp, a German immigrant, and wife Margaret Franz, also the daughter of German immigrants.

Played father to Ricky Schroder twice: The first time in The Champ (1979) and the second time in "Return to Lonesome Dove" (1993).

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 (1969).

Turned down the role of "Matt Hooper" in Jaws (1975). The role went to Richard Dreyfuss.

In 1993, he took over the role of "Woodrow F. Call" from Tommy Lee Jones in "Return to Lonesome Dove" (1993). Three years later, he was succeeded by Jonny Lee Miller, who played the younger version of Call in "Dead Man's Walk" (1996). That same year, Miller married Voight's 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 (1973) and The Champ (1979). Was also in Ali (2001), but played the role of legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell.

Has played a coach in two films: Varsity Blues (1999) and Glory Road (2006).

Turned down the role of Oliver Barrett IV (played by Ryan O'Neal) in Love Story (1970), despite being offered 10% of the gross.

His brother Barry Voight was a geology professor at Penn State.

In an episode of "Seinfeld" (1990), 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 the "Muppets Tonight" (1996) show dressed as a giant chicken with Gonzo the Great. The event was part of the first annual MuppetFest fan convention and a fund-raiser for Save The Children.

Was considered for the role of Clark Kent/Superman in Superman (1978).

Godparents of his daughter Angelina are Maximilian Schell and Jacqueline Bisset.

Grandfather of Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, Pax Thien Jolie-Pitt, Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt and Knox Léon Jolie-Pitt.

Actively supported Rudolph W. Giuliani's campaign to win the Republican nomination in 2008, but later endorsed the eventual nominee Senator John McCain.

A hawk on the war on terror, he voted for George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election.

Good friends with fellow actor Eric Martic.

Attended the Republican National Convention in 2008.

Grandfather of Shiloh Jolie-Pitt.

Has been asked, in real life, for "Billy Flynn's" autograph...and given it (Flynn was his fictional boxer-character from The Champ (1979)).

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 US 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.

Personal Quotes

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.

If Washington is a two-party town, why can't Hollywood be one too?

He's really extreme, but he's always trying to say something to cover it. He's like a Leftist from the Sixties. I was on the Left, that's why I know who he is. He says he'll talk to everybody like Hamas and Iran, but it's simpleminded candy he's throwing to the extreme left wing. He'd be the biggest disaster for Israel - and all democracies - that I can think of. - On Senator Barack Obama.

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.

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.

[on media comparisons between Megan Fox and his daughter Angelina Jolie] They're both very beautiful and they're both kind of sexy girls. Maybe Megan will start doing the things that Angie is so well known for. Angie is known for helping with kids and for her concern for others. I think that would be wonderful for all of the kids if Megan were to do the same.

Salary

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

$17,000

Where Are They Now

(2007) Working as partner at Paul Productions.