Gary Busey

Photo of Gary Busey

Biography

Though he received a great deal of acclaim early in his career for his performance as Buddy Holly in "The Buddy Holly Story" (1978), actor Gary Busey let his best work become overshadowed by increasingly bizarre personal behavior and speculation that a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 1988 had rendered him with a degree of brain damage. Adding fuel to the fire was a long struggle with cocaine and alcohol abuse, and occasional descents into …
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Job Title

Actor, Producer, Music

Born

William Gary Busey on June 29, 1944 in Goose Creek, Texas, USA

Career Milestones

2012

Appeared in the thriller "Piranha 3DD"

2011

Joined the cast of the fourth season of "Celebrity Apprentice" (NBC)

2008

Appeared on second season of the VH1 reality show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew"

2005

Joined the cast of the VH1 weight loss reality series "Celebrity Fit Club 2"

2004

Landed a recurring role as "his crazy self" on HBO's "Entourage"

2003

Appeared as the center of Comedy Central's "I'm with Busey" reality show

1999

Played the villainous Hooded Fang in the remake of "Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang"

1998

Appeared as the vicious mercenary leader Mazur in TMC's "Universal Soldier 2: Brothers in Arms" and "Universal Soldier 3: Unfinished Business"

1998

Had a cameo as a highway patrolman in Terry Gilliam's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"

1997

Portrayed General Joe Wheeler in the TNT miniseries "Rough Riders"

1997

Played a psychotic ex-militia man in Sidney J. Furie's "The Rage"

1996

Supported Dennis Hopper and Amy Irving in Bruno Baretto's "Carried Away"

1994

Essayed another crazed psycho in "Warriors"

1993

Gave a salty performance as an over-the-hill pitcher in "Rookie of the Year"

1993

Had a supporting role as a private investigator in the legal thriller "The Firm"

1992

Appeared as himself in Robert Altman's "The Player"

1992

Continued his villainous run as the evil thug plotting to steal nuclear weapons in Steven Seagal's "Under Siege"

1991

Teamed with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze for Kathryn Bigelow's "Point Break"

1990

Played character on the right side of the law for the fast-paced sequel "Predator 2"

1988

Played an American journalist caught up in the 1986 Philippine revolution in the HBO miniseries "A Dangerous Life"

1987

First role as a villain, playing the memorable Mr. Joshua in "Lethal Weapon"

1985

Cast as a baseball playing icon in Nicolas Roeg's "Insignificance"

1984

Portrayed Alabama State football coach Paul Bryant in "The Bear"

1983

Wrote and performed "Why Baby Why" for the film "D.C. Cab"; also played one the taxi drivers

1982

Played the protégé of a legendary outlaw (Willie Nelson) in the well-received "Barbarosa"

1978

Delivered breakout role playing the rock and roll legend in "The Buddy Holly Story"; earned a Best Actor Academy Award nomination

1978

Starred in the critically-acclaimed surfing movie "Big Wednesday"

1976

First gained national attention as Kris Kristofferson's road manager in "A Star Is Born"

1975

Contributed the song "Since You've Gone Away" to Robert Altman's "Nashville"

1974

Debut as series regular, playing Truckie Wheeler on ABC's "The Texas Wheelers"

1974

Acted opposite Martin Sheen in the NBC movie "The Execution of Private Slovik"

1973

TV-movie debut, "Blood Sport" (ABC)

1973

Supported Jeff Bridges (as stock car racing legend Junior Johnson) in "The Last American Hero"

1971

Made big screen debut as a hippie in the low budget Roger Corman film "Angels Hard as They Come"

1970

Landed first small screen role on an episode of the NBC Western "The High Chaparral"

Appeared on several Leon Russell recordings (credited under the name Teddy Jack Eddy)

1969

Recorded a self titled album with Epic records

1966

Co-founded a bluesy rock band called Carp (formerly known as The Rubber Band)

Awards

1979

BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer To Leading Film Roles in The Buddy Holly Story

1978

Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in The Buddy Holly Story

1978

National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor in The Buddy Holly Story

1978

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in The Buddy Holly Story

1978

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for New Generation Award in The Buddy Holly Story