JON VOIGHT MOVIES
“Midnight Cowboy” (1969) Well, of course. Voight had done television and stage work, but there was no question that the screen arrival of hustler Joe Buck also marked the arrival of a major new star.
“Deliverance” (1972) Along with Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty and Ronny Cox, Voight made viewers think twice about taking camping trips for a while. And possibly still does. The film version of James Dickey’s novel leads off a night of Voight films Friday, Feb. 3, on Turner Classic Movies.
“Conrack” (1974) A heartfelt Voight performance fuels this fine account of novelist Pat Conroy’s (“The Prince of Tides”) days as a teacher in the South.
“Coming Home” (1978) A richly deserved Oscar went to Voight as a wheelchair-bound, war-opposing veteran who becomes involved with the wife (fellow Academy Award winner Jane Fonda) of another military man (Bruce Dern).
“Runaway Train” (1985) To witness an actor’s complete dedication to a role, watch Voight as an escaped convict who refuses to back down in his quest for independence, even when he’s trapped with others aboard the title vehicle. “Heat” (1995) Voight’s scenes as a lowkeyed facilitator of a master felon’s (Robert De Niro) crimes are among the best in this superbly sprawling saga.
“Mission: Impossible” (1996) This update of the classic TV series is best-known as a Tom Cruise vehicle, but Voight does a marvelous job of redefining IMF leader Jim Phelps, both in playing him traditionally and in adding twists. “Anaconda” (1997) He may chew all of the scenery when the giant reptile isn’t chewing on him, but boy, is Voight fun as this piece’s villain. “Varsity Blues” (1999) If you’re a school athlete, you don’t want a coach as heartless and manipulative as the one played by Voight ... which actually is a tribute to the effectiveness of the performance.
“Ali” (2001) He certainly gets a big assist from the makeup department, but it also takes Voight’s typically committed acting to flesh out the image of sportscasting icon Howard Cosell. “Getaway” (2013) As a whole, this is far from a great movie – but as a showcase for Voight’s distinctive voice, as the unseen mystery man who forces hard-driving Ethan Hawke through his paces, it’s top-notch.