Movies with Billy Zane. Actor biography

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Billy Zane movies are a great choice for viewers looking for an exciting movie to watch. The actor has never focused on one genre, he can be seen in dramas, thrillers, comedies, fantasy films. Zane is most successful in the role of villains, but the star copes well with the images of good guys. What is known about the creative achievements and life of Billy?

Actor Billy Zane: biography of the star. Family, childhood

The famous actor was born in Chicago, a joyful event took place in February 1966. Actor Billy Zane was born into a family that had nothing to do with the world of cinema, his parents were doctors who had moved to the States from Greece even before the birth of their son. After the move, his mother and father dropped the surname Zanetakos, believing that the surname Zane was more familiar to Chicagoans. However, not only Billy chose the creative profession, his older sister also managed to become an American movie star.

Family legend says that the boy decided to become an actor as a child. For the first time, interest in this profession woke up in him thanks to the summer camp, where children were taught the basics of acting. It is known that Billy had a speech impediment, but the child successfully got rid of it. After leaving school, he lived for some time in Switzerland, learning the art of drama at one of the local academies.

Movie debut

Thanks to what film was Billy Zane able to make himself known for the first time? "Back to the Future" is a picture that became the debut for a young man. Returning to the United States, the aspiring actor began to actively attend various auditions, trying to get the role. His efforts were crowned with success in 1985. Then Billy got the role of Match, his character is friends with one of the key characters of the film "Back to the Future" - the villain Biff Tannen.

As you know, the audience liked the film so much that it was decided to shoot a continuation of a fantastic story dedicated to time travel. Billy was also invited to the film "Back to the Future 2".

First successes

What are the first films with Billy Zane worthy of the attention of the audience? The actor played a small role in the film Critters, which was released in 1986. In this story about charming monsters, he embodied the image of Steve Elliot.

In 1989, the aspiring actor starred in one of the key roles in the drama Dead Pool, sharing the set with Nicole Kidman. In this thriller, he embodied the image of a character who first appears before the audience as a brave rescuer helping a familycouple weather the storm. However, gradually the story begins to resemble a bloody drama, and Billy's hero begins to show signs of insanity. Critics were delighted with Zayn's performance in this action-packed film.

1990s roles

What series and movies starring Billy Zane saw the light of day in the early 1990s? It is impossible not to note the vivid image that the talented actor created in the mystical TV project Twin Peaks, which has gained immense popularity all over the world. He played the young handsome billionaire John Wheeler, whose moral principles leave much to be desired. His character seduces a friend's daughter. In Twin Peaks, Zayn got some screen time, but it was enough for the actor to start receiving stacks of letters with love confessions from fans.

It is impossible not to mention the picture "Orlando", which became the debut for Sally Porter. The plot of the tape was borrowed from the work of the famous writer Virginia Woolf. Billy appeared in the only episode of this historical drama, but his role made a lasting impression on the audience.

Deserves attention and released in 1992 action movie "Sniper". Billy Zane in this action-packed picture with elements of a thriller embodied the image of one of the shooters. His character receives a difficult task - to infiltrate the base of the Colombian criminal group that sells drugs, which is located in the jungles of Central America. His main task is to eliminate the leader of the gang.

Highest hour

Only in 1997 acquired a well-deservedcelebrity status Billy Zane. The biography of the actor indicates that fame came to him thanks to the filming of the film "Titanic", which is the brainchild of James Cameron. The drama tells the story of the love between an aristocrat and a vagabond whose fates accidentally intertwine on board a luxury liner that has gone down in history forever.

Interestingly, Zayn got the role of the main negative character of this story. He embodied the image of the fiance of the main character. Billy brilliantly managed to play the cowardly and vicious snob Hockley, who is trying to keep his bride next to him almost by force, poisoning the lives of the main characters in all sorts of ways. This difficult role gave the actor not only an army of fans, but also a nomination for the MTV award in the category "Best Villain of the Year".

Interestingly, during the filming of "Titanic" Zane was forced to use a wig-cover, hiding traces of early baldness with it. This did not prevent the actor from being included in the list of the most attractive men of 2001.

Billy Zane now

Unfortunately, films with Billy Zane are much less attractive to viewers these days. In the new century, public interest in the actor began to gradually fade away, the number of his fans decreased significantly. Of course, the Titanic star continues to actively act in TV shows and movies, but the quality of the tapes in which he is invited is getting lower and lower. Not a single project with his participation could repeat the success of the Titanic.

"Dead Fish", "Bloodray", "Alien Agent", "Agent Dragonfly" -the most famous tapes in which Billy Zane starred in recent years. Films with his participation, also worthy of attention: "Sex for Survival", "Memory", "Perfect Refuge". Fans will be able to see the star in the TV project "Charmed", Zayn took part in the filming of several episodes.

Direction

Billy Zane, whose films and biography are discussed in this article, managed to test his strength as a director. The first experience for him was the TV project “Stop for a Minute”, several episodes of which the actor filmed back in 2001. He also acted as a director while working on the French-Swedish action movie The Big Kiss, presented to the audience in 2004, the budget of the tape was about 11 million euros. Interestingly, in this picture, Billy also appears as a performer of one of the key roles.

Life behind the scenes

At the end of the last century, films with Billy Zane were very popular. It is not surprising that the journalists did not leave the sultry handsome man alone, constantly presenting rumors and facts about his personal life. The actor was credited with romantic relationships with many famous actresses, but gossip in most cases was not confirmed.

It is known that in 1989, Zane married actress Lisa Collins. However, already in 1995 it became known about the separation of a beautiful couple. Then Billy dated Chilean Leonor Varela for some time, but left the girl before it came to marriage. While filming Sex for Survival, the Titanic star fell in love with a co-starfilm set. He and model Kelly Brook spent four years together before deciding to break up.

The only daughter of the star was presented by model Candice Neil, Katerina was born in 2011. Zane is responsible for the role of "Sunday dad", but he never married the mother of his child. The actor is single at the moment.