Family
- grandfather : Paternal grandfather; owned a farm in Iowa
- grandmother : Maternal grandmother; head of the student union at Iowa State
- father Frank Nolte: All-American candidate at Iowa State in 1934
- mother Helen Nolte:
- sister Nancy Nolte: Works with the Red Cross
- son Brawley King Nolte: Born in 1986; mother Becky Linger; acted with father in "Mother Night" (1996)
Companions
- Debra Winger: had relationship while the two were starring in "Cannery Row" (1982)
- Karen Louise Eklund: together for seven years; sued Nolte for palimony in 1977; suit settled out of court
- Vicki Lewis: met during the filming of "I'll Do Anything"; together from 1994
- Companion Clytie Lane: Longtime girlfriend; gave birth to their daughter (name to be announced) on Oct. 3, 2007
