Jon Voight

Jon Voight is an American actor of German and Slovak descent. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of paraplegic Vietnam War veteran Luke Martin in the war film *Coming Home* (1978). He was also nominated for the same award twice more: first for his role as aspiring gigolo Joe Buck in *Midnight Cowboy* (1969), and later for his role as escaped convict Oscar "Manny" Manheim in *Runaway Train* (1985). He received another nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of sports journalist Howard Cosell (1918–1995) in *Ali* (2001). Voight was born in 1938 in Yonkers, New York. His parents were professional golfer Elmer Samuel Voight (original name Elemír Vojtka) and his wife Barbara Agnes (Kamp). His paternal grandfather was a Slovak immigrant, as were the parents of his paternal grandmother. His maternal grandfather was a German immigrant, as were the parents of his maternal grandmother. His maternal great-uncle was political activist Joseph P. Kamp (1900–1993), a leader of the anti-communist organization "Constitutional Educational League." Voight has two siblings: volcanologist Barry Voight (1937–) and singer-songwriter James Wesley Voight (pseudonym Chip Taylor, 1940–). Barry is best known for predicting and investigating the eruption of Mount St. Helens (1980), while James is best known for writing the hit songs "Wild Thing" (1965) and "Angel of the Morning" (1967). Voight attended Archbishop Stepinac High School, an all-boys Roman Catholic high school in White Plains, New York, which at the time was operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. He performed a comedic role in the school's annual musical, *The Song of Norway*, and graduated in 1956 at the age of 18. He continued his education at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he majored in art and graduated in 1960 at the age of 22. He then moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. In the early 1960s, Voight primarily worked as a television actor, guest starring in episodes of popular series such as *Naked City*, *The Defenders*, *NET Playhouse*, *12 O'Clock High*, and *Gunsmoke*. His first notable theatrical role was playing the illegal immigrant Rodolfo in a 1965 Off-Broadway production of Arthur Miller's *A View from the Bridge* (1955). In the play, Rodolfo is the love interest of the American girl Catherine and is disliked by her uncle and guardian Eddie Carbone, who is in love with his niece. Voight made his film debut in the superhero comedy *Fearless Frank* (1967), playing the eponymous superhero, who is depicted as a murder victim who is resurrected and granted superpowers by a scientist. His second film role was playing historical gunman and outlaw Curly Bill Brocius (1845–1882) in the Western film *Hour of the Gun* (1967). The historical Brocius was an enemy of the Earp family and was killed by Wyatt Earp (1848–1929). Voight's third film appearance was *Midnight Cowboy* (1969), his first major success. He played a naive hustler from Texas who tries to become a gigolo in New York City. The film was critically acclaimed and became the only X-rated feature to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Voight was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, but the award was instead won by John Wayne (1907–1979). Voight's first role in the 1970s was playing lieutenant Milo Minderbinder in the black comedy *Catch-22* (1970), based on Joseph Heller's 1961 satirical novel, which offered a satirical view of war and bureaucracy. His next role was playing the left-wing student A in the political drama *The Revolutionary* (1970). Voight found further critical acclaim with the thriller film *Deliverance* (1972), playing Atlanta businessman Ed Gentry. In the film, Gentry and his friends are targeted by villainous mountain men in the northern Georgia wilderness. The film earned about 46 million dollars at the domestic box office and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. His subsequent roles included idealistic schoolteacher Pat Conroy in *Conrack* (1974) and journalist Peter Miller in *The Odessa File* (1974). His next major success was playing paraplegic war veteran Luke Martin in *Coming Home* (1978), a role inspired by the life of war veteran and anti-war activist Ron Kovic (1946–). He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for this film. His co-star Jane Fonda (1937–) won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film. Voight's early 1980s roles included conman Alex Kovac in *Lookin' to Get Out* (1982) and widowed father J. P. Tannen in *Table for Five* (1983). His next major