Bill Paxton
Biography
The actor, filmmaker and musician Bill Paxton was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1955 and died in 2017. After moving to Los Angeles and working behind the scenes, he turned from directing to acting. His early screen roles included Mortuary (1983), The Terminator (1984), Weird Science (1985) and Aliens (1986), where his performance as Private William Hudson won him a Saturn Award. He became a frequent collaborator of James Cameron, appearing in True Lies and Titanic, and starred in films such as Near Dark, Tombstone, Apollo 13, Twister, A Simple Plan, U-571 and Vertical Limit. He made his directorial debut with Frailty (2001), also starring in it, and later directed The Greatest Game Ever Played. On television he led Big Love and earned an Emmy nomination for Hatfields & McCoys. His final film appearance was The Circle (2017).
61years old at death
- Born Fort Worth
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- Also credited as William Paxton, William Archibald Paxton and Wild Bill
Movie Career
- Films
- 56
- Career span
- 36 years1981 to 2017
Genres
Photos
Share
Did you know?!
Behind the camera
Paxton directed several short films, among them a music video for the Barnes & Barnes novelty song "Fish Heads". It aired on Saturday Night Live during its low-rated 1980-81 season and got heavy play in MuchMusic's early days.
Beyond film
Bill Paxton formed the new wave band Martini Ranch with friend Andrew Todd Rosenthal in 1982; their only album, Holy Cow, came out in 1988 on Sire Records and was produced by Devo's Bob Casale.
Behind the camera
Bill Paxton directed his first film, the 2001 horror movie Frailty, and acted in it too. The work earned him Saturn Award nominations for Best Director and Best Horror Film.
Beyond film
Bill Paxton played Peter "Coconut Pete" Wabash in Broken Lizard's Club Dread, and his performances from the film were released posthumously in 2018 on the album Take Another Hit: The Best of Coconut Pete.
Bill Paxton movies on Netflix
The Circleas Vinnie
Mean Dreamsas Wayne Caraway
Term Lifeas Joe Keenan
The Gamechangersas Jack Thompson
Edge of Tomorrowas Master Sergeant Farell
Million Dollar Armas Tom House
Nightcrawleras Joe Loder
2 Gunsas Earl
The Colonyas Mason
Shanghai Callingas Donald
Haywireas John Kane
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3Das Ed Mitchell (voice)
Club Dreadas Coconut Pete
Havenas Carl Ridley
Thunderbirdsas Jeff Tracy
Ghosts of the Abyssas Himself
Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens'as Himself
Frailtyas Dad Meiks
Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreamsas Dinky Winks
The 'Alien' Sagaas Himself
U-571as Lt. Cmdr. Mike Dahlgren
Vertical Limitas Elliot Vaughn
A Simple Planas Hank
Mighty Joe Youngas Gregg O'Hara
Titanicas Brock Lovett
Travelleras Bokky
The Evening Staras Jerry Bruckner
Twisteras Bill Harding
Apollo 13as Fred Haise
The Last Supperas Zachary Cody
Frank & Jesseas Frank James
True Liesas Simon
Boxing Helenaas Ray O'Malley
Indian Summeras Jack Belston
Monolithas Tucker
Tombstoneas Morgan Earp
One False Moveas Dale 'Hurricane' Dixon
The Vagrantas Graham Krakowski
Trespassas Vince
The Dark Backwardas Gus
Brain Deadas Jim Reston
Navy Sealsas Dane
Predator 2as Jerry Lambert
The Last of the Finestas Howard 'Hojo' Jones
Next of Kinas Gerald Gates
Slipstreamas Matt Owens
Near Darkas Severen
Aliensas Private Hudson
An Early Frostas Bob Maracek
Weird Scienceas Chet Donnelly
Impulseas Eddie
Streets of Fireas Clyde the Bartender
The Terminatoras Punk Leader
The Lords of Disciplineas Gilbreath
Mortuaryas Paul Andrews
Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Makeras Eddie
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
James Cameron directed five of these films, Walter Hill two. Michael Biehn appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.









Films together
Michael Biehn6 films together, 1983 to 2002
Michael Biehn's page The 'Alien' Saga2002IMDb rating 7.7Paxton as HimselfBiehn as Himself
Tombstone1993IMDb rating 7.8Paxton as Morgan EarpBiehn as Johnny Ringo
Navy Seals1990IMDb rating 5.6Paxton as DaneBiehn as Lt. James Curran
Aliens1986IMDb rating 8.4Paxton as Private HudsonBiehn as Corporal Hicks
The Terminator1984IMDb rating 8.1Paxton as Punk LeaderBiehn as Kyle Reese
The Lords of Discipline1983IMDb rating 6.6Paxton as GilbreathBiehn as John Alexander
Lance Henriksen5 films together, 1984 to 2003
Lance Henriksen's page Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens'2003IMDb rating 8.1Paxton as HimselfHenriksen as Himself
The 'Alien' Saga2002IMDb rating 7.7Paxton as HimselfHenriksen as Himself
Near Dark1987IMDb rating 6.9Paxton as SeverenHenriksen as Jesse Hooker
Aliens1986IMDb rating 8.4Paxton as Private HudsonHenriksen as Bishop
The Terminator1984IMDb rating 8.1Paxton as Punk LeaderHenriksen as Vukovich
Jenette Goldstein4 films together, 1986 to 2003
Jenette Goldstein's page Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens'2003IMDb rating 8.1Paxton as HimselfGoldstein as Himself
The 'Alien' Saga2002IMDb rating 7.7Paxton as HimselfGoldstein as Himself
Near Dark1987IMDb rating 6.9Paxton as SeverenGoldstein as Diamondback
Aliens1986IMDb rating 8.4Paxton as Private HudsonGoldstein as Private Vasquez
Rick Rossovich4 films together, 1983 to 1990
Rick Rossovich's page Navy Seals1990IMDb rating 5.6Paxton as DaneRossovich as Leary
Streets of Fire1984IMDb rating 6.7Paxton as Clyde the BartenderRossovich as Officer Cooley
The Terminator1984IMDb rating 8.1Paxton as Punk LeaderRossovich as Matt
The Lords of Discipline1983IMDb rating 6.6Paxton as GilbreathRossovich as Dante `Pig` Pignetti
Tom Hanks3 films together, 1995 to 2017
Tom Hanks's page The Circle2017IMDb rating 5.4Paxton as VinnieHanks as Bailey
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D2005IMDb rating 6.9Paxton as Ed MitchellvoiceHanks as Narratorvoice
Apollo 131995IMDb rating 7.7Paxton as Fred HaiseHanks as Jim Lovell
Sigourney Weaver3 films together, 1986 to 2003
Sigourney Weaver's page Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens'2003IMDb rating 8.1Paxton as HimselfWeaver as Himself
The 'Alien' Saga2002IMDb rating 7.7Paxton as HimselfWeaver as Himself
Aliens1986IMDb rating 8.4Paxton as Private HudsonWeaver as Ripley
James CameronDirector, 5 films, 1984 to 2003
All films by James Cameron Ghosts of the Abyss2003IMDb rating 6.8Paxton as Himself
Titanic1997IMDb rating 8.0Paxton as Brock Lovett
True Lies1994IMDb rating 7.3Paxton as Simon
Aliens1986IMDb rating 8.4Paxton as Private Hudson
The Terminator1984IMDb rating 8.1Paxton as Punk Leader
Walter HillDirector, 2 films, 1984 to 1992
All films by Walter Hill Trespass1992IMDb rating 6.3Paxton as Vince
Streets of Fire1984IMDb rating 6.7Paxton as Clyde the Bartender
Also three films together8 more actors
- Billy Bob ThorntonA Simple Plan (1998), One False Move (1992) and The Dark Backward (1991)
- Matthew McConaugheyMagnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005), Frailty (2002) and U-571 (2000)
- William HopeSuperior Firepower: Making 'Aliens' (2003), The 'Alien' Saga (2002) and Aliens (1986)
- Luke AskewFrailty (2002), Traveller (1997) and Frank & Jesse (1994)
- James CameronGhosts of the Abyss (2003), Superior Firepower: Making 'Aliens' (2003) and The 'Alien' Saga (2002)
- Nicholas SadlerTwister (1996), The Last Supper (1995) and Frank & Jesse (1994)
- John PaxtonFrailty (2002), A Simple Plan (1998) and Brain Dead (1990)
- Carrie HennSuperior Firepower: Making 'Aliens' (2003), The 'Alien' Saga (2002) and Aliens (1986)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Bill Paxton's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$5.2 billion
39 of the 56 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 56 films: 39 worldwide figure; 9 us gross only; 3 never in cinemas; 5 figure not found.
- 39Worldwide figure
- 9US gross only
- 3Never in cinemas
- 5Figure not found
Top grosser

Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 84% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$2.3B43.3% of the total
- 2$494M9.5% of the total
- 3$379M7.2% of the total
- 4$371M7.1% of the total
- 5$355M6.8% of the total
- 6$216M4.1% of the total
- 7$183M3.5% of the total
- 8$132M2.5% of the total
Awards
One award and honor, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAG Awards | |||
| 1996 | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Apollo 13 | Won |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.













