Bill Paxton

William Paxton (May 17, 1955 – February 25, 2017) was an American actor and director. He appeared in films such as The Terminator (1984), Weird Science (1985), Aliens (1986), Predator 2 (1990), Tombstone (1993), True Lies (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Twister (1996), Titanic (1997), Mighty Joe Young (1998), U-571 (2000), Vertical Limit (2000), Edge of Tomorrow (2014), and Nightcrawler (2014). He also starred in the HBO drama series Big Love (2006–2011), earning three Golden Globe Award nominations during the show's run.[1] He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for portraying Randall McCoy in the History channel miniseries Hatfields & McCoys (2012).[2][3]Paxton's final film appearance was in The Circle (2017), released two months after his death.[4]
== Early life ==
Paxton (the child seen raised above the crowd) before JFK emerges from the Hotel Texas on November 22, 1963
Paxton was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, the son of Mary Lou (néeGray) and John Lane Paxton. His father was a businessman, lumber wholesaler, museum executive and occasional actor, most notably appearing in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films.[5] Paxton's great-great-grandfather was Elisha Franklin Paxton, a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War, who was killed commanding the legendary Stonewall Brigade at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Bill's mother was Roman Catholic and he and his siblings were raised in her faith.[6] Paxton was in the crowd when President John F. Kennedy emerged from the Hotel Texas in Fort Worth, Texas on the morning of his assassination on November 22, 1963. Photographs of an eight-year-old Paxton being lifted above the crowd are on display at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas.[7][8] He later co-produced the film Parkland, about the assassination. Paxton is distantly related to actress Sara Paxton.
On the Marc Maron podcast, Paxton revealed that at the age of 13 he contracted rheumatic fever, which had damaged his heart. During his teens, Paxton worked as a paper delivery boy with Mike Muir.[9]
== Career ==
Among Paxton's earliest roles were a minor role as a punk in The Terminator(1984), a supporting role as the lead protagonist's bullying older brother Chet Donnelly in John Hughes' Weird Science (1985) and Private Hudson in Aliens(1986).
He directed several short films, including the music video for Barnes & Barnes' novelty song "Fish Heads," which aired during Saturday Night Live's low-rated 1980–81 season. He was cast in a music video for the 1982 Pat Benatar song "Shadows of the Night" in which he appeared as a Nazi radio officer.
=== Music career ===
Main article: Martini Ranch
In 1982, Paxton and his friend, Andrew Todd Rosenthal, formed a new wavemusical band called Martini Ranch. The band released its only full-length album, Holy Cow, in 1988 on Sire Records.[10] The album was produced by Devo member Bob Casale, and featured guest appearances by two other members of that band.[11] The music video for the band's single "Reach" was directed by James Cameron.[12]
=== 1980s ===
Paxton worked with Cameron on The Terminator (1984) and then reunited with him on Aliens(1986). His performance in the latter film as Private Hudson earned him the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor.[13]
=== 1990s ===
He and Cameron collaborated again on True Lies (1994) and Titanic (1997), the latter of which was the highest-grossing film of all time at its release. In his other roles, Paxton played Morgan Earp in Tombstone (1993), Fred Haise in Apollo 13 (1995), the male lead in Twister (1996), and lead roles in dark dramas such as One False Move (1992) and A Simple Plan (1998). In 1990, he co-starred with Charlie Sheen and Michael Biehn in Navy Seals.
=== 2000s–2010s ===
Paxton directed the feature films Frailty (2001), in which he also starred, and The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005).[14] Four years after appearing in Titanic, he joined Cameron on an expedition to the actual Titanic. A film about this trip, Ghosts of the Abyss was released in 2003.[14] He also appeared in the music video for Limp Bizkit's 2003 song "Eat You Alive" as a sheriff.
His highest profile television performances received much positive attention, including his lead role in HBO's Big Love (2006–2011), for which Paxton received three Golden Globe Award nominations. Paxton also received good reviews for his performance in the History Channel's miniseries Hatfields & McCoys (2012), for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award alongside co-star, Kevin Costner.
In 2014, he played the role of the villainous John Garrett in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and a supporting role in Edge of Tomorrow(2014).[14] He starred alongside Jon Bernthal, Rose McGowan and John Malkovich as a playable character in the 2014 video game Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (downloadable "Exo Zombies" mode).[15] In February 2016, Paxton was cast as Detective Frank Rourke for Training Day, a crime-thriller television series set 15 years after the events of the eponymous 2001 movie; it premiered a year later.[16]
== Personal life ==
Paxton was married to Kelly Rowan from 1979 to 1980. In 1987 he married Louise Newbury and they had two children: James and Lydia.[17]
In February 2017, a few weeks prior to having cardiac surgery, and ultimately until his death, Paxton stated in an interview with Marc Maron that he had a damaged heart valve, the result of suffering from rheumatic fever in his youth.[18]
== Death ==
On February 25, 2017, Paxton died at the age of 61.[19][20] A representative for the family released the following statement to the press on February 26:
“	It is with heavy hearts we share the news that Bill Paxton has passed away due to complications from surgery. A loving husband and father, Bill began his career in Hollywood working on films in the art department and went on to have an illustrious career spanning four decades as a beloved and prolific actor and filmmaker. Bill's passion for the arts was felt by all who knew him, and his warmth and tireless energy were undeniable. We ask to please respect the family's wish for privacy as they mourn the loss of their adored husband and father.[21]	”
Paxton's official cause of death was a stroke, precipitated by complications after a heart valve and aorta surgery he underwent on February 14, 2017.[22][23] It was later revealed that Paxton had suffered rheumatic fever as a child, which had caused heart damage early in his life.[24] He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park.[25]
Upon learning of his death, a number of storm chasers paid tribute to his Twister role by spelling out his initials via the Spotter Network.[26]
The film Call Me by Your Name, released in November 2017, is dedicated to Paxton's memory. Peter Spears, producer of the film, explained that this was because his husband, Brian Swardstorm, who was also Paxton's best friend and agent, visited the set with Paxton during filming and befriended the film's director, Luca Guadagnino, who ultimately decided to dedicate the movie "in loving memory of Bill Paxton."[27]
Close friend and frequent collaborator James Cameron wrote a tribute to Paxton in an article for Vanity Fair detailing their 36-year friendship and expressing remorse over the projects they wouldn't be able to make together.[28]
Numerous other filmmakers and actors also paid tribute, including Rob Lowe,[29] Tom Hanks,[30] Charlize Theron,[31] former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,[32] Michael Biehn,[33] Jordan Peele,[31] William Shatner,[31] Jamie Lee Curtis,[31] as well as his years-long Big Love co-stars Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny and Ginnifer Goodwin.[31] Sevigny remembered Paxton as:
“	One of the less cynical, jaded people I’ve ever met in the business.... He believed in entertainment being transportive and transformative. He believed in the magic of what we can bring to people. That was really a gift that he gave to me.[34]	”
== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes 	Ref.
1975	Crazy Mama 	John 	Uncredited 	[35]
1981	Stripes 	Soldier 	 	[14]
1982	Night Warning 	Eddie 	 	[36]
1983	Taking Tiger Mountain 	Billy Hampton 	 	[37]
1983	The Lords of Discipline 	Gilbreath 	 	[14]
1983	Mortuary 	Paul Andrews 	 	[14]
1984	Streets of Fire 	Clyde the Bartender 	 	[14]
1984	Impulse 	Eddie 	 	[14]
1984	The Terminator 	Punk Leader 	 	[14]
1985	Weird Science 	Chet Donnelly 	 	[14]
1985	Commando 	Intercept Officer 	 	[14]
1986	Aliens 	Private William Hudson 	 	[14]
1987	Near Dark 	Severen 	 	[14]
1988	Pass the Ammo 	Jesse Wilkes 	 	[14]
1989	Slipstream 	Matt Owens 	 	[14]
1989	Next of Kin 	Gerald Gates 	 	[14]
1989	Back to Back 	Bo Brand 	 	[14]
1990	Brain Dead 	Jim Reston 	 	[14]
1990	The Last of the Finest 	Howard 'Hojo' Jones 	 	[14]
1990	Navy SEALs 	Dane 	 	[14]
1990	Predator 2 	Jerry Lambert 	 	[14]
1991	The Dark Backward 	Gus 	 	[14]
1992	The Vagrant 	Graham Krakowski 	 	[14]
1992	One False Move 	Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon 	 	[14]
1992	Trespass 	Vince 	 	[14]
1993	Monolith 	Tucker 	 	[14]
1993	Indian Summer 	Jack Belston 	 	[14]
1993	Boxing Helena 	Ray O'Malley 	 	[14]
1993	Tombstone 	Morgan Earp 	 	[14]
1994	True Lies 	Simon 	 	[14]
1994	Frank and Jesse 	Frank James 	 	[14]
1994	Future Shock 	Vince 	 	[14]
1995	The Last Supper 	Zachary Cody 	 	[14]
1995	Apollo 13 	Fred Haise 	 	[14]
1996	Twister 	Bill "The Extreme" Harding 	 	[14]
1996	The Evening Star 	Jerry Bruckner 	 	[14]
1997	Traveller 	Bokky 	 	[14]
1997	Titanic 	Brock Lovett 	 	[14]
1998	A Simple Plan 	Hank 	 	[14]
1998	Mighty Joe Young 	Professor Gregory O'Hara 	 	[14]
2000	U-571 	Lieutenant Commander Mike Dahlgren	 	[14]
2000	Vertical Limit 	Elliot Vaughn 	 	[14]
2001	Frailty 	Dad Meiks 	Also director 	[14]
2002	Kaboom! 	The Skinner 	Voice role 	
2002	Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams 	Dinky Winks 	 	[14]
2003	Ghosts of the Abyss 	Himself/Narrator 	 	[14]
2003	Resistance 	Major Theodore 'Ted' Brice 	 	[38]
2003	Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over 	Dinky Winks 	 	[14]
2004	Club Dread 	Coconut Pete 	 	[14]
2004	Thunderbirds 	Jeff Tracy 	 	[14]
2004	Haven 	Carl Ridley 	 	[39]
2005	Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D	Edgar Mitchell 	Short film 	[40]
2005	The Greatest Game Ever Played 	— 	Director 	[14]
2007	The Good Life 	Robbie 	 	[14]
2011	Haywire 	John Kane 	 	
2011	Tornado Alley 	Narrator 	 	
2012	Shanghai Calling 	Donald 	 	[41]
2013	The Colony 	Mason 	 	[14]
2013	2 Guns 	Earl 	 	[14]
2013	Red Wing 	Jim Verret 	 	[14]
2014	Million Dollar Arm 	Tom House 	 	[14]
2014	Edge of Tomorrow 	Master Sergeant Farell 	 	[14]
2014	Nightcrawler 	Joe Loder 	 	[14]
2015	Pixies 	Eddie Beck 	Voice role 	[42]
2016	Term Life 	Detective Keenan 	 	[14]
2016	Mean Dreams 	Wayne Caraway 	 	[14]
2017	The Circle 	Vinnie Holland 	Posthumous release	[14]
=== Television ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes 	Ref.
1983 	Deadly Lessons 	Eddie Fox 	Movie 	[14]
1985 	An Early Frost 	Bob Maracek 	Movie 	[14]
1985 	The Atlanta Child Murders 	Campbell 	Miniseries 	[14]
1986 	Fresno 	Billy Joe Bobb 	Miniseries (4 episodes) 	[14]
1986 	Miami Vice 	Detective Vic Romano 	Episode: "Streetwise" 	[43]
1987 	The Hitchhiker 	Trout 	Episode: "Made for Each Other" 	[44]
1993 	Tales from the Crypt 	Billy DeLuca 	Episode: "People Who Live in Brass Hearses"	[43]
1998 	A Bright Shining Lie 	John Paul Vann 	Movie 	[14]
2003 	Frasier 	Ernie 	Episode: "Analyzed Kiss" 	[43]
2006–11	Big Love 	Bill Henrickson 	Lead role (53 episodes) 	[45]
2012 	Hatfields & McCoys 	Randolph McCoy 	Miniseries (3 episodes) 	[45]
2013 	JFK: The Day That Changed Everything	Narrator 	Documentary 	[46]
2014 	Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 	John Garrett 	6 episodes 	[43]
2015 	Texas Rising 	Sam Houston 	Miniseries 	[47][48]
2015 	The Gamechangers 	Jack Thompson 	Movie 	[49]
2017 	Training Day 	Detective Frank Roarke	Lead role (13 episodes) 	[43]
== Awards and nominations ==
Year	Association 	Category 	Title 	Result 	Ref.
1987	Saturn Awards 	Best Supporting Actor 	Aliens 	Won 	[52]
1995	CableACE Awards 	Best Actor in a Dramatic Series 	Tales from the Crypt	Nominated	[53]
1996	Screen Actors Guild 	Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 	Apollo 13 	Won 	[54]
1997	Saturn Awards 	Best Actor 	Twister 	Nominated	
1998	Screen Actors Guild 	Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 	Titanic 	Nominated	[55]
1999	Golden Globe Awards 	Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film 	A Bright Shining Lie	Nominated	[56]
2003	Saturn Awards 	Best Director 	Frailty 	Nominated	[57]
2006	Satellite Awards 	Best Actor – Television Series Drama 	Big Love 	Nominated	[58]
2007	Satellite Awards 	Best Actor – Television Series Drama 	Big Love 	Nominated	[59]
2007	Golden Globe Awards 	Best Actor – Television Series Drama 	Big Love 	Nominated	[56]
2008	Golden Globe Awards 	Best Actor – Television Series Drama 	Big Love 	Nominated	[56]
2009	Satellite Awards 	Best Actor – Television Series Drama 	Big Love 	Nominated	[60]
2010	Golden Globe Awards 	Best Actor – Television Series Drama 	Big Love 	Nominated	[56]
2012	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie 	Hatfields & McCoys 	Nominated	[61]
2013	Screen Actors Guild 	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie	Hatfields & McCoys 	Nominated	[62]
Category:American male film actors