American actor Bill Paxton began his Hollywood journey as a set dresser for New World Pictures. His very first acting role (uncredited) was in the 1975 film crazy mom. Paxton was serious about advancing his career, which is why he enrolled in Stella Adler’s classes. After many small roles, Paxton got his first big break when he teamed up with James Cameron in the terminator (1984) and Aliens (1986). His performance in the latter made him known to many, leading him to get more acting jobs.
One of his notable roles includes a vampire in near dark in 1987. He got his first lead role in 1993 with A false move. He picked up two more Cameron projects in 1994 and 1997 with: true lies and Titanic, respectively. In addition to film, Paxton also ventured into television, such as in HBO’s big lovefrom 2006 to 2011. Meanwhile, for his role in Hatfields & McCoys, he earned an Emmy Award nomination (Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie). He was also praised for his roles in Agents of SHIELD and Training day. His last film project before he died was The circle. Without Paxton’s death, he would have delivered more astonishing feats.
8/8 Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Paxton played Master Sergeant Farell in the hit science fiction film Edge of tomorrow, a movie with a time loop. Film critic Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter praised the actor for his performance, while other writers said he did a great and excellent job. In an interview, Paxton said he was “the ultimate badass” in the movie. Thanks to his radiant character and the film’s unique plot, the actor enjoyed the shoot and the improvisations that came with it. Although he had a supporting role, Paxton performed, mainly because he had developed a strong character. Those who have seen a movie may want a replay.
7/8 The Terminator (1984)
Paxton had only a minor role in the terminator, but it’s one that’s easy to remember. Why? Paxton and another character (Brian Thompson) were among the first to be killed by the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) when he arrived in Los Angeles. What makes his role memorable is the appearance of his punk character: blue, spiky hair with a tattoo on the tread of a tire. His portrayal of an eccentric character in this science fiction film is proof that he can play almost any role. Thanks to his unique take on his punk character, Cameron cast Paxton in his future films, giving the actor a chance to showcase his versatility.
6/8 True Lies (1994)
Paxton played a used car salesman named Simon in the spy movie true lies. In this action comedy, the main character plays Harry Tasker (played by Schwarzenegger, with whom Paxton the terminator), suspects his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) is having an affair with Simon. A series of hilarious events followed. As in the terminatorPaxton also had a minor role and a brief screen time, but as with his previous punk role, he left a mark. Movie reviewer Benjamin Cox applauded the actor for the comedic note, while Rodney Twelftree thanked him for rules entering pop culture. Paxton is indeed fantastic, whatever his role.
5/8 Strange Science (1985)
Paxton’s role as Chet Donnelly in the comedy film weird science is one of his most notable. Film critic Bryan Kluger believes his role is one of the most underrated performances in the industry, praising the actor for his perfect performance, which makes him great to watch. Some writers said that Paxton stood out in this film, mainly because he was having fun, even though his character was “one of the biggest bastards in the history of cinema”. Many movie buffs still remember his “incomparable” Chet, thanks to his funny ways of presenting this character. Paxton does indeed know how to be a bad boy. The question is: will weird science be the next comeback movie?
4/8 Strangers (1986)
Cameron was so impressed with Paxton that he… the terminatorthey teamed up again in the classic science fiction movie Aliens. He brought to life the character of Private First Class William L. Hudson, a fan favorite and considered one of Paxton’s iconic roles. The movie studio loved Paxton weird sciencethat was why he got a part in Aliens. His portrayal of Hudson was acclaimed and won Best Supporting Actor from Saturn Awards. His effective performance in this iconic film resulted in many more projects. Fun fact: Paxton along with Lance Henriksen have the honor of being killed by a Terminator, an alien and a Predator.
3/8 Apollo13 (1995)
.jpg)
In another commendable performance, Paxton played the role of astronaut Fred Haise in the blockbuster Apollo 13. This docudrama film based on the book Lost Moon: The Perilous Journey of Apollo 13 focused on the aborted lunar mission. For their stunning performances, Paxton, Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon received the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award from the Screen Actors Guild Awards. The cast is nothing but excellent, with Paxton “never better”. This powerful film is a classic, not only because of the story, but also because of the amazing performances of the actors.
2/8 A Simple Plan (1998)
.jpg)
Paxton played Hank Mitchell in the crime thriller A simple plan. The story follows Hank, his brother (Billy Bob Thornton) and a friend (Brent Briscoe) after discovering $4.4 million in cash and their attempts to keep it a secret. Paxton delivered a convincing performance in this neo-noir film, so much so that acclaimed critic Roger Ebert suggested that Paxton be nominated for Best Actor at the 1999 Academy Awards. This, as Ebert said, showed the actor “the complexity of which he is capable.” After Paxton’s death, a writer said his portrayal of Hank was his best, stressing that it was both his “saddest and his most frightening performance.”
1/8 Vulnerability (2001)
.jpg)
vulnerability was Paxton’s directorial debut and it follows his character, a fervently religious father. For a budding director, Paxton was sure to be all smiles after his film received positive reviews. Ebert called him “gifted” for his “extraordinary work.” The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes praised this psychological thriller for being “well made.” Texas Monthly critic Sean O’Neal said that for this film, Paxton used his “inherently good ol’ boy friendliness to his greatest advantage.” In this ‘underrated gem’, the director and actor Paxton gave a unique take on the genre, presenting the character in the way he knew best. Long live Paxton, indeed.