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Bill Paxton is a Actor, Director, Producer and Set Decoration American born on 17 may 1955 at Fort Worth (USA)

Bill Paxton

Bill Paxton
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Birth name William Paxton
Nationality USA
Birth 17 may 1955 at Fort Worth (USA)
Death 25 february 2017 (at 61 years)

William "Bill" Paxton (born May 17, 1955) is an American actor and director. He gained popularity after starring in a number of films, including The Terminator (1984), Weird Science (1985), Aliens (1986), True Lies (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Twister (1996), and Titanic (1997). He also starred in the HBO series Big Love (2006–2011) and was nominated for an Emmy Award for the miniseries Hatfields & McCoys.

Biography

Enfance, formation et débuts
William Paxton naît et grandit à Fort Worth, au Texas. Il est le fils de Mary Lou (née Gray) et John Lane Paxton, un homme d'affaires, grossiste de bois d'œuvre, directeur de musée et acteur occasionnel. Son père a notamment tourné dans la trilogie Spider-Man de Sam Raimi.

Il est élevé selon la religion catholique de sa mère. L'arrière-arrière-grand-père de Paxton est Elisha Franklin Paxton, un brigadier général de l'armée des États confédérés pendant la guerre de Sécession qui a été tué à la tête de la brigade de Stonewall à la bataille de Chancellorsville.

Il fréquente Arlington Heights High School à Fort Worth et la Texas State University (plus tard appelée Southwest Texas State University) à San Marcos.

Au milieu des années 1970, il déménage à Los Angeles, en Californie, et commence à travailler pour Roger Corman comme décorateur de plateau. Il déménage ensuite à New York pour étudier au conservatoire Stella Adler.

C'est en travaillant pour Roger Corman qu'il rencontre James Cameron, embauché lui aussi comme décorateur ; depuis, une solide amitié lie les deux hommes. De 1974 à 1981, il travaille comme décorateur.


Carrière
Bill Paxton débute devant la caméra dans le film d'action Crazy Mama de Jonathan Demme (1975). Neuf ans et sept petits rôles plus tard, l'acteur fait une apparition courte mais remarquée dans Terminator, de James Cameron, face à Arnold Schwarzenegger nu comme un ver agressé par une bande de punks dont il est le chef. Ces quelques secondes à l'écran marquent le début d'une longue collaboration avec James Cameron.

Dans Une créature de rêve de John Hughes il est le grand frère bourrin. Ensuite il apparaît dans Commando en 1985, puis incarne un marine colonial dans Aliens, le retour un an plus tard. En 1987, l'acteur joue le vampire moderne dans Aux frontières de l'aube, réalisé par Kathryn Bigelow, future épouse de James Cameron.

Predator 2 en 1990 et Tombstone en 1993 confirment encore la propension du comédien aux seconds rôles musclés, avant que True Lies ne l'amène une nouvelle fois au cœur de la galaxie Cameron en 1994, collaborant à nouveau avec Arnold Schwarzenegger. Un an plus tard, il s'envole à bord de la mission Apollo 13 en compagnie de Tom Hanks et Kevin Bacon.

En 1996, il tient sa première véritable tête d'affiche aux côtés d'Helen Hunt dans Twister, l'un des grands vainqueurs de l'été américain. Il assoit encore sa popularité un an plus tard en incarnant un explorateur de fonds sous-marins dans Titanic.



En 1998, Un plan simple de Sam Raimi est une production plus modeste mais saluée par la critique. L'acteur retrouve cependant vite les chemins du cinéma populaire avec Mon ami Joe (1999), puis U-571 et Vertical Limit tous deux produits en 2000.

En 2002, il signe son premier long métrage derrière la caméra avec Emprise, dont il est également l'une des deux têtes d'affiche avec Matthew McConaughey, puis participe à l'aventure de Spy Kids 2 : Espions en herbe. Il retrouve également James Cameron pour le film-documentaire Les Fantômes du Titanic.

En 2006 et 2010, il incarne Bill Henrickson, un mormon fondamentaliste qui vit avec ses trois femmes, dans la série Big Love diffusée sur HBO.

En 2013 et 2014, il joue dans 9 épisodes de la série Marvel : Les Agents du SHIELD où il incarne John Garrett.


Vie privée et mort
De 1979 à 1980, Bill Paxton est marié à l'actrice canadienne Kelly Rowan. Le 12 mai 1987, il épouse Louise Newbury ; le couple a deux enfants : James (né en 1994) et Lydia (née en 1997).

En février 2017, quelques semaines avant son opération de chirurgie cardiaque, l'acteur déclare dans une interview avec Marc Maron qu'il a une valve cardiaque endommagée, résultat de la fièvre rhumatismale qu'il avait contractée dans sa jeunesse.

Il meurt le 25 février 2017 à Ojai, en Californie à l'âge de 61 ans, des suites de complications liées à une opération de chirurgie cardiaque.

Best films

Twister (1996)
(Actor)
True Lies (1994)
(Actor)
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
(Actor)
Apollo 13 (1995)
(Actor)
Vertical Limit (2000)
(Actor)
Aliens (1986)
(Actor)

Usually with

James Cameron
James Cameron
(8 films)
Luke Askew
Luke Askew
(5 films)
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
(4 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Bill Paxton (74 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

Thunderbirds, 1h35
Directed by Jonathan Frakes
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Space adventure films, Films about families, Seafaring films, Transport films, Aviation films, Comedy science fiction films, Films set in the future, Space opera, Heist films, Children's films, Disaster films
Actors Brady Corbet, Bill Paxton, Anthony Edwards, Sophia Myles, Lou Hirsch, Vanessa Hudgens
Roles Jeff Tracy
Rating43% 2.156752.156752.156752.156752.15675
The Tracy family, led by former astronaut Jeff Tracy, operate International Rescue, a secret organization that aids those in need using the technologically advanced machines called Thunderbirds. The youngest son Alan lives at a boarding school on the mainland dreaming of being a Thunderbird pilot. He and his friend Fermat Hackenbacker, son of the Thunderbirds’ engineer Brains, are picked up by Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward and her butler Aloysius Parker. Lady Penelope is an International Rescue agent, travelling to Tracy Island in the South Pacific in her limo FAB 1. The Thunderbirds return from an oil rig fire, but Alan and Fermat play around in Thunderbird 1, discovering a strange compound splattered on the side. Unbeknownst to them, the compound is a tracking beacon being used by the Hood, a psychic criminal mastermind who has a vendetta against Jeff for not saving him in a collapsing diamond mine while his brother Kyrano was rescued.
Club Dread
Club Dread (2004)
, 1h43
Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Comedy, Horror comedy, Horror, Slasher
Themes Films about sexuality, Erotic films, LGBT-related films, Serial killer films, Comedy horror films, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film, Lesbian-related films
Actors Bill Paxton, Kevin Heffernan, Brittany Daniel, Jordan Ladd, Steve Lemme, Jay Chandrasekhar
Roles Coconut Pete
Rating56% 2.84752.84752.84752.84752.8475
Pleasure Island is a resort off the coast of Costa Rica, owned by famous musician Coconut Pete. Staff members Rolo, Stacy, and Kelly sneak into the jungle to have sex. They are ambushed by a masked figure, who stabs Rolo to death. The killer chases the girls through the jungle. The killer pushes Kelly off a cliff and decapitates Stacy before she can reach help. The resort staff remain unaware of the killings until Carlos' body is found behind the kitchen. Dave relates a story about a former employee who lost his mind and murdered his fellow staff members; though Pete insists it's a story made up to scare guests around the campfire, the mounting death toll suggests otherwise. Putman alerts the others when he finds Cliff murdered in a hedge maze. A message left by the killer suggests that he is targeting only the staff. All communication devices and transportation have been stolen or destroyed. Hank, a former FBI agent, convinces the staff to continue with their jobs and allow him to catch the killer. Yu remains intent on warning the guests, despite warnings not to do so from the killer. When she lures the guests to the beach to make the announcement, she is attacked by the killer. Hank intervenes, but the killer slashes his throat and turns on Yu. Their bodies are found the next day.
Haven
Haven (2004)
, 1h39
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Crime, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films
Actors Orlando Bloom, Zoe Saldana, Victor Rasuk, Bill Paxton, Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Dillane
Roles Carl Ridley
Rating56% 2.848012.848012.848012.848012.84801
A corrupt and greedy businessman, Carl Ridley (Bill Paxton), is running from the government, with his 18-year-old daughter Pippa (Agnes Bruckner) in tow. Pippa is not happy to leave her friends and comfortable life in Miami for the Cayman Islands.
Ghosts of the Abyss, 1h1
Directed by James Cameron
Origin USA
Genres Documentary, Action
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, RMS Titanic in fiction, Documentary films about historical events, Documentary films about technology, Children's films, Disaster films, Films about seafaring accidents or incidents
Actors Bill Paxton, James Cameron
Roles Self
Rating68% 3.4002353.4002353.4002353.4002353.400235
Après le tournage du film Titanic qui l'avait poussé à faire plusieurs plongées sur le site de l'épave du paquebot reposant à près de 4 000 mètres de profondeur dans l'océan Atlantique, James Cameron revient sur les lieux du drame accompagné d'une équipe scientifique et de l'acteur Bill Paxton. À l'aide des submersibles Mir et de robots guidés à distance, l'équipe parvient à filmer des lieux inédits du navire, notamment certains de ses intérieurs comme sa salle de réception des premières classes.
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, 1h24
Directed by Robert Rodríguez
Origin USA
Genres Science fiction, Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Spy
Themes Spy films, Films about computing, Jeu, Films about video games, Children's films
Actors Danny Trejo, Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Ricardo Montalbán
Roles Dinky Winks
Rating44% 2.2114352.2114352.2114352.2114352.211435
Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara), after stopping Donnagon from activating the EMP device, has retired from the OSS, no longer wanting to work. He now lives a quiet life and works as a private detective, although his salary is very little. One day, he is contacted by President Devlin (George Clooney), former head of OSS, who informs him that his sister, Carmen Cortez (Alexa Vega), is missing after a mission gone wrong. Upset about this, Juni returns to the OSS to learn more about his sister.
Resistance
Resistance (2003)
, 1h28
Directed by Todd Komarnicki
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Romance
Themes Transport films, Aviation films, Political films, Disaster films, Films about aviation accidents or incidents
Actors Bill Paxton, Julia Ormond, Sandrine Bonnaire, Philippe Volter, Ariane Schluter, Jean-Michel Vovk
Roles Ted Brice
Rating54% 2.7059252.7059252.7059252.7059252.705925
The tale of an American reconnaissance pilot, Ted Brice (Paxton), downed in occupied Belgium at the height of World War II. Hidden by resistance fighters, he falls in love with the wife (Ormond) of the man who will save him. When their affair is exposed, an act of betrayal threatens their lives and the entire resistance movement, forcing the pilot to make a powerful choice that could change the course of the war.
Frailty
Frailty (2002)
, 1h40
Directed by Bill Paxton
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime
Themes Films about religion, Demons in film, Serial killer films, Children's films
Actors Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Matt O'Leary, Jeremy Sumpter, Levi Kreis
Roles Dad Meiks
Rating71% 3.598553.598553.598553.598553.59855
Introducing himself as Fenton Meiks, a man visits FBI Agent Wesley Doyle claiming that his brother Adam is the "God's Hand" serial killer Doyle has been hunting. Meiks says Adam has committed suicide, prompting Fenton to fulfill a promise to bury Adam in a public rose garden in their hometown of Thurman. He begins to tell Doyle about the boys' childhood and suggests that the bodies of the God's Hand victims are buried in that rose garden. Meiks continues telling Doyle his story as the two drive to Thurman.
Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, 1h40
Directed by Robert Rodríguez
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Spy
Themes Spy films, Films about families, Seafaring films, Transport films, Children's films
Actors Antonio Banderas, Emily Osment, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega, Daryl Sabara, Mike Judge
Roles Dinky Winks
Rating53% 2.654542.654542.654542.654542.65454
The OSS now has a full child spy section, of which 13-year-old Carmen Cortez (Alexa Vega) and 10-year-old Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara) have become agents. They face particularly difficult competition with Gary and Gerti Giggles (Matt O'Leary and Emily Osment), the children of double-dealing agent Donnagon Giggles (Mike Judge), whom Carmen and Juni helped to rescue in the previous film. It is shown that Carmen defends Gary and has a crush on him.
U-571
U-571 (2000)
, 1h56
Directed by Jonathan Mostow
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War, Thriller, Action, Adventure
Themes La fin du monde, Seafaring films, Transport films, La bataille de l'Atlantique, Underwater action films, Submarine films, Political films, Disaster films, Films about seafaring accidents or incidents
Actors Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Thomas Kretschmann, Jon Bon Jovi, David Keith
Roles Lt. Cmdr. Mike Dahlgren
Rating65% 3.2990853.2990853.2990853.2990853.299085
German U-boat U-571 is immobilized by a British destroyer. The US Navy submarine S-33 has been modified to resemble a German U-boat to steal the Enigma coding device and sink the U-571.
Vertical Limit, 2h4
Directed by Martin Campbell
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Adventure
Themes Sports films, Alpinisme, Disaster films, American disaster films
Actors Chris O'Donnell, Bill Paxton, Robin Tunney, Scott Glenn, Izabella Dorota Skorupko, Temuera Morrison
Roles Elliot Vaughn
Rating59% 2.950762.950762.950762.950762.95076
While climbing in Monument Valley, siblings Peter (O'Donnell) and Annie Garrett (Tunney) lose their father, Royce (Stuart Wilson). After two falling amateurs leave the family dangling, Royce forces Peter to cut him loose to save Peter and his sister. Peter has since retired from climbing and is a full-time wildlife photographer, and Annie has become a renowned mountain climber. Three years later during an wildlife shooting at lower Himalayans in Pakistan, Peter's assistant falls and injures his leg. Peter is dropped off at K2 base camp and searches for Annie who is planning a summit attempt on K2, the world's second highest and most dangerous mountain, due to unpredictable weather conditions and difficult technical climbing sections. The expedition is funded by wealthy industrialist Elliot Vaughn (Paxton) who is also part of Annie's expedition, with the help of renowned climber Tom McLaren (Nicholas Lea).
A Bright Shining Lie, 1h58
Directed by Terry George
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War
Themes Political films
Actors Bill Paxton, Amy Madigan, Vivian Wu, Donal Logue, Eric Bogosian, Harve Presnell
Roles John Paul Vann
Rating63% 3.1935953.1935953.1935953.1935953.193595
L'histoire vraie de John Paul Vann dont le succès militaire lui apporta la satisfaction qu'il ne trouva jamais dans sa vie personnelle…
Mighty Joe Young, 1h54
Directed by Ron Underwood
Origin USA
Genres Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Themes Films set in Africa, Films about animals, Films about apes, Children's films, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Bill Paxton, Charlize Theron, Rade Šerbedžija, Frank Welker, Peter Firth, Regina King
Roles Gregg O'Hara
Rating57% 2.856052.856052.856052.856052.85605
Jill Young is seen as a child at the beginning of the film when she witnesses the death of her mother, Ruth Young (Linda Purl), and the mother of Joe, an infant mountain gorilla, at the hands of poachers led by Andrei Strasser (Rade Šerbedžija). Strasser loses both his right thumb and trigger finger to Joe, and swears revenge on the gorilla for the damage. Before she dies, Ruth tells Jill to take care of Joe, to which Jill agrees. Twelve years later, Jill has raised Joe who, because of a rare genetic anomaly, has now grown to a height of 16 1/2-feet (5 meters) and weighs 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms). As a result, the other gorillas won't accept him and both are now living in relative peace until a wildlife refuge director, Gregg O'Hara (Bill Paxton), convinces Jill that they would be safer from poachers if they relocate to the United States.
A Simple Plan, 2h1
Directed by Sam Raimi
Origin France
Genres Drama, Thriller, Crime
Actors Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda, Brent Briscoe, Gary Cole, Chelcie Ross
Roles Hank Mitchell
Rating74% 3.748013.748013.748013.748013.74801
Hank Mitchell and his wife Sarah live in rural Minnesota. One of the town's few college graduates, Hank works in a feed mill, while his wife is a librarian. When Hank, his younger brother Jacob and Jacob's friend Lou chase a fox into the woods, they stumble upon a crashed airplane. Hank decides to look inside the plane where he discovers a dead pilot and a bag containing $4.4 million in $100 bills. He suggests turning the money in but is persuaded not to by Jacob and Lou. Hank then proposes that he keep the money safe at his house until the end of winter. Sheriff Carl Jenkins drives by the area and notices the three men after they hide the money in Jacob's pick-up truck. Jacob mentions hearing a plane in the area to avoid suspicion. After Carl leaves, the three men decide to keep the money a secret, but Hank breaks the pact when he reveals the discovery to Sarah.
Titanic
Titanic (1997)
, 3h14
Directed by James Cameron
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Historical, Romance
Themes La fin du monde, Films about immigration, Seafaring films, Transport films, RMS Titanic in fiction, Children's films, Disaster films, American disaster films, Films about seafaring accidents or incidents
Actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill
Roles Brock Lovett
Rating79% 3.9516753.9516753.9516753.9516753.951675
In 1996, treasure hunter Brock Lovett and his team aboard the research vessel Akademik Mstislav Keldysh search the wreck of RMS Titanic for a necklace with a rare diamond, the Heart of the Ocean. They recover a safe containing a drawing of a young woman wearing only the necklace dated April 14, 1912, the day the ship struck the iceberg. Rose Dawson Calvert, the woman in the drawing, is brought aboard Keldysh and tells Lovett of her experiences aboard Titanic.
Traveller
Traveller (1997)
, 1h36
Directed by Jack N. Green
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Crime
Actors Bill Paxton, Mark Wahlberg, Julianna Margulies, Nikki DeLoach, James Gammon, Luke Askew
Roles Bokky
Rating60% 3.047693.047693.047693.047693.04769
Un jeune homme, Pat, se rend dans une communauté nomade installée en Caroline du Nord. D'abord rejeté, il sera pris sous la coupe du cousin Bokky, qui, lui, tombe amoureux et voudrait changer de vie...