Spotlight On: Woody Harrelson

Haymitch Abernathy is the latest in a long list of great performances from Woody Harrelson. As 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1' is set to kick off the final chapter of the series, let's revisit some of the actor's most memorable roles.

The actor earned an Emmy Award (along with 5 consecutive nominations) for his breakout role as the loveable, dimiwitted bartender Woody Boyd. After his eight-year run on the iconic sitcom, Harrelson was poised to find success on the big screen. 

This 1986 football comedy, starring Goldie Hawn, gave Harrelson not only his first major big screen role, but also his first appearance opposite an actor he would repeatedly share the screen with: Wesley Snipes. 

Harrelson delivers a hysterical performance in this underrated Michael J. Fox comedy. He also delivers his most ironic line of dialogue ever -- at one point, his dim-witted Hank Gordon says, "I don't trust a man who doesn't eat meat." In real life, Woody Harrelson is a vegan.

Hustler Billy Hoyle (Harrelson) plays a good game on the basketball courts of Los Angeles in this successful 1992 comedy, which reunited the actor with Wesley Snipes. And yes, the two stars did most of their own "stunts" shooting impressive shots for the film's basketball sequences. 

Known for comedy up until this film, his portrayal of a psychopathic serial murderer in Oliver Stone's polarizing film was no laughing matter. Harrelson is absolutely gripping in his most controversial role, which definitely is one of this Top 5 all-time performances. 

As bad-luck-bowler Roy Munson, Harrelson roles strikes and gutters opposite Bill Murray in this underrated comedy from the Farrley Brothers. You don't want to get "Munson'd" and miss out on seeing this very funny film. 

Playing Larry Flynt, the controversial founder of 'Hustler Magazine,' earned Harrelson is first Oscar nomination for Best Actor. The movie gave him another reward as well, the chance to work with his real-life brother, Brett, who played his “movie brother” Jimmy Flynt.

Bounty hunter Carson Wells (Harrelson) is the guy everyone calls when they want to “control” a situation. That situation goes fatally wrong for Wells in this tense, slow-burn thriller from the Coen Brothers, based on Cormac McCarthy's novel of the same name. While Javier Bardem won an Oscar for his role as fatalist killer Anton Chigurh, attention must be paid to another fine performance from Harrelson. 

The actor returns to basketball in this comedy, starring opposite Will Farrell and lots of 1970s basketball short-shorts. There are worse guilty pleasures out there. 

Before 'Hunger Games,' this zombie action comedy was Harrelson's most commerical project. He plays the Twinkie-obsessed Tallahassee, struggling to survive the titular wasteland with a very funny Emma Stone and Jesse Eisenberg in tow.  

As Captain Tony Stone, a recovering alcoholic Army officer charged with informing families that they lost a loved one who was serving their country, Harrelson delivers a riveting performance -- one that earned him his second Oscar nomination. (This time, it was for Best Supporting Actor.)   

Harrelson reunites with his 'The Messenger' director to play a very dangerous LA beat cop in this compelling drama, inspired by the real-life "Rampart" police scandal. Fans of the actor will be proud to know that he appears in every one of the film's scenes. 

Reprising his role from the first two 'Hunger Games' films, Harrelson returns to play Haymitch, who must help Katniss lead a revolution against President Snow in the much-anticipated film. The actor was initially quite hesitant to accept the role, and fans are glad he changed his mind, as it's hard to imaging anyone else in this iconic role.