This legendary actor is unrecognizable from his 1970s heartthrob days

“After Civil Rights, it was very awkward for whites and blacks. We didn’t know how to talk to each other.”

In the 1990s, Nolte’s career peaked. As a true A-lister, he made millions of dollars and became one of the most respected actors in the industry.

His career in film and TV speaks volumes for themselves – but in the 2000s, the focus shifted, and Nolte became synonymous with other things.

He certainly lived up to his reputation as one of Hollywood’s enduring bad boys. The unpredictable actor suffered personal problems, went through three divorces, and was arrested on several occasions.

The three-time Academy Award nominee went from being Hollywood’s ‘sexiest man alive’ to being splashed across the world in an unforgettable photo taken by police.

Since 2002, though, Nick has been sober.

”I was at a low point and I got slack,” Nolte has said.

“I drank in order to deal with anything I found difficult – relationships, failed projects – using alcohol even as a tonic against loneliness and the ironic kind of isolation that celebrity often brings.”

In recent years, Nolte has mostly appeared in smaller supporting roles – and he looks so much different from his famous Hollywood days.