| Full Name | William "Bill" Paxton |
| Birthdate | May 17, 1955 |
| Birth Place | Fort Worth, Texas, United States |
| Death Date | February 25, 2017 |
| Age at Death | 61 years |
| Height | 6‘ 0" |
| Net Worth | $40 million |
| @BillPaxton | |
| @therealbillpaxton |
William "Bill" Paxton was an American actor and filmmaker known for movies like Weird Science, Aliens, Apollo 13, and Titanic. With an acting career spanning four decades, Paxton established himself as one of Hollywood‘s most prolific supporting stars.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on May 17, 1955 in Fort Worth, Texas, Bill Paxton developed a passion for film at a young age. In Los Angeles, he started out with small roles in B-movies and on TV while studying acting. His first big break came playing a punk in 1984‘s The Terminator, directed by a little known filmmaker named James Cameron. This marked the beginning of a collaborative relationship between Paxton and Cameron.
Rise to Fame in the 1980s
After being cast in The Terminator, Paxton reached new heights playing Private Hudson in Cameron‘s 1986 sequel Aliens. His panicked yet humorous performance became iconic. Paxton spent the late 80s starring in diverse films like Near Dark (1987), Navy Seals (1990), and Predator 2 (1990).
Transition to Directing in the 1990s
In the 1990s, Paxton continued acting while starting to move behind the camera. He made his directorial debut in 2001 with the thriller Frailty. Some of his most memorable 90s acting roles included Tombstone (1993), True Lies (1994), and Twister (1996).
Iconic Role in Titanic
Paxton once again teamed up with director James Cameron in the 1997 blockbuster Titanic. As treasure hunter Brock Lovett, Paxton delivered an endlessly curious and compassionate performance. Beyond acting, he helped Cameron behind the scenes and filmed an actual documentary about their deep sea exploration of the real Titanic wreck.
Later Films and Television
After Titanic, Paxton continued balancing acting and directing. Some projects included the golf film The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) and the HBO series Big Love (2006-2011). On the acting side, one of Paxton‘s last roles was in 2014‘s Edge of Tomorrow.
Death and Legacy
On February 25, 2017, Bill Paxton passed away at age 61 due to complications following heart surgery. He had already filmed his part as a new character in 2019‘s Terminator: Dark Fate before his death. With his passion, versatility, and humor, Paxton created many iconic characterizations that will continue entertaining audiences for decades to come.