Willie Nelson is not only a legendary country music star, but also has appeared in many movies. From the years 1979 to 2008, Nelson has appeared in twenty two films, and has been cast among such popular actors and actresses such as Robert Redford, Robert De Niro Gary Busey, Dyan Canon, and Dustin Hoffman. Some of the best Willie Nelson movies include Honeysuckle Rose, Barbarosa, Wag the Dog, Thief,The Dukes of Hazzard, and Red-Headed Stranger.
In 1980’s Honeysuckle Rose, Nelson plays Buck Bonham, a country musician trying to find fame while still being a responsible family man. While on tour, Buck struggles with temptation when the band adds a new female member. Nelson stars in this film alongside Dyan Canon and Amy Irving. Honeysuckle Rose features a twenty six track soundtrack featuring Nelson’s music, including the popular hits ” On the Road Again”, and “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain”.
Barbarosa, released in 1982, stars Nelson and Gary Busey. Nelson portrays the lead character of an outlaw named Barbarosa in the film, considered to be one the best western films made, but also highly underrated. In the film, Barbarosa takes a young cowboy who is on the run after accidentally killing someone under his wing, played by Busey, and teaches him the ways of life. No soundtrack is available for this film.
Wag the Dog, which is considered to be a favorite among many Willie fans, also stars the legendary movie actors, Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. This 1997 black comedy film is about a spin doctor in Washington who attempts to detract public attention from a sex scandal during election time by hiring a producer from Hollywood to fake a war with Albania. Nelson enters the story line as a country music singer named Johnny Dean who is brought into the plot for purposes of creating theme songs for the supposed war. Unlike some other movies starring Nelson, the CD soundtrack does not feature his work.
Thief, released in 1981, stars Nelson along with James Caan, Robert Prosky, and Tuesday Weld. A neo-noir film based on the 1975 novel called The Home Invaders: Confessions of a Cat Burglar, Nelson plays a character named Okla. Okla was the main character, Frank’s, closet friend while he was in prison. This is yet another film in which Nelson’s music is not featured on the soundtrack.
Although not popular among film critics, 2005’s The Dukes of Hazzard is a fan favorite among Nelson fans. Based upon the American television series with the same name, Nelson plays the Duke boys’ Uncle Jesse, who runs a moonshine business. Willie Nelson makes a small contribution to the soundtrack for Dukes of Hazzard, performing the song “Good ‘ol Boys” with Waylon Jennings and James Stroud.
The 1986 film, Red-Headed Stranger, stars Nelson opposite Morgan Fairchild as his wife. Nelson plays the lead role of a preacher whose wife has left him for another man. This movie is based upon Nelson’s concept album entitled Red-Headed Stranger, which tells the story of the preacher who seeks vengeance on his cheating wife and her lover with a pistol. The album the movie is based upon features nineteen tracks and the popular hit “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain”.
These are considered to be some of the best Willie Nelson movies, based upon popular opinion among fans. Willie Nelson has also played in many other motion pictures, some including Songwriter and Pair of Aces, and Another Pair of Aces, with fellow musician and actor Kris Kristofferson. Other movies include Coming Out of the Ice, Once Upon a Texas Train, Gone Fishin’, Stage Coach, and Electric Horseman which features five songs from Willie included on the soundtrack,one of them being “Mommas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys”.
Willie Nelson has not only proven himself to be a country music star and legend, but also a talented movie actor. For the true Willie Nelson fan, his movies that also feature his original music are an extra special treat. Aside from his singing and acting talents, Nelson is also recognized for his contributions to such humanitarian causes like helping to organize the Farm Aid music festival to benefit struggling American farmers, and for fighting for such causes as the humane and proper treatment of animals through his activist work.
