What is Gary Busey's Net Worth and Salary?
Gary Busey is an American film and stage actor with a net worth of $500 thousand. Gary is renowned for his roles in movies such as The Buddy Holly Story, The Firm, Lost Highway, Point Break, and Black Sheep. He has also graced television screens in shows like Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage. His unpredictable persona has been a highlight in reality TV shows like Celebrity Apprentice and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.
Financial Problems
In 2008, Gary faced eviction from his Malibu rental due to unpaid rent. His financial struggles continued, leading to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing on February 6, 2012, where he cited debts exceeding $500,000. Creditors included the IRS, Wells Fargo, and UCLA Medical Center.
(Photo by Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage)
Early Life
William Gary Busey was born on June 29, 1944, in Goose Creek, Texas. His family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he attended Bell Junior High and Nathan Hale High School. Busey enrolled in a community college in Kansas before transferring to Pittsburg State University on a football scholarship. A knee injury ended his football career, prompting a transfer to Oklahoma State University, where he became interested in acting.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Career
Busey began his entertainment career as a drummer in bands during the 1960s and 70s. He made his film debut in 1974 with a supporting role in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. His breakthrough came in 1978 with The Buddy Holly Story, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He spent the 1980s featuring in films like Silver Bullet, Insignificance, and Lethal Weapon, portraying antagonistic roles.
In the 1990s, Busey appeared in blockbuster films including Point Break, Predator 2, and The Firm. The 2000s saw him in I'm With Busey and voicing himself on The Simpsons. He also lent his voice to the video game Grand Theft Auto. His controversial role in the Turkish film Valley of the Wolves sparked accusations of anti-American sentiments.
Reality TV became his platform in the late 2000s, with appearances on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Celebrity Apprentice, and winning the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother in 2014. He also participated in the 21st season of Dancing with the Stars in 2015. In 2019, Busey took the role of God in the Off-Broadway musical Only Human. In 2020, he starred in the Amazon Prime show Gary Busey: Pet Judge, a scripted court show about pet disputes.
Getty
Personal Life
Busey married Judy Helkenberg, with whom he has a son, Jake Busey, born in 1971, who followed in his father's acting footsteps. The couple divorced in 1990. Gary also has a daughter, Alectra, from a previous relationship, and a son, Luke, born to his current wife, Steffanie Sampson, in 2010.
Jake Busey and Gary Busey circa 1980s (Photo by Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty Images)
In 1988, Busey suffered a severe motorcycle accident, fracturing his skull. This led to significant brain surgery, during which he claims to have had a near-death experience. In 1997, he had a cancerous sinus tumor removed, leaving him without sinuses or tear ducts. Busey overcame a cocaine addiction in the late 1980s and early 1990s after an overdose in 1990.
Real Estate
Gary Busey has long been a resident of Malibu, California, where he is often seen going about his daily activities.
