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Billy Blanks

Actor / Stunt Performer | * 09/01/1955 (68) | Erie, Pennsylvania (United States of America (USA))
William Wayne Blanks (born September 1, 1955) is an American actor, martial artist and fitness personality. He was a nationally ranked competitor in semi-contact and point karate during the 1980s, winning a bronze medal at the 1981 World Games, before creating the Tae Bo exercise program. ()

Muscular African American sports star, actor, media identity and inventor of the phenomenally popular "Tae Bo" fitness system, derived from his extensive martial arts training. Blanks was born in Eerie, Pennsylvania in 1955 amongst humble backgrounds and grew up as one of 15 children, battling dyslexia and tendon problems. However that didn't stop him from starting his martial arts training at age 14 and eventually achieving black belts in tae kwon do & several other arts, and winning numerous US martial arts tournaments.Blanks first popped up on movie screens in the mid 1980s in tough guy parts utilizing his athletic background and grim faced looks. Films roles included Tango & Cash (1989), Driving Force (1989) and A.W.O.L.: Absent Without Leave (1990). Things looked up in 1991, when Blanks scored the minor role of drug addicted running back "Billy Cole" in the explosive The Last Boy Scout (1991)....and further work followed often sharing lead billing in low budget - high action fare such as Talons of the Eagle (1992), TC 2000 (1993) and Expect No Mercy (1995).In the late 1990s, Billy's innovative and exciting "Tae Bo" workout routine swept around the world like wildfire, and propelled him into the position of one of the world's most recognizable and biggest selling fitness trainers. The remarkable Blanks continues to refine and promote his unique "Tae Bo" fitness system, and he operates the Billy Blanks World Training Center in Sherman Oaks, California.7th Degree Black Belt Billy Blanks had one of the greatest karate fight records in the sport's long history. Blanks was a 7-time world karate champion, the first Amateur Athletic Union Champ in 1975, the 1984 Massachusetts Golden Gloves Boxing Champion, and the Tri-State Golden Gloves Champion of Champions. He was the captain of the United States Karate Team and won over 30 gold medals in international competition. He was the number 1 or number 2 rated full-contact karate fighter in the United States for almost seven straight years. His epic battles with "Nasty" Anderson are legends among martial arts fans. He posted over 300 career victories. In 1982, Billy Blanks was honored by being inducted into the Karate Hall of Fame.

Photo of Billy Blanks
Most frequent genres for this person: Action | Comedies | Drama

Known for these Movies & Shows

Forensic psychologist Alex Cross travels to North Carolina and teams with escaped kidnap victim Kate McTiernan to hunt down "Casanova," a serial killer who abducts strong-willed women and forces them ...

Kiss the Girls

R

1997 | 3.2/5 | 1h 55min
Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Drama
available on:
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Jack Sadelstein, a successful advertising executive in Los Angeles with a beautiful wife and kids, dreads one event each year: the Thanksgiving visit of his twin sister Jill. Jill's neediness and pass ...

Jack and Jill

PG

2011 | 2.2/5 | 1h 31min
Comedy
available on:
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When the girl that detective Joe Hallenback is protecting gets murdered, the boyfriend of the murdered girl attempts to investigate and solve the case. What they discover is that there is deep seated ...

The Last Boy Scout

R

1991 | 3.4/5 | 1h 45min
Action, Thriller
available on:
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Lyon Gaultier is a deserter in the Foreign Legion arriving in the USA entirely hard up. He finds his brother between life and death and his sister-in-law without the money needed to heal her husband a ...

Lionheart

R

1990 | 3.3/5 | 1h 45min
Action
available on:
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Movies with Billy Blanks as Actor(32)

as Samson2024 The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter
as Loren2024 The Last Kumite
as himself2023 Devotion
as himself2019 Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
as himself2018 The Clapper
as Mr. Wilson2017 Almost Amazing
2017 The Ultimate Goal
as himself2015 The Real Miyagi
as Sheriff Tom2015 Dark Moon Rising
as himself2011 Jack and Jill
as himself2010 Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo
as Instructor1997 Kiss the Girls
as Craegan1997 Assault on Devil's Island
as Niko1996 Balance of Power
as John Portland1995 Tough and Deadly
as Justin Vanier1995 Expect No Mercy
as himself1995 Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
as Billy1993 Back in Action
as Jason Storm1993 TC 2000
as Billy Grant1993 Showdown
as Billy1992 Invincible
as Black Thug (uncredited)1992 The Master
as Tyler Wilson1992 Talons of the Eagle
as Billy Cole1991 The Last Boy Scout
as Mr. Brown1991 Timebomb
as Khan1990 The King of the Kickboxers
as African Legionnaire1990 Lionheart
as Baskin's Fighter #11990 China O'Brien II
as Prison Thug (uncredited)1989 Tango & Cash
as Black Rose1989 Bloodfist
as pool1988 Driving Force
as Guard1986 Low Blow

TV Shows/Series with Billy Blanks as Actor(8)

2004 The Tony Danza Show
as himself2003 The Ellen DeGeneres Show
1999 The Parkers
as himself1998 V.I.P.
as himself1996 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
1995 The Parent 'Hood
as Tae-Bo Instructor1994 ER
1992 Melrose Place

Additional Information

Official websites:
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Full Name: Billy Blanks
Born: Thursday, 09/01 1955 (September) in Erie, Pennsylvania (United States of America (USA)) (current age: 68 years + 235 days)
Zodiac sign: Virgo (Chinese zodiac sign: Goat)
Languages: English (EN, native language)
Other names for Billy Blanks (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"William Wayne "Billy" Blanks"
Billy Blanks frequently works together with these people:
Jalal Merhi (10x, Crew)
Steven Kriozere (8x, Crew)
James Hong (7x, Actor)
Lydia Woodward (7x, Crew)
Joe Sachs (6x, Crew)
Lance Gentile (6x, Crew)
Erik Betts (5x, Actor)
Neal Baer (5x, Crew)
Ron Yuan (5x, Actor)
Curtis Petersen (5x, Crew)
Cynthia Rothrock (4x, Actress)
Dito Montiel (4x, Crew)
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WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:28596, Added: 05/08/2018, Last updated: 04/12/2024