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Bill Paxton Biography

Birth Name:William Archibald Paxton

Birth Place:Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Director, Art department, Soundtrack, Production designer, Set decorator

Fast Facts

  • Was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame
  • Was honored by the Lone Star Film Festival in 2017 for his contributions to film
  • Born to actor John Paxton
  • Started out working as a production assistant before becoming an actor
  • Directed the "Saturday Night Live" short segment "Fish Heads․"
  • Quote: "The only way you hit that next level in terms of a film persona is to let go and accept the fact that, for better or worse, you're all you've got, but by the same token you're interesting enough ․․․ It has to do with accepting yourself․"
  • Often worked with filmmaker James Cameron on projects
  • Appeared in the music video "Shadows of the Night" by Pat Benatar in 1982
  • Formed a rock band Martini Ranch with vocalist Andrew Todd Rosenthal in 1988
  • When he was 8 years old, he was in the crowd that waved to President John F․ Kennedy as he exited the Hotel Texas on the morning of his assassination

Awards

  • 1987Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1988Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1995Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1995ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 1995CableACE-Actor in a Dramatic Series: nominated
  • 1996Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: winner
  • 1997Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: nominated
  • 1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2003Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
  • 2003CFCA Award-Most Promising Director: nominated
  • 2003DVDX Award-Best Audio Commentary (New for DVD): nominated
  • 2003OFTA Film Award-Best First Feature: nominated
  • 2003OFCS Award-Best Breakthrough Filmmaker: nominated
  • 2006Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2006WIN Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2007Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2007Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2008Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2009Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
  • 2012OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2013Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2013Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actor in a Mini-Series: nominated
  • 2013Bronze Wrangler-Western Documentary: winner
  • 2018Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated