Bill Paxton starred in “Aliens”, “Titanic” and “Apollo 13”, he made his directorial debut in 2001 with “Dämonic” (Frailty). Now the American actor has died at the age of 61 after heart surgery.
Paxton starred in a thousand classics and specialized in badasses and lunatics, his most famous genre appearances being Private Hudson in Aliens and the blue-haired punk in The Terminator. No wonder, as he was one of director James Cameron's favorite actors, who repeatedly hired him for his big projects. The Texas native was nominated for a total of three Golden Globes, including for his performance in the series “Big Love”. In 2001 he made his directorial debut with the dark film “Frailty”, in which he and Matthew McConaughey played the main roles.
Paxton was born in Fort Worth, Texas to Mary Lou and John Lane Paxton. At the age of 18 he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a decorator and set assistant. Two years later, he appeared in front of the camera for the first time in the 1975 film “Crazy Mama”. A little later he moved to New York, where he studied acting with Stella Adler (Studio Of Acting in NYC). During his time as a student, he found numerous smaller engagements in television productions and also wrote and produced short films. His real breakthrough came in 1992 with the film “One False Move”. In 1994 Paxton was seen as a windy car salesman in “True Lies” and in 1995 as an astronaut in “Apollo 13” alongside Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon. The disaster film “Twister” followed in 1996, directed by Jan de Bont, alongside Helen Hunt. In 1997, he played the role of Brock Lovett in James Cameron's Oscar-winning hit film “Titanic”. I particularly liked him in films like “Cursed be what makes you strong”, “Phantom Commando”, “Near Dark – The Night Has Its Price”, “Trespass” and “The Colony – Hell Freezes Over” and also in He could be seen in the “Stories from the Crypt”.
Bill Paxton has also been producing films himself since 1997, making his debut as a producer with “Traveller – The Highway Gamblers” with Mark Wahlberg and Julianna Margulies. In 2001 he made his directorial debut with “Dämonisch”, followed in 2005 by his second film “The Biggest Game of His Life”. Bill Paxton lived in Ojai, California with his wife and two children until his death. “His passion for art was felt by all who met him and everyone recognized his warm and enduring energy.” The family of the US actor and filmmaker confirmed the death of the 61-year-old in a letter. Paxton died due to complications after surgery, it says. “I had a career that kind of went under the radar, although that varied. “I was so blessed to be paid to do what I love,” Paxton once reportedly said. He will soon be seen in the cinema again in the surveillance sci-fi literary adaptation of Dave Eggers “The Circle” with Emma Watson. Thanks for all the badasses, RIP Bill…