Who is Michael Nesmith? Find Net Worth, Quote, Awards, Fact, Wiki

Michael Nesmith Wiki Biography

Michael Nesmith was born on the 30th December 1942, in Houston, Texas USA. He is a musician, songwriter, actor, producer, novelist, businessman, and philanthropist, but he’s probably still best known as a member of the rock band “The Monkees”; Nesmith was also a co-star in the TV show “The Monkees” (1966-1968), and being part of a very popular band that sold millions of albums significantly increased his wealth. His career started in 1965.

Have you ever wondered how rich Michael Nesmith is, as of mid-2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Nesmith’s net worth is $50 million, most accumulated as a musician, but he also works as a producer, novelist, and businessman which also adds to his net worth.

 

Michael Nesmith Net Worth $50 Million

Robert Michael Nesmith was the only child of Warren Audrey Nesmith and Bette Nesmith Graham, but they divorced when he was just four. His mother invented a typewriter correction fluid when Nesmith was 13 and later sold the company to Gillette for $48 million which certainly eventually helped Michael in increasing his wealth.

Nesmith attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, where he participated in drama and choral activities, however, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1960 without even graduating from the high school. Nesmith was trained to be an aircraft mechanic, and got his G.E.D., but discharged in 1962. He decided to continue with studying, so he enrolled in San Antonio community college, where he met John Kuehne, and the pair began a musical collaboration. Nesmith also met Phyllis Ann Barbour there, and they married in 1963, before moving to Los Angeles so Nesmith could pursue a musical career.

Nesmith was cast in the role of guitarist Mike in TV series “The Monkees” in 1965, and that role changed his life. The series aired from 1965 to 1968, but he continued to perform with the band afterwards. He subsequently formed the band called “First National Band” in 1969, along with his old friend Kuehne, Red Rhodes, and John Ware. A pioneer of the country-rock genre, “First National Band” had a hit single in 1970 titled “Joanne”, which reached No. 21 on the Billboard Top 40. In 1972, Nesmith co-founded the record label “Countryside Records” with Jac Holzman, the ownership of which significantly added to his net worth.

He was the member of “The Monkees” from 1965 to 1970, but he reunited with the rest of the band members several times, and participated on ten out of band’s twelve albums. Following his departure from “The Monkees”, Nesmith was involved in producing, having worked with Iain Matthews and Bert Jansch among others in the early ’70’s. A few years later, Nesmith collaborated with songwriter Linda Hargrove. He also produced some notable music videos such as Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” in 1983, and Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” in 1987. He won the Grammy for the Video of the Year “Elephant Parts” in 1981.

Nesmith had a concert tour in America to promote his album “Live at the Britt Festival” in 1992, and released both video and CD by the same name. Nesmith has recorded 13 solo studio albums, an instrumental album with his music, and a movie soundtrack. He has also appeared in several films, including Whoopi Goldbergs’ “Burglar” in 1987, and “Tapeheads” (1988), starring John Cusack and Tim Robbins. Nesmith has published two novels as well: “The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora” in 1998, and “The America Gene” in 2009. Most recently, Nesmith briefly reunited with the former members of “The Monkees” for the band’s 50th anniversary.

Regarding his personal life, Nesmith was married to Phyllis Ann Barbour from 1963 to 1972; they have two sons and a daughter. Nesmith has another son, Jason, born from his relationship with Nurit Wilde in 1968. He married Kathryn Bild in 1976, but they divorced on 1988. His third  marriage was with Victoria Kennedy from 2000 to 2011.



Full Name Michael Nesmith
Net Worth $50 Million
Date Of Birth December 30, 1942
Place Of Birth Houston, Texas, United States
Height 6′ 1″
Profession Songwriter, Singer, Musician, Actor, Guitarist, Author, Screenwriter, Film Producer, Film Score Composer, Film director
Education Thomas Jefferson High School (Dallas), San Antonio College, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Nationality American
Spouse Victoria Kennedy (m. 2000), Kathryn Bild (m. 1976–1988), Phyllis Barbour Nesmith (m. 1963–1972)
Children Christian Nesmith, Jason Nesmith, Jessica Nesmith, Jonathan Nesmith
Parents Warren Nesmith, Bette Nesmith Graham
Nicknames Robert Michael Nesmith , Nesmith, Michael , Wool Hat , Nez , Papa Nez , Mike , Mike Nesmith , The Monkees , Woolhat
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/michaelnesmith
Twitter https://twitter.com/michaelnesmith
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nesmithmichael/
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0626452/
Allmusic www.allmusic.com/artist/michael-nesmith-mn0000463435
Awards Grammy Award for Video of the Year (1981), Ernie Kovacs Awar (2016)
Record Labels First National Band
Albums “Headquarters” (1967), “Pretty Much Your Standard Stash” (1973), “Live at the Palais” (1978), “Tropical Campfires” (1992), “Justus” (1996), “Good Times!” (2016)
Music Groups The Monkees (Since 1966), Michael Nesmith & The 1st National Band (1969)
Nominations Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (1989)
Movies “Repo Man” (1984), “Burglar” (1987), “Head” (1968), “Tapeheads” (1988), “Timerider: The Adventures of Lyle Swann” (1982)
TV Shows The Monkees (1966–1968), “Popclips” (1977), “Elephant Parts” (1981), “Television Parts” (1985), “Hey, Hey, It’s the Monkees” (1997), “Portlandia” (2014), “Live at the Britt Festival” (1991)
Trademark
1 During the early days of The Monkees was never seen without his woolhat
Title Salary
The Monkees (1966) $450 /episode
Quote
1 I’m clearly in my endgame. I mean, we’re not talking about deciding to do something else. We’re talking about dying. [Laughs] So I don’t know. Who knows where that is? That’s somewhere . . . that door is coming up. I can’t make it out on the horizon just yet. But at a certain point it’s going to be time for me to say, “Eh, I think I’ll lay down.”
2 [on the death of fellow Monkee Davy Jones] David’s spirit and soul live well in my heart, among all the lovely people, who remember with me the good times, and the healing times, that were created for so many, including us. I have fond memories. I wish him safe travels.
3 [about his famous wool hat] “It had a life of its own. I used to take it off and put it in a little house, feed it . . . “
4 [describing his financial slump, after paying a huge default to leave The Monkees in 1969] “I had to start telling little tales to the tax man while they were putting tags on the furniture.”
5 [As to why he didn’t rejoin The Monkees when Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones re-formed the group, c. 1986] “It would be kind of like Ronald Reagan making another movie.”
Fact
1 He has started a small video game development company in Monterey called Zoomo Productions. [April 2005]
2 He is finishing his latest album called “Rays”, and is deciding whether to distribute it as mp3 files through his online store or as CD singles. [January 2004]
3 He is currently living on the Monterey Peninsula in California. He just finished his second novel, “The America Gene”. [April 2005]
4 Directing movie “Fried Pies,” and working on second novel. [November 2000]
5 Working on a book “The Long Sandy Hair of Neftoon Zamora” [1998]
6 The Monkees have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6675 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
7 His first professional recording (under the pseudonym “Michael Blessing”) was a folk music single entitled “What Seems To Be the Problem, Officer?”
8 Shares a birthday with fellow Monkee Davy Jones.
9 Continues to be active in all media including video games, on line delivery of media, and is an avid golfer.
10 He has an on line store called videoranch.com that allows customers to buy his works straight from him. Products include CDs, DVDs, and music downloads.
11 Was often referred to by The Monkees staff as “Wool Hat”.
12 He was was invited to the famous orchestral session for “A Day In The Life” by John Lennon.
13 Was the only Monkee who’d actually seen the initial trades ad for the show’s casting.
14 Arrived for his first interview for The Monkees wearing a wool cap, to keep the hair out of his eyes while driving his motorcycle around town (Nesmith also carried a bag of laundry, to be done at a nearby laundromat on his way home). Producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider remembered him as “Wool Hat”; they wanted to name his Monkees character that, but Nesmith refused.
15 Had actually been “labelmates” with Davy Jones earlier, as both were signed to the Colpix Records label (Nesmith recorded as “Michael Blessing”), though they’d apparently never met. While Jones had released a modestly successful LP and single by 1965, Nesmith’s two singles hadn’t gotten far past the promotional stage. The Colpix label (belonging to Columbia Pictures, and controlled by Screen Gems) was dissolved in 1966, to make way for the new Colgems label–with The Monkees as its centerpiece.
16 Had published several songs through different companies before signing his contracts for The Monkees; Nesmith’s “Mary, Mary” had already been a hit for the Butterfield Blues Band. With Nesmith signed to Screen Gems as a songwriter, the company next bought up Nesmith’s earlier publishing, so his songs could be used for the Monkees.
17 Inherited half his mother’s $50 million estate from the sale of Liquid Paper; the rest finances a private think tank.
18 During the 1980s he built up the largest non-theatrical home video catalog in the world called Pacific Arts Corporation. It owned rights to everything from Koyaanisqatsi (1982) to The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau (1968) to Ken Burns The Civil War (1990). Pacific Arts licensed the right to use the PBS logo on the titles in its catalog which had been aired on PBS, and developed the PBS Home Video label. The venture ended in a lawsuit with PBS that resulted in a six-week trial in federal court. A jury unanimously found PBS liable for intentional misrepresentation, intentional concealment, negligent misrepresentation, intentional interference with Pac Arts’ contractual relations with the program producers and in breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. They awarded Pacific Arts and Nesmith real and punitive damages totaling more than $47,000,000. PBS and Nesmith subsequently settled for an undisclosed sum.
19 Gave up taking the “A” side of the first single actually performed by The Monkees, instead choosing friend Bill Martin’s song “All Of Your Toys”, which Nesmith believed would be a bigger hit. A publishing snag kept “Toys” from being released (until the late 1980s), but Nesmith’s “B” side, “The Girl I Knew Somewhere”, backed their next single – Neil Diamond’s “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You”.
20 Penned the Stone Poneys’ hit “Different Drum.” Linda Ronstadt sang the lead.
21 Invented the idea for what became MTV. Sold the idea to Time-Warner and created a proof of concept for 24 hour music television in the form of 6 half hour shows called “Pop Clips”. Time-Warner aired Popclips on Nickelodeon Channel for testing and it was an instant hit. Nesmith moved on to other projects after the testing phase as he did not wish to be involved in managing a television network.
22 Michael spent fourteen months in the U.S. Air Force where he tipped over a general’s airplane while cleaning it.
23 Michael’s mother, Bette Nesmith, was a legal secretary in Houston, Texas. Due to her hobby of painting, she came up with the idea and invented Liquid Paper typing correction fluid and made an enormous fortune overnight.
24 “Elephant Parts” won the first Grammy for a video record.
25 He has four kids: Christian, Jonathan, Jason, and Jessica.

Soundtrack

Title Year Status Character
The 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2014 TV Movie “Different Drum” , “Different Drum”, uncredited
Seven Psychopaths 2012 writer: “Different Drum”
Breaking Bad 2012 TV Series writer – 1 episode
Straw Dogs 2011 writer: “Goin’ Down”
Poppies 2011 Video performer: “Joanne” / writer: “Joanne”
The Wrecking Crew! 2008 Documentary writer: “Mary Mary”
The Heartbreak Kid 2007 writer: “Different Drum”
It’s All Gone Pete Tong 2004 writer: “Different Dream” – as Nesmith
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story 2004 writer: “Different Drum”
The Monkees: Live Summer Tour 2002 Video writer: “The Girl I Knew Somewhere”, “Mary Mary”, “Goin’ Down”
Things Behind the Sun 2001 writer: “The Girl I Knew Somewhere”
Daydream Believer 1998 Short writer: “Papa Gene’s Blues” – as Mike Nesmith
Mystery Science Theater 3000 1997 TV Series writer – 1 episode
Hey, Hey, It’s the Monkees 1997 TV Movie lyrics: “Circle Sky” / music: “Circle Sky”
Hey, Hey We’re the Monkees 1997 TV Movie documentary performer: “Until it’s time for you to go” – as Michael Blessing / producer: “Listen to the band”, “Mary, Mary”, “Circle Sky” / writer: “Listen to the band”, “Mary, Mary”, “No Time”, “Circle Sky”
Nesmith Live 1992 Video producer: “Yellow Butterfly”, “Laugh Kills Lonesome”, “Moon Over The Rio Grande”, “Papa Gene’s Blues”, “Two Different Roads”, “Joanne”, “Tomorrow And Me”, “The Upside Of Good-bye”, “Juliana”, “Some Of Shelly’s Blues”, “I Am Not That”, “Propinquity”, “Harmony Constant”, “Silver Moon”, “Rising In Love”, “Rio”, “Different Drum”, “I Am Not That Reprise” / writer: “Yellow Butterfly”, “Laugh Kills Lonesome”, “Moon Over The Rio Grande”, “Papa Gene’s Blues”, “Two Different Roads”, “Joanne”, “Tomor
Peter’s Friends 1992 performer: “Rio” / writer: “Rio”
Television Parts Home Companion 1985 Video short arranger: “Eldorado to the Moon” / performer: “Eldorado to the Moon”, “Chow Mein & Bowling”, “I’ll Remember You” / producer: “Eldorado to the Moon” / writer: “I’ll Remember You”
Elephant Parts 1981 Video performer: “Cruisin'”, “Magic”, “Tonight”, “Light”, “Rio” / producer: “Cruisin'”, “Magic”, “Tonight”, “Light”, “Rio” / writer: “Cruisin'”, “Magic”, “Tonight”, “Light”, “Rio”
Starsky and Hutch 1977 TV Series writer – 1 episode
Scarecrow 1973 performer: “Silver Moon” / writer: “Silver Moon”
The Johnny Cash Show 1969 TV Series writer – 1 episode
33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee 1969 TV Movie performer: “Naked Persimmon The Only Thing I Believe Is True” / writer: “Naked Persimmon The Only Thing I Believe Is True”, “Listen To The Band”
Head 1968 writer: “Circle Sky”
The Monkees TV Series writer – 29 episodes, 1966 – 1968 producer – 13 episodes, 1966 – 1967 performer – 6 episodes, 1966 – 1968

Actor

Title Year Status Character
Portlandia 2014 TV Series
Hey, Hey, It’s the Monkees 1997 TV Movie Mike
Tapeheads 1988 Water Man
Burglar 1987 Cabbie
Michael Nesmith in Television Parts 1985 TV Series Host
An All Consuming Passion 1984 Video Academy Award Presenter
Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann 1982 Race Official (uncredited)
An Evening with Sir William Martin 1981 Video short Foyer the Butler
Saturday Night Live 1981 TV Series Man in Foreign Film / The Man with the Black Hat
Head 1968 Mike
The Monkees 1966-1968 TV Series Mike Frank Zappa

Producer

Title Year Status Character
The Lionel Richie Collection 2003 Video documentary producer – segment “All Night Long”
Hey, Hey, It’s the Monkees 1997 TV Movie executive producer
Tapeheads 1988 executive producer
Square Dance 1987 producer – uncredited
Doctor Duck’s Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce 1986 Video executive producer
Television Parts 1985 TV Movie executive producer
Television Parts Home Companion 1985 Video short executive producer
Repo Man 1984 executive producer
Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann 1982 producer – uncredited
An Evening with Sir William Martin 1981 Video short executive producer
Elephant Parts 1981 Video executive producer

Writer

Title Year Status Character
Hey, Hey, It’s the Monkees 1997 TV Movie written by
Doctor Duck’s Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce 1986 Video
Television Parts Home Companion 1985 Video short
Playboy Video Magazine, Vol. 1 1983 TV Series documentary additional material
Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann 1982 written by
An Evening with Sir William Martin 1981 Video short
Elephant Parts 1981 Video written by
Head 1968 uncredited

Music Department

Title Year Status Character
Run-DMC: Together Forever – Greatest Hits 1983-2000 2000 Video composer: song “Mary, Mary”
Nesmith Live 1992 Video musician: guitar/lead vocals
Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann 1982 music arranger / musician: guitar
Elephant Parts 1981 Video lyrical composer: songs / music composer: songs / musician: guitar

Composer

Title Year Status Character
The Guys Who Wrote ‘Em 2014 Documentary completed
Nesmith Live 1992 Video
Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann 1982
Northville Cemetery Massacre 1976

Miscellaneous

Title Year Status Character
Tapeheads 1988 presenter
Square Dance 1987 presenter
Repo Man 1984 presenter
Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann 1982 presenter

Director

Title Year Status Character
Hey, Hey, It’s the Monkees 1997 TV Movie
Doctor Duck’s Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce 1986 Video uncredited
Saturday Night Live 1981 TV Series 1 episode

Thanks

Title Year Status Character
Daydream Believer 1998 Short very special thanks

Self

Title Year Status Character
Breakfast News 1997 TV Series Himself
This Morning 1997 TV Series Himself
Hey Hey We’re the Monkees 1996 Video Game Himself
Later 1994 TV Series Himself
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor 1993 TV Special documentary Himself (uncredited)
Showbiz Today 1987-1993 TV Series Himself
Austin City Limits 1993 TV Series documentary Himself
Nesmith Live 1992 Video Himself
Crook & Chase 1989-1990 TV Series Himself
Headline News 1989 TV Series Himself
Good Morning America 1986 TV Series Himself
Entertainment Tonight 1985-1986 TV Series Himself
MTV Video Music Awards 1986 1986 TV Special Himself – Performer (as The Monkees)
Doctor Duck’s Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce 1986 Video Himself – Player
Television Parts 1985 TV Movie Himself
Television Parts Home Companion 1985 Video short Himself – Player
Late Night with David Letterman 1983 TV Series Himself
Elephant Parts 1981 Video Himself – Player
Rock Concert 1979-1980 TV Series Himself
Top of the Pops 1967-1977 TV Series Himself / Himself – Guest
The David Frost Show 1971 TV Series Himself
New American Bandstand 1965 1966-1971 TV Series Himself
Laugh-In 1969 TV Series Himself – Guest Performer
The Johnny Cash Show 1969 TV Series Himself – Singer
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1969 TV Series Himself
The Joey Bishop Show 1968-1969 TV Series Himself
33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee 1969 TV Movie Himself – Monkee #3
It’s Happening 1969 TV Series Himself
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour 1969 TV Series Himself
The Hollywood Squares 1968 TV Series Himself
Dream Girl of ’67 1967 TV Series Himself – Bachelor Judge
The 19th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1967 TV Special Himself
The Lloyd Thaxton Show 1965 TV Series Himself
Untitled Story of MTV Documentary 2017 Documentary filming Himself
The Guys Who Wrote ‘Em 2014 Documentary completed Mike (voice)
Making of ‘Timerider’ 2013 Video short Himself
The 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2012 TV Movie Himself
Behind the Music 2000 TV Series documentary Himself
E! True Hollywood Story 1999 TV Series documentary Himself
Today 1966-1999 TV Series Himself
KTLA Morning News 1999 TV Series Himself
The Big Breakfast 1997 TV Series Himself
Hey, Hey We’re the Monkees 1997 TV Movie documentary Himself
Noel’s House Party 1997 TV Series Himself

Archive Footage

Title Year Status Character
The Sixties 2014 TV Mini-Series documentary Mike
Biography 2007-2012 TV Series documentary Himself
The Wrecking Crew! 2008 Documentary Mike
Making the Monkees 2007 TV Movie documentary Himself
Mayor of the Sunset Strip 2003 Documentary Himself
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘N’ Roll Generation Saved Hollywood 2003 Documentary Himself
Hendrix 2000 TV Movie Himself (leaves plane) (uncredited)
Daydream Believer 1998 Short Himself (uncredited)
Hide and Seek 1997 TV Movie Himself (uncredited)
The Beatles Anthology 1995 TV Mini-Series documentary Himself
Heart and Soul 1988 Documentary short
NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration 1986 TV Special documentary Himself
The Monkees 1967 TV Series Mike

Won Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
1983 Best Screenplay Fantafestival Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982)

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