Bill Paxton Bio

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What is Bill Paxton's real name?
William Paxton

Where was Bill Paxton born?
Fort Worth, Texas

When was Bill Paxton born?
May 17, 1955

What is Bill Paxton's height?
5'11" (1.80m)

What color are Bill Paxton's eyes?
Blue

William "Bill" Paxton (born May 17, 1955) is an American actor and film director. He gained popularity after starring roles in the films Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic. Paxton starred in the HBO series Big Love (2006-2011).

Bill Paxton: Early life

Paxton was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, the son of Mary Lou (née Gray) and John Lane Paxton, a businessman, lumber wholesaler, museum executive, and occasional actor. He was raised Roman Catholic, his mother's religion. He attended St. Anne's Catholic School, Arlington Heights High School (Fort Worth, Texas), and Southwest Texas State University (San Marcos, Texas).

Bill Paxton: Career

Paxton in April 2010

After graduation, Paxton moved to Los Angeles and began working for the film director Roger Corman as a set designer. His experiences working behind the camera influenced Paxton's decision to pursue acting, which led him to relocate to New York City where he studied under Stella Adler.

Paxton has appeared in such films as Weird Science, Aliens, Apollo 13, Near Dark, Twister, Titanic and True Lies. Four years after appearing in Titanic, he joined James Cameron on an expedition to the actual Titanic. A film about this trip, Ghosts of the Abyss, was released in 2003.

Paxton has also directed a number of short films, including Fish Heads, which aired during Saturday Night Live's low-rated 1980-1981 season. He directed the feature films Frailty and The Greatest Game Ever Played.

Paxton 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. He appears in Limp Bizkit video Eat You Alive.

In 1988, Paxton and the vocalist/guitarist Andrew Todd Rosenthal formed a short-lived rock duo Martini Ranch. They recorded and released an album entitled Holy Cow, which included input from Devo members Mark Mothersbaugh, Bob Casale, and Alan Myers, all of whom contributed to the album's modest hit, "How Can the Labouring Man Find Time For Self-Culture?"

Bill Paxton: Personal life

Paxton married Louise Newbury in 1987, and they have two children. His son James is also an actor.

Paxton was in the crowd waving when President John F. Kennedy emerged from the Hotel Texas in Ft. Worth, Texas, on the morning of his assassination, November 22, 1963. There are pictures at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas where 8-year-old Paxton can be seen astride the shoulders of an unidentified man.