At Ponoma College, Kris Kristofferson was a starting defensive end and rugby player as well as a golden gloves boxer, sports editor of the paper, and cadet commander in the ROTC battalion. On top of that, he wrote prize winning essays that were published in The Atlantic Monthly. He graduated in 1958 summa cum laude with a BA in literature, elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford and began recording for Top Rank Records. In 1960 he graduated with a B.Phil in English literature.
He then joined the US Army as a second lieutenant, became a helicopter pilot and completed Ranger school. In 1965 he left the Army and moved to Nashville, working odd jobs while trying to break into the music business. Kristofferson also started flying for Petroleum Helicopters International and landed a helicopter in Johnny Cash’s yard to try to get his attention. Kristofferson released a single in 67 and wrote songs for other artists before finally debuting with a full album in 70.
Then in the 70s he started acting.