Billy Zane Biography

Mainly a B-movie actor Billy Zane enjoyed a few brief moments in the sun most impressively for his supporting role as the villain Caledon Hockley in the historic blockbuster Titanic (1997). The intense actor began his career playing an assortment of villains and oddballs in occasionally notable films like Dead Calm (1989) and Orlando (1993) but following a run of supporting roles in big budget Hollywood films and a not-so-well-received starring turn as The Phantom (1996) he took up residence in the realm of macho low-budget action films and sci-fi thrillers. A prolific working actor to say the least Zane churned out numerous B-movies and cable telepics yearly occasionally turning heads in acclaimed independent dramas like The Believer (2001) and John Sayles' Silver City (2004) though his curious movie choices made it difficult for him to rise to the status of a solid Hollywood supporting player for which he unquestionably had the looks and talent.
Zane was born to Greek-American parents on Feb. 28 1966 in Chicago Illinois. He became interested in acting when he was a child making short films on a Super-8 camera and appearing in school musical productions. After enjoying a school year abroad in Switzerland and finishing up high school in Chicago Zane moved to Los Angeles to break into acting. His first year in Hollywood he had the good fortune of landing bit parts in the classic Back to the Future (1985) Critters (1986) and the TV-movie Brotherhood of Justice (ABC 1986). Zane's breakthrough came as a result of his chilling performance as a psycho who terrorizes a couple aboard their yacht in Philip Noyce's taut thriller Dead Calm (1989). As a bonus he met his wife Lisa Collins on the set though her screen time was eventually cut. Zane followed up with an equally creepy performance as a serial killer in The Case of the Hillside Stranglers (NBC 1989) and reprised his role as a high school thug in Back to the Future II (1989).

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