Nicholas King Nolte was born on February 8, 1941, in Omaha, Nebraska. Growing up in a middle-class family, Nolte was the son of Franklin Arthur Nolte, a traveling salesman, and Helen King Nolte, a department store buyer with expertise in antiques.
With a diverse ancestry that includes German, English, Scottish, and Swiss-German roots, Nolte’s early life was marked by a blend of cultural influences.