Billy Zane

William George Zane Jr. (born February 24, 1966) is an American actor.

Billy Zane
Zane at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2019
Born
William George Zane Jr.

(1966-02-24) February 24, 1966
Other namesBill Zane
OccupationActor, producer
Years active1985–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1989; div. 1995)
Partner(s)Candice Neil (2010–present; engaged)
Children2

He is perhaps best known for playing Caledon Hockley in the epic romance disaster film Titanic (1997). His other works include Back to the Future (1985) and its sequel Back to the Future Part II (1989), Dead Calm (1989), Memphis Belle (1989), Tombstone (1993), Demon Knight (1995), The Phantom (1996) and the video game Kingdom Hearts (2002).

Early life

Zane was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Thalia and William George Zane Sr., both of whom were amateur actors and founders of a school for medical technicians.[1][2] His parents are both of Greek descent (from Chios through his mother and Mani through his father), and his family's original surname, "Zanetakos", was anglicized to "Zane" by his parents, who also raised him in the Greek Orthodox faith.[3][4][5] He has an older sister, Lisa Zane, who is an actress and singer.[6] After completing a year abroad in Switzerland at The American School in Switzerland (TASIS), Zane graduated from Francis W. Parker School and attended Harand Camp of the Theater Arts, located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

Career

1980s

Zane's first two screen roles were in the science fiction films Back to the Future in 1985 and Critters in 1986, around the same time he appeared in the music video for Sheena Easton's song "Do It For Love". In 1988, he played Tony Gambini alongside Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote: A Very Good Year for Murder. Zane also appeared in an episode of Matlock entitled "The Nurse". In 1989 he reprised his henchman role in Back to the Future Part II. Earlier that same year, Zane gained international recognition with the role of villain Hughie Warriner in the thriller Dead Calm, alongside Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill. He also starred in the NBC film The Case of the Hillside Stranglers (1989), and Adam Sandler's "no budget" debut Going Overboard (1989) which was not released to a wider audience until 1996.

1990s

Zane's first starring role was in a 1990 independent film, the low budget science fiction thriller Megaville. In 1990, he also co-starred in the film Memphis Belle, a film version of a 1944 film about a World War II Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, as the bombardier. Zane also forayed into television work, and in 1991 he appeared as John Justice Wheeler in several episodes of David Lynch's hit TV-show Twin Peaks. In 1992 Zane co-starred alongside Tilda Swinton in the film adaptation of Virginia Woolf's novel Orlando. In 1993, he played the Shakespearean actor "Mr. Fabian" in Tombstone, took a starring role in Sniper and played a playboy named Harry, posing as the elusive, albeit fake Damon Bradley alongside Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. in Only You.

He also starred in a couple of Tales from the Crypt productions, including Tales From the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight, where he played a henchman of Satan called The Collector, and the episode "Well-Cooked Hams", where he played a poorly skilled magician who killed to steal good tricks from other magicians. In 1996, Zane played the eponymous classic comic book hero in the big budget action film The Phantom, based on Lee Falk's comic.

Zane played the snobbish millionaire misanthrope Caledon Hockley in James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster Titanic. This role as Rose's (played by Kate Winslet) fiancé earned him an MTV Movie Award nomination for "Best Villain" and a Blockbuster Entertainment Award. He was also nominated for a SAG award.

In 1998, he starred in and produced I Woke Up Early the Day I Died, a silent film based on Ed Wood's last script, intended as a parody on bad filmmaking. He won several awards at the B-Movie Film Festival, including Best Movie and Best Actor, for this work. The year after, he starred opposite Timothy Dalton, Bruce Payne, Sean Pertwee and Leonor Varela (who became his fiancé after shooting ended) in a TV-movie about Cleopatra. Zane played the part of Mark Antony.

The same year, he voiced John Rolfe in Disney's Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World and Etrigan the Demon in an episode of The New Batman Adventures.

2000s

Zane was instrumental in realizing the critically acclaimed film The Believer, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival in 2001.[7] In it, he portrayed neo-Nazi Curtis Zampf, and starred opposite Ryan Gosling. The same year, he also had a cameo as himself in the comedy Zoolander.

Zane appeared on Broadway in Chicago, where he played lawyer Billy Flynn.

Zane also had a recurring role in the television series Charmed in which he played poetry-loving ex-demon Drake. He also provided the voice of Ansem, the main antagonist of the 2002 video game Kingdom Hearts. Archive audio of Zane was later used for Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and though he was originally to continue voicing the character throughout future installments, Zane was replaced by Richard Epcar for the rest of the series from Kingdom Hearts II onwards. Zane's performance, however, was kept for the Kingdom Hearts Final Mix remaster in Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMix.

In 2006, Zane starred in Arthur Allan Seidelman's West End production of Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks as an acerbic gay dance instructor opposite Claire Bloom.[8] The same year, he appeared in the Turkish film Valley of the Wolves Iraq (Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak in Turkish), part of the Kurtlar Vadisi franchise. The film tells the story of the U.S. Army run amok in Iraq, eventually brought into check by a Turkish soldier. Zane plays Sam William Marshall, a cruel U.S. soldier who is the main antagonist in the film.

Zane in 2008

He took over Timothy Olyphant's role as Christina Applegate's ex-boyfriend on Samantha Who?. The show, however, was not renewed for the 2009–2010 season.[9]

Zane is a principal at RadioactiveGiant, a film and television production and distribution company.[10]

2010s

Zane starred in the 2012 action/thriller film The Kill Hole,[11] and in January 2017 he appeared in a commercial for KFC as a gold-colored Colonel Sanders to pitch the restaurant chain's newest limited-time flavor, Georgia Gold Honey Mustard BBQ chicken.[12] Zane also appeared in an episode of Community, season 6's "Advanced Safety Features".

Zane was also featured in two episodes of The Boys portraying a fictional version of himself who made a movie with Popclaw.

Personal life

Zane was married to actress Lisa Collins from 1989 until 1995. He was also engaged for a time to Chilean actress Leonor Varela, his co-star in the television film Cleopatra (1999).[13]

Zane was later engaged to marry British model-turned-actress Kelly Brook, whom he met when they co-starred in the movie Survival Island (2005), also known as Three. They split in April 2008, got back together again shortly thereafter, then ended the relationship in August 2008. Zane dated Croatian model Jasmina Hdagha in 2010, but they broke up later that year.[14]

Through a friend he met American model Candice Neil who is the mother of his two daughters and to whom he is also currently engaged.[13][15] Their first daughter, Ava Catherine, was born in 2011, and their second daughter, Gia, was born in 2014.[16]

In 1999, Zane participated in the first Gumball 3000 rally, driving a 1964 Aston Martin DB5.[17]

Zane is also an abstract expressionist painter. He has had numerous solo and group exhibitions.[18]

Other media projects

Zane executive-produced a CD by bluesman Tim O'Connor that includes three songs from Dead Calm, in which Zane had one of the lead roles.[19]

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
1985Back to the Future'Match'
1986CrittersSteve Elliot
1989Going OverboardKing Neptune
Dead CalmHughie Warrinernominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actor
Back to the Future Part II'Match'
1990MegavilleRaymond Palinov / Jensen
Memphis BelleLieutenant Val Kozlowskinominated — Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actor
1991Femme FataleElijah
Blood and ConcreteJoey Turks
MillionsMaurizio Ferretti
1992OrlandoShelmerdine
1993SniperNSC Agent Richard Miller
PosseColonel Graham
Poetic JusticeBrad
TombstoneMr. Fabian
Betrayal of the DoveJesse Peter
1994Reflections on a CrimeColin
The Silence of the HamsJo Dee Fostar
FlashfireJack Flinder
Only YouHarry
1995The Set-UpCharles Thorpe
Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon KnightThe Collector
1996The PhantomKit Walker / The Phantom
Head Above WaterKent
Danger ZoneRick Morganco-producer
1997This World, Then the FireworksMarty
TitanicCaledon N. 'Cal' HockleyBlockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor – Drama
nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast
nominated — MTV Movie Award for Best Villain
1998I Woke Up Early the Day I DiedThiefexecutive producer
Susan's PlanSam Myers
Pocahontas II: Journey to a New WorldJohn Rolfevoice
direct-to-DVD
1999Promise Her AnythingGeorge Putter
2001ZoolanderHimselfuncredited cameo
The BelieverCurtis Zampf
CQMr. E
Morgan's FerrySam
2002ClaimRoberto Bealing
LandspeedMichael Sanger
2003Silent WarningsSheriff Bill Willinghamdirect-to-DVD
VladAdrian
The KissAlan Roberts / Young Philip Naudetdirect-to-DVD
Starving Hysterical NakedJack
Imaginary GraceNero
2004Silver CityChandler Tyson
Big KissBillydirector and executive producer
2005Dead FishVirgil
The Pleasure DriversMarvin
BloodRayneElrich
2006The Last DropRobert Oatesdirect-to-DVD
Survival IslandJack
Valley of the Wolves: IraqSam William Marshall
MemoryTaylor Briggs
2007The MadJason Hunt
FishtalesProfessor Thomas Bradleyco-producer
Alien AgentTom / Saylon
2008Perfect HideoutVictor
The Man Who Came BackEzra
Love N' DancingKent Krandel
2009Surviving EvilSebastian 'Seb' Beazley
Blue SeductionMikey Taylor
Evil – In the Time of HeroesThe Prophet
DarfurBob Jones
The Hessen AffairJack Durant
2010Magic ManDarius
The Confidant'Monty'
Enemies Among UsGraham
2011The RoommateProfessor Roberts
BoopMax Fleischershort
Sniper: ReloadedNSC Agent Richard Millerdirect-to-DVD
MercenariesColonel Torida
FlutterEdwin
MysteriaThe Producer
LovemakersJake's Agent
GuidoSid Shine
2012The Scorpion King 3: Battle for RedemptionKing Talus
Electrick ChildrenPaul McKnight
Mama, I Want to Sing!Dillan
A Green StoryGreg Hutchins
Two JacksMax Faraday
Border RunAaron Talbert
Dark Star HollowThe Devil
2013The EmployerAlan
The Kill HoleMarshall
Blood of RedemptionQuinn Fortedirect-to-DVD
Come Find MeUncleshort
2014ScornedKevin
The Ganzfield HauntingFather
HUVrHimselfshort
Ghost of Goodnight LaneAlan
Mining for RubyProfessor Sam Goodwell
2015Zombie Killers: Elephant's GraveyardSeiler
Billy Zayn Thinks Zayn Tweets Are About HimHimselfshort
West of RedemptionHank Keller
Trouble SleepingCharles
2016A Winter RosePreston Holdsworth
Zoolander 2Himself
Dead Rising: EndgameLeo Rand
Blue World OrderMaster Crane
White IslandLeo[20][21]
Sniper: Ghost ShooterNSC Agent Richard Millerdirect-to-DVD
The Adventure ClubLangley
2017Sniper: Ultimate KillNSC Agent Richard Millerdirect-to-DVD
2018SamsonKing Balek
Holmes & WatsonHimselfcameo
2019Cliffs of FreedomChristo
The Great WarColonel Jack Morrison
2020Ghosts of WarDr. Engel
Final KillCarl Riserpost-production
Guest House Douglas Masters
Battle of the Bulge: Winter WarDirect-to-video

Television

YearFilmRoleNotes
1986Brotherhood of JusticeLesTV movie
Heart of the CityTobinEpisode: "Don't Sell Yourself to the Cannibals"
1987MatlockEric DawsonEpisode: "The Nurse"
Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8Police OfficerTV movie
1988Crime StoryFrankie 'The Duke' FarantinoEpisode: "Protected Witness"
Murder, She WroteTony GambiniEpisode: "A Very Good Year for Murder"
Police Story: Monster ManorOfficer Don VarneyTV movie
1989The Case of the Hillside StranglerKenneth BianchiTV movie
1991Twin PeaksJohn Justice Wheeler5 episodes
1993Lake ConsequenceBillyTV movie
Running DelilahPaulTV movie
Tales From the CryptMilesEpisode: "Well-Cooked Ham"
1998The New Batman AdventuresJason Blood / Etrigan The DemonVoice
Episode: "The Demon Within"
1999CleopatraMarc Antony2 episodes
2000Sole SurvivorJoe CarpenterTV movie
HendrixMichael JeffreyTV movie
2001The Diamond of JeruMike KardecTV movie
InvincibleOsTV movie
Boston PublicMatthew Baskin4 episodes
2004Bet Your LifeJosephTV movie
2005CharmedDrake3 episodes
2008FinneganBrian ClarkTV movie
2009Blue SeductionMikey TaylorTV movie
Samantha Who?Winston Funk[9]5 episodes
2010Journey to PrometheaKing LaypachTV movie
The Deep EndCliff Huddle6 episodes
2012Red CloverSheriff Connor O'HaraTV movie
Hannah's LawLockwoodTV movie
Robot ChickenCommander Edwards / King Ding DongVoices
Episode: "Poisoned by Relatives"
BarabbasBarabbasTV movie
2014Checked OutUncle DennisPilot
PsychIan Collins[22]Episode: "The Break-Up"
2015The Wheel of Time: The Winter DragonElan Morin Tedronai / IshamaelTV movie
CommunityHonda BossEpisode: "Advanced Safety Features"
2015–2016Mad DogsMilo2 episodes
2016GuiltStanley 'Stan' Guthrie10 episodes
2017Legends of TomorrowP. T. BarnumEpisode: "Freakshow"
2018Deception'Switch'2 episodes
2019CurfewJoker Jones8 episodes
The BoysHimself2 episodes

Video games

YearFilmRoleNotes
2001SSX TrickyBrodi Ford
2002Kingdom HeartsAnsem, Seeker of Darkness

Music videos

YearSongArtistRoleNotes
1985"Do You"Sheena Easton
1998"The Dope Show"Marilyn MansonRecording industry executive
2001"Epiphany"Staind
2013"Rock n Roll"[23]Avril Lavigne

References

  1. Mark, Norman. "The Brigadoon of Film Fests". TravelLady. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  2. Billy Zane. Filmreference.com. Retrieved on November 15, 2011.
  3. Dinges, Barnaby (March 18, 1990). "Lisa Zane looks soberly at 'Influence' Chicago actress has bold words about role and co-star Rob Lowe". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  4. Nasson, Tim (December 27, 2005). "Billy Zane & BloodRayne: From Wig to Wig". Wild About Movies. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  5. Zwecker, Bill (April 26, 2005). "Honeymoon seems to be over for 'Newlyweds'". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007.
  6. Billy Zane Archived February 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Sundance Film Festival (2001)". IMDb.
  8. Billington, Michael (December 2, 2006). "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks". The Guardian. London. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  9. Ausiello, Michael (December 19, 2008). "'Sam Who' Recast Scoop: Zane In, Olyphant Out". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  10. Interview with Billy Zane. Ecofabulous (September 23, 2010). Retrieved on 2011-11-15. Archived October 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  11. Bryan, Steven (June 30, 2013). "'The Kill Hole' Features Chadwick Boseman, Billy Zane, Real-life Vets…". Yahoo! Voices. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013.
  12. Wohl, Jessica (January 25, 2017). "See the Spot: KFC's Latest Celebrity Colonel Goes for the Gold". Advertising Age. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  13. "Billy Zane – Billy Zane Refers To Girlfriend As 'Wife'". Contactmusic.com. April 6, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  14. "Hollywood star Billy Zane and Croatian model Jasmina Hdagha break up". Croatian Times. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  15. Eden, Richard (October 13, 2013). "Titanic star Billy Zane puts wedding on hold because Candice Neil expecting their second child". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  16. "Billy Zane: Oh, Captain!". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  17. "Gumball 3000 1999". Gumball 3000. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  18. Hughes, Sarah (February 9, 2019). "Billy Zane: 'My art is similar to my acting – improvisational'". The Guardian. London.
  19. "Billy Zane's Parents Accused Of Cheating Students After They Closed Down Medical School". All Headline News. Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  20. "White Island". IMDb. June 23, 2016.
  21. Grater, Tom (February 10, 2016). "Independent picks up 'White Island' for EFM". Screen Daily.
  22. Bierly, Mandi (March 27, 2014). "'Psych' series finale postmortem: James Roday on landing that dream guest star and the ending". Entertainment Weekly.
  23. "Avril Lavigne teases new music video for 'Rock N Roll'" (Press release). Avril Lavigne. August 15, 2013 via Pressparty.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.