View source for Gary Busey

{{short description|American actor (born 1944)}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Gary Busey
| image              = CUN2008 Oscar party Gary Busey.jpg
| caption            = Busey in 2008
| birth_name         = William Gary Busey
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1944|6|29}}
| birth_place        = [[Goose Creek, Texas#History|Goose Creek, Texas, U.S.]]
| occupation         = Actor
| spouse(s)          = {{ubl|{{marriage|Judy Helkenberg|1968|1990|end=divorce}}|{{marriage|Tiani Warden|1996|2001|end=divorce}}}}
| partner            = 
| years_active       = 1967–present
| children           = 3, including [[Jake Busey|Jake]]
}}

'''William Gary Busey''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|juː|s|i}}; born June 29, 1944) is an American actor. He portrayed [[Buddy Holly]] in ''[[The Buddy Holly Story]]'' (1978), for which he was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] and won the [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor]]. His other starring roles include ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' (1976), ''[[D.C. Cab]]'' (1983), ''[[Silver Bullet (film)|Silver Bullet]]'' (1985), ''[[Eye of the Tiger (film)|Eye of the Tiger]]'' (1986), ''[[Lethal Weapon]]'' (1987), ''[[Hider in the House (film)|Hider in the House]]'' (1989), ''[[Predator 2]]'' (1990), ''[[Point Break]]'' (1991),  ''[[Under Siege]]'' (1992), ''[[The Firm (1993 film)|The Firm]]'' (1993), ''[[Drop Zone (film)|Drop Zone]]'' (1994), ''[[Black Sheep (1996 film)|Black Sheep]]'' (1996) and ''[[Lost Highway (film)|Lost Highway]]'' (1997).

==Early life==
William Gary Busey was born on June 29, 1944, in [[Goose Creek, Texas#History|Goose Creek, Texas]], the son of Delmar Lloyd Busey and Sadie Virginia Busey (née Arnett).<ref name=okencyclo>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Everett |first1=Dianna |date=January 23, 2020 |title=Busey, William Gary (1944– ) |url=https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=BU022 |encyclopedia=[[The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture]] |publisher=Oklahoma Historical Society}}</ref> While he was in fourth grade, Busey moved to [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], where he later attended Bell Junior High School, then attended and graduated from [[Nathan Hale High School (Oklahoma)|Nathan Hale High School]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Eaton |first1=Kristin  |last2=Dean |first2=Anna Holton |date= August 22, 2011 |title=The road to fame |url=https://www.tulsapeople.com/archives/the-road-to-fame/article_ef7cfa7d-d2c2-5585-b867-33fff3c6d672.html |magazine=Tulsa People |access-date=March 22, 2019}}</ref> Busey attended [[Coffeyville Community College]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.coffeyville.com/338/Coffeyville-Celebrities|title=Coffeyville Celebrities &#124; Coffeyville, KS – Official Website|website=Coffeyville.com}}</ref> before attending [[Pittsburg State University]] in [[Pittsburg, Kansas]], on a football scholarship, where he became interested in acting.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.ebiog.com/biography/2184/gary-busey/bio.htm|title = Gary Busey|access-date = August 5, 2007|work = eBiog|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071008120031/http://www.ebiog.com/biography/2184/gary-busey/bio.htm|archive-date = October 8, 2007|df = mdy-all}}</ref> After a knee injury, he then transferred to [[Oklahoma State University - Stillwater|Oklahoma State University]] in [[Stillwater, Oklahoma]], to study theater. He quit school just one unit short of graduation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Homann|first=Samantha|title=Busey: OSU professor 'instrumental' in my success|url=https://casinfo.okstate.edu/spotlights/alumni-spotlight/1683-busey-osu-professor-instrumental-in-my-success|date=January 9, 2019}}</ref>

==Career==
===Early career===
[[File:Texas Wheelers cast.JPG|thumb|right|Busey (standing), [[Mark Hamill]] and [[Jack Elam]] from ''[[The Texas Wheelers]]'', 1974]]
Busey began his showbusiness career as a drummer in the Rubber Band.<ref>Johnny Carson Show August 23, 1985.</ref> He appears on several [[Leon Russell]] recordings, credited as playing drums under the name "Teddy Jack Eddy"<ref name="Teddy Jack Eddy">[http://tulsatvmemories.com/mazeppa2.html Tulsa TV Memories.com], Gary Busey reference as Teddy Jack Eddy in Tulsa, Okla.</ref> a character he created when he was a cast member of a local television comedy show in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], called ''The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting''<ref name="Teddy Jack Eddy" /> on station [[KTUL]] (which starred fellow Tulsan [[Gailard Sartain]] as "Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi"). For his skits on Uncanny Film Festival, Busey drew on his American Hero, belligerent, know-it-all character. When he told Gailard Sartain his character needed a name, Sartain replied, "Take three: Teddy, Jack and Eddy."<ref name="Teddy Jack Eddy" />

He played in a band called Carp, which released one album on [[Epic Records]] in 1969.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p16310|pure_url=yes}} Carp] at [[AllMusic]].</ref> Busey continued to play several small roles in both film and television during the 1970s. In 1975, as the character "Harvey Daley", he was the last person killed on the series ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' (in the third-to-last episode, No. 633&nbsp;– "The Busters").{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

===Rise to prominence===
[[File:Gary Busey (1976).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Busey at the premiere of ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' in 1976]]
In 1974, Busey played Truckie Wheeler in the ABC television comedy ''[[The Texas Wheelers]]''.<ref>Brooks, Tim and Marsh, Earle, ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946 – Present'', Ballantine Books, 1979, page 619.</ref> During that same year he made his major film debut with a supporting role in [[Michael Cimino]]'s buddy action caper ''[[Thunderbolt and Lightfoot]]'', starring [[Clint Eastwood]] and [[Jeff Bridges]].

In 1976, he was hired by [[Barbra Streisand]] and her producer-boyfriend [[Jon Peters]] to play Bobby Ritchie, road manager to [[Kris Kristofferson]]'s character in the remake film ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star is Born]]''. On the DVD commentary of the film, Streisand says Busey was great and that she had seen him on a TV series and thought he had the right qualities to play the role.

In 1978, he starred as rock legend [[Buddy Holly]] in ''[[The Buddy Holly Story]]'' with Sartain as [[The Big Bopper]]. For his performance, Busey received the greatest critical acclaim of his career and the movie earned an [[Academy Award]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] and the [[National Society of Film Critics]]' [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor|Best Actor award]] for him. In the same year he also starred in the small yet acclaimed drama ''[[Straight Time]]'' and the surfing movie ''[[Big Wednesday]]'', which is now a minor [[Cult film|cult classic]].

===Mid-career===
In the 1980s, Busey's films included the critically acclaimed western ''[[Barbarosa]]''  (1982), the comedies ''[[D.C. Cab]]'' (1983)<ref>''[[People (American magazine)|People]]'' May 15, 1989, pp. 65–68.</ref> and ''[[Insignificance (film)|Insignificance]]'' (1985), the [[Stephen King]] adaptation ''[[Silver Bullet (film)|Silver Bullet]]'' (1985), and the action film ''[[Eye of the Tiger (film)|Eye of the Tiger]]'' (1986). He played one of the primary antagonists opposite [[Mel Gibson]] and [[Danny Glover]] in the action comedy ''[[Lethal Weapon]]'' (1987). He also starred in the psychological thriller ''[[Hider in the House (film)|Hider in the House]]'' (1989).

In the 1990s, he had prominent supporting roles in successful action films such as ''[[Predator 2]]'' (1990), ''[[Point Break (1991 film)|Point Break]]'' (1991), ''[[Under Siege]]'' (1992), and ''[[Drop Zone (film)|Drop Zone]]'' (1994). He also appeared in ''[[The Player (1992 film)|The Player]]'' (1992), ''[[The Firm (1993 film)|The Firm]]'' (1993), ''[[Rookie of the Year (film)|Rookie of the Year]]'' (1993), ''[[Black Sheep (1996 film)|Black Sheep]]'' (1995), ''[[Lost Highway (film)|Lost Highway]]'' (1997), ''[[Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (film)|Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas]]'' (1998), and ''[[Soldier (1998 American film)|Soldier]]'' (1998).

Busey sang the song "Stay All Night" on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in 1979 (season 4, episode 14), and on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' in the 1990s.<ref>{{YouTube|hwNSXNXA3nU|Gary Busey – Stay All Night}}</ref>

In 2002, Busey voiced the character Phil Cassidy in the video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City]]'' and later reprised the role in the prequel ''[[Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories]]'' in 2006. In 2003, he starred in a Comedy Central reality show, ''[[I'm with Busey]]''. In 2005, he also voiced himself in an episode of ''[[The Simpsons]]''<ref>{{cite episode | title = On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister | episode-link = On a Clear Day I Can't See My Sister | series = The Simpsons | series-link = The Simpsons | network = Fox | airdate = June 3, 2005 | season = 16 | number = 11 }}</ref> and appeared in the popular miniseries ''[[Into the West (miniseries)|Into the West]]''. Busey controversially appeared in the 2006 Turkish nationalist film ''[[Valley of the Wolves: Iraq]]'' ({{langx|tr|Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak}}), which was accused of [[fascism]], [[anti-Americanism]],<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4700154.stm |work=BBC News | title=Turkish rush to embrace anti-US film | date=February 10, 2006 | access-date=May 3, 2010}}</ref> and [[antisemitism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,402432,00.html |title=Turkish Film Uproar: Attacking the American Enemy on Screen|work=Der Spiegel |date=February 22, 2006 |access-date=January 7, 2012}}</ref>

Busey starred in the horror film ''[[The Gingerdead Man]]'' (2005) as the titular character and crazed killer Millard Findlemeyer. In 2007, he appeared as himself in a prominent recurring role on [[HBO]]'s ''[[Entourage (American TV series)|Entourage]]'', in which he parodied his eccentric image, ultimately appearing on three episodes of the show. In 2008, he joined the second season of the reality show ''[[Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew]]''.<ref>Archive of {{cite web |url=http://blog.vh1.com/2008-06-10/new-slate-of-celebs-check-into-rehab-2-with-dr-drew/ |title=Celebs Check Into Rehab 2 With Dr. Drew |access-date=March 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613005309/http://blog.vh1.com/2008-06-10/new-slate-of-celebs-check-into-rehab-2-with-dr-drew/ |archive-date=June 13, 2008 }}, [[VH!]] [[press release]], June 10, 2008.</ref> In 2009, Busey appeared as a roaster at the [[Comedy Central Roast]] of Larry the Cable Guy.

===Later work===
In a series of 2010 [[YouTube]] advertisements for [[Vitamin Water]], Busey appeared as Norman Tugwater, a lawyer who defends professional athletes' entitlements to a cut from [[Fantasy football (American)|Fantasy Football]] team owners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyer_norman_tugwater_ready_to_sue_for_pro_athletes_fantasy_rights/ |title='Lawyer Norman Tugwater' Ready to Sue for Pro Athletes' Fantasy Rights |date=August 30, 2010 |last=Cassens Weiss |first=Debra |work=[[ABA Journal]] |publisher=[[American Bar Association]]}}</ref> Busey returned to reality television on ''[[The Apprentice (American TV series) season 11|Celebrity Apprentice 4]]'' in 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvdonewright.com/2010/11/celebrity-apprentice-season-four-cast-revealed/ |title=Celebrity Apprentice Season Four Cast Revealed |last=Wright |first=Adam |date=November 18, 2010 |publisher=TVDoneWright.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129202802/http://tvdonewright.com/2010/11/celebrity-apprentice-season-four-cast-revealed/ |archive-date=November 29, 2010 }}</ref> and appeared again in ''[[The Apprentice (American TV series) season 13|Celebrity Apprentice 6]]''. There, he briefly reprised his role as Buddy Holly by performing "Not Fade Away".

In 2014, he became a celebrity spokesperson for [[Amazon Fire TV]]. Also that year, he appeared in, and became the first American winner of ''[[Celebrity Big Brother (British TV series) series 14|Celebrity Big Brother 14]]''. In 2015, he competed on the [[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series) season 21|21st season]] of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (American TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]''. He was paired with professional dancer [[Anna Trebunskaya]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/cast-announcement|title=Dancing with the Stars Season 21 Cast Announcement|work=ABC|date=September 2, 2015|access-date=September 2, 2015}}</ref> Busey and Trebunskaya made it to Week 4 of competition but were then eliminated and finished in 10th place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buddytv.com/articles/dancing-with-the-stars/dancing-with-the-stars-recap-m-57650.aspx|title='Dancing with the Stars' Recap: Most Memorable Years for the Top 10|work=buddytv.com|access-date=October 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824180449/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/dancing-with-the-stars/dancing-with-the-stars-recap-m-57650.aspx|archive-date=August 24, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2019, Busey starred as God in the Off-Broadway musical ''Only Human'' at the Theatre at St. Clements in New York.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Clement |first1=Olivia |title=Gary Busey to Star in Off-Broadway Musical Only Human |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/gary-busey-to-star-in-off-broadway-musical-only-human |website=Playbill.com |access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |title=Gary Busey To Play God In Off Broadway Musical 'Only Human' This Fall |url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/gary-busey-off-broadway-only-human-god-theater-musical-1202633485/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=June 17, 2019 |access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref> The plot of ''Only Human'' reinterprets the story of [[Jesus]] and [[Lucifer]] as co-workers who don't get along, with God as "The Boss".<ref name=":0" /> In a statement on playing God in the upcoming production, he said, "God is everything love is and that love becomes the beginning of blessings and miracles. Playing this role of God is easy because I'm not acting, I'm just believing."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=Gary Busey to Play the Role of God in Off-Broadway Musical |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gary-busey-god-off-broadway-musical-only-human-848334/ |magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 17, 2019 |access-date=August 26, 2019}}</ref>

In the web series ''[[Gary Busey Pet Judge]]'' (2020) he presided as a pet [[court show]] judge to help resolve problems.

==Personal life==
[[File:Gary Busey 2007.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.6|Busey in 2007]]
Busey has three children: [[Jake Busey|Jake]], Alectra, and Luke.<ref>{{cite web|title=First Photos: Gary Busey Introduces Son Luke|author=James Peragine|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2010/05/06/first-photos-gary-busey-introduces-son-luke|access-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816060708/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2010/05/06/first-photos-gary-busey-introduces-son-luke/|archive-date=August 16, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=Noelene |title=Trump supporter Gary Busey's 1-year-old son hospitalized |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/ministry-of-gossip/story/2011-04-21/trump-supporter-gary-buseys-1-year-old-son-hospitalized |access-date=August 21, 2022 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=April 21, 2011}}</ref>

On December 4, 1988, Busey was severely injured in a motorcycle accident in which he was not wearing a helmet. His skull was fractured, and he suffered [[Traumatic brain injury|permanent brain damage]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/2001-07-05-busey-brain-injury.htm|title=Gary Busey ministers to brain injury community|access-date=August 5, 2007|last=Moran|first=W. Reed|date=July 5, 2001|work=USA Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010912213321/https://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/2001-07-05-busey-brain-injury.htm|archive-date=September 12, 2001|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hattenstone |first1=Simon |title=Gary Busey: 'I passed away after brain surgery. Then I came back' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/28/gary-busey-i-passed-away-after-brain-surgery-then-i-came-back |website=The Guardian |date=May 28, 2020 |access-date=June 4, 2023}}</ref>

In 1996, Busey publicly announced that he was a [[Christian]], saying "I am proud to tell Hollywood I am a Christian. For the first time I am now free to be myself."<ref>{{cite web|last=Cramberg|first=Joanne|title=Tulsa's 'Bad Boy' Gary Busey Accepts Jesus|url=http://www.connectionmagazine.org/archives_old/largeset/badboy.htm|access-date=April 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Virtue|first=David|title=Rescued From The Present Evil Age|url=http://listserv.virtueonline.org/pipermail/virtueonline_listserv.virtueonline.org/2000-September/001610.html|access-date=April 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304133832/http://listserv.virtueonline.org/pipermail/virtueonline_listserv.virtueonline.org/2000-September/001610.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> He cites the motorcycle accident and a 1995 [[cocaine overdose]] as events that strengthened his Christian faith.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gary-busey-cocaine-motorc_n_4538289|title=Gary Busey On His Life-Changing Cocaine Overdose And Motorcycle Accident (VIDEO)|publisher=[[HuffPost]]/[[Oprah Winfrey Network]]|date=January 21, 2014|access-date=July 24, 2016}}</ref>

In 1997, Busey underwent successful surgery to remove a plum-sized cancerous tumor from his sinus cavity. The growth was found after he began suffering nose bleeds.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johns |first1=Elizabeth |title=Gary Busey Heads for Cancer Surgery |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/34581/gary-busey-heads-for-cancer-surgery |website=E! Online |access-date=February 24, 2020 |date=May 22, 1997}}</ref>

During the filming of the second season of ''[[Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew#Season 2|Celebrity Rehab]]'' in 2008, Busey was referred to psychiatrist [[Charles Sophy]]. Sophy suspected that Busey's brain injury had had a greater effect on him than was realized. He described it as essentially weakening Busey's mental "filters", which led him to speak and act impulsively. Sophy recommended Busey take [[valproic acid]] (Depakote), and Busey agreed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/Celebrity_rehab_2_with_dr_drew/144584/episode_about.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030065813/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/Celebrity_rehab_2_with_dr_drew/144584/episode_about.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 30, 2008|title=Celebrity Rehab 2 with Dr. Drew (Episode 2)|access-date=March 26, 2009}}</ref>

In 2011, Busey endorsed [[Newt Gingrich]] during Gingrich's [[Newt Gingrich 2012 presidential campaign|2012 presidential campaign]], but later withdrew his endorsement. In 2015, he endorsed [[Donald Trump]] for the [[2016 United States Presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kurtz|first=Judy|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/253702-trump-locks-up-gary-busey-endorsement/|title=Trump locks up Gary Busey endorsement|work=The Hill|date=September 15, 2015}}</ref> After the election, Busey said he was "very happy" that Trump had won, but declined to further discuss it, not wanting to talk about politics.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kennedy|first=Mark|url=https://apnews.com/article/1b5ea4594c3045fda882f6b9f1cecb3d|title=Gary Busey talks about acting, Donald Trump and greased pigs|work=Associated Press|date=November 22, 2016}}</ref>

In 2022, Busey was accused of groping two women during a convention appearance in [[Cherry Hill, New Jersey]]. On July 31, 2025, he pleaded guilty to one count of criminal sexual contact.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pelisek |first1=Christine |last2=Juneau |first2=Jen |date=August 1, 2022 |title=Gary Busey charged with sex offenses after alleged groping incident at horror film convention |url=https://people.com/gary-busey-pleads-guilty-sex-crime-not-accidental-11783462 |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=People}}</ref> He was sentenced on September 18, 2025, to two years' probation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Phillipp |first=Charlotte |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Gary Busey sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to sex crime at 2022 horror convention |url=https://people.com/gary-busey-sentenced-probation-sex-crime-2022-horror-convention-11814259 |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=People}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{{main|Gary Busey filmography}}

===Selected filmography===
{{div col}}
* ''[[Wild in the Streets]]'' (1968)
* ''[[Angels Hard as They Come]]'' (1971)
* ''[[The Magnificent Seven Ride!]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Dirty Little Billy]]'' (1972)
* ''[[The Last American Hero]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Hex (1973 film)|Hex]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Thunderbolt and Lightfoot]]'' (1974)
* ''[[The Gumball Rally]]'' (1976)
* ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star Is Born]]''  (1976)
* ''[[Straight Time]]'' (1978)
* ''[[The Buddy Holly Story]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Big Wednesday]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Carny (1980 film)|Carny]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Foolin' Around]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Barbarosa]]'' (1982)
* ''[[D.C. Cab]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Insignificance (film)|Insignificance]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Silver Bullet (film)|Silver Bullet]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Eye of the Tiger (film)|Eye of the Tiger]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Lethal Weapon]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Predator 2]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Point Break]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Under Siege]]'' (1992)
* ''[[The Firm (1993 film)|The Firm]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Rookie of the Year (film)|Rookie of the Year]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Surviving the Game]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Drop Zone (film)|Drop Zone]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Black Sheep (1996 film)|Black Sheep]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Lost Highway (film)|Lost Highway]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Soldier (1998 American film)|Soldier]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (film)|Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Hot Boyz (film)|Hot Boyz]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Quigley (film)|Quigley]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Piranha 3DD]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Entourage (film)|Entourage]]'' (2015)
{{div col end}}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Work
! Result
|-
|rowspan=3|1978
|rowspan=2|[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]]
|[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|rowspan=7|''The Buddy Holly Story''
| {{draw|3rd place}}
|-
|New Generation Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oscarsijmen.freehostia.com/LAFCA70.htm|title=Los Angeles Film Critics Association}}</ref>
|{{won}}
|-
|[[New York Film Critics Circle]]
|[[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| {{draw|2nd place}}
|-
|rowspan=3|1979
|[[Academy Awards]]
|[[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor in a Leading Role]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Golden Globe Awards]]
|[[36th Golden Globe Awards#Best Actor - Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture Actor – Musical/Comedy]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[National Society of Film Critics]]
|[[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|{{won}}
|-
|1980
|[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]]
|[[BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles|Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|1987
|rowspan=2|[[CableACE Awards]]
|rowspan=2|Actor in a Dramatic Series
|''The Hitchhiker''
|{{won}}
|-
|1994
|''Fallen Angels''
|{{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Gary Busey}}
* {{IMDb name|997}}

{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor}}
{{Big Brother UK}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Busey, Gary}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:BAFTA winners (people)]]
[[Category:California Republicans]]
[[Category:Christians from Texas]]
[[Category:Coffeyville Community College alumni]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:Male actors from Tulsa, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Male actors from Harris County, Texas]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:People from Baytown, Texas]]
[[Category:People with traumatic brain injuries]]
[[Category:Pittsburg State University alumni]]
[[Category:Big Brother (British TV series) winners]]
[[Category:Nathan Hale High School alumni]]
[[Category:Male actors from Oklahoma]]