Country music singer, songwriter, and actor Kris Kristofferson has passed away at age 88.
Kristofferson was born in Texas to Swedish parents. He was a Rhodes Scholar who studied English at Oxford, and then a helicopter pilot in the United States Army. He had a job offer to be a teacher at West Point, but chose to pursue his music career instead.
Kristofferson gained fame as a singer and songwriter, with one of the most popular songs he wrote being "Me and Bobby McGee," which was famously recorded by Janis Joplin. Some of Kristofferson's other well-known songs (both as a writer and as a performer) included "Who's to Bless and Who's To Blame," "Sunday Morning Coming Down," and "Silver Tongued Devil and I." Kristofferson was also a member of the popular music group "The Highwaymen," along with friends Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings. It was Johnny Cash who Kristofferson credited with helping him get his real start in the music business.
In addition to being a musician, Kristofferson was also a well-known actor. He appeared in films such as "Alice Doesn't Live Hear Anymore" with Ellen Burstyn, "Christmas in Connecticut" with Diane Cannon, "A Star is Born" with Barbara Streisand, and "Stagecoach," which he appeared in with the other members of the Highwaymen.
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