I never felt comfortable in real life very well. It's always been an awkward kind of thing for me and so when I hit the stage I just sensed freedom. I sensed here's a place that I can have all the experiences of life and not feel uncomfortable about it.

A young officer asked Nolte if he could take a Polaroid of him. On October 3 2007 his longtime partner Clytie Lane gave birth to their daughter Sophie Lane Nolte. In 1973 he appeared in Lorne Greene's ABC crime drama Griff in the episode "Who Framed Billy the Kid?" in the role of Billy Randolph a football player accused of murder.

(1982) Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986) Another 48 Hrs. His films include The Deep (1977) 48 Hrs. (1990) The Prince of Tides (1991) Cape Fear (1991) Lorenzo's Oil (1992) Affliction (1997) The Thin Red Line (1998) The Good Thief (2003) and Warrior (2011).