JUNE 29

Gary Busey
Born June 29, 1944, Goose Creek, Texas
Actor

Gary Busey

Original Name - William Gary Busey
Raised in Oklahoma, Busey attended Kansas State University on a football scholarship before a knee injury caused him to abandon his pursuit of a professional sports career. While turning his attention toward theater studies, he played percussion with Leon Russell, Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson.

In 1971, Busey made his cinematic debut with a lead role in the biker film Angels Hard as They Come, which was written by Jonathan Demme. During the late 1970s, his credits included supporting roles opposite Barbra Streisand and former band mate Kris Kristofferson in A Star is Born (1976), as well as Dustin Hoffman in Straight Time (1978). Later that year, Busey landed the title role in The Buddy Holly Story, in which he showcased his musical roots by performing his own guitar and vocal work. Busey earned an Academy Award nomination for his definitive portrayal of the rock icon.

Later in his career, Busey took on more sinister roles in the action thrillers Lethal Weapon(1987), Predator 2 (1990), and Point Break (1991) with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. As part of an A-list ensemble that included Tom Cruise, Gene Hackman, Holly Hunter, and Ed Harris, he earned kudos for his role in the film adaptation of John Grisham's bestseller The Firm (1993). During the late 1990s, Busey’s roles ranged from a psychotic militia leader in The Rage (1997) to a cameo appearance in Terry Gilliam's black comedy Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998).

In 1988, Busey was the victim of a near-fatal motorcycle accident, which resulted in the enactment of stricter helmet laws in the state of California. A notorious drug user, he was hospitalized after a cocaine overdose in 1995, at which time he underwent rehabilitation in lieu of facing criminal charges. Three years later, he dedicated his life to the Christian faith by joining the Promise Keepers.

Busey married photographer Judy Helkenberg in 1968; they had a son, Jake Busey, before divorcing in the mid-1970s. In 2000, after he was arrested and charged with spousal abuse, Busey separated from his second wife Tiani Warden.