Kris Kristofferson, the legendary actor, singer, and songwriter whose words and melodies shaped generations, has passed away at the age of 88. Surrounded by his family, he died peacefully at his home in Maui on September 28, according to PEOPLE and his representative.
His family shared a heartfelt statement: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband, father, and grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”
Born on June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas, Kristofferson’s journey was as remarkable as the songs he wrote. Raised in a military family by a U.S. Air Force major general, he grew up with discipline and drive. A gifted student, he earned a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University, where he discovered a deep passion for literature and music, drawing inspiration from William Blake and Hank Williams.
After serving in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot, Kristofferson chose a different path—leaving the military to follow his heart into music. The road was far from easy. In Nashville during the 1960s, he worked odd jobs, even mopping floors at Columbia Records, all while trying to get his songs heard. That persistence paid off when his writing gave the world timeless classics like “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” and “For the Good Times”—songs that became iconic hits for Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, and Ray Price.
Kristofferson’s own voice soon joined the chorus of country’s greatest. His debut album, Kristofferson (1970), received critical acclaim and helped usher in the “outlaw country” movement, alongside Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings. Together, they formed the legendary supergroup The Highwaymen, forever cementing his place in music history.
His talents stretched beyond the stage. On screen, he brought a rugged intensity to roles in films such as Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), Convoy (1978), and A Star Is Born (1976)—a performance that earned him a Golden Globe.
By the time he retired from public life in 2021, Kris Kristofferson had built a legacy not just of art, but of resilience, authenticity, and soul. His songs will continue to echo in honky-tonks, on movie screens, and in the hearts of those who found truth in his words.
A poet, a rebel, a storyteller—Kris Kristofferson leaves behind not just music and films, but a spirit that will never fade.
