Biography for
Billy Zane

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William George Zane Jr., better known as Billy Zane, was born on February 24, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, USA to parents William George Zane Sr. and Thalia Zane. Both of his parents ran a medical technical school. Billy also has a sister named Lisa Zane, an actress born in 1961. Billy was bitten by the acting bug early on. In his early teens, he attended Harand Camp of the Theater Arts in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. In 1982, he attended the American School in Switzerland. His high school days were spent at Francis Parker High School in Chicago, Illinois. Daryl Hannah and Jennifer Bealsalso attended Parker, prior to Billy's attendance. Soon after graduating high school, Billy decided to venture out to California to try his hand at acting. Within three weeks, he won his very first big screen role in Back to the Future (1985), playing the part of Match, one of Biff's thugs. He would later reprise that role for the sequel. Then after a small role in the film Critters (1986), he landed starring roles in several television movies. In 1989, Billy filmed Dead Calm (1989). It was on the set of this movie that he met his future wife, Lisa Collins. They were married from 1988-1995. In 1996, Billy starred in The Phantom (1996) and in 1997 as Cal Hockley in the billion dollar grossing Titanic (1997). Then in 1999, he starred in the television movie Cleopatra (1999) (TV) where he met his soon-to-be fiance, actress Leonor Varela from whom he subsequently split.

Spouse

Trivia

Billy attended Parker School in Chicago. Billy attended Harand Camp of the Theater Arts, located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, along with Jeremy Piven.

Was engaged to Leonor Varela.

He attended The American School in Switzerland for his sophmore year of high school.

Brother of actress Lisa Zane.

Was originally cast as Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing (1987). During a dance rehearsal, Emile Ardolino realized that Zane could not dance, so they gave the part to Patrick Swayze.

Is an avid swimmer and started shaving his head in 1997 for aerodynamics.

Is the voice of Broderick 'Brodi' Ford in the EA Sports Big game SSX Tricky (2001) (VG) (for Playstation2, Nintendo Gamecube, Xbox).

Is of Greek descent.

Added more muscle to his already buff physique in order to effectively play Marc Antony in the 1999 movie Cleopatra (1999) (TV).

He has played complete opposite sides of the typical "marooned love triangle." In Dead Calm (1989), he played the handsome and mysterious stranger who gets marooned with Sam Neill (the husband) and Nicole Kidman (wife). In Three (2005), he plays the jealous husband, in opposition to Kelly Brook (wife) and Juan Pablo Di Pace (handsome outsider).

Engaged to English actress Kelly Brook.

He pumped iron for over a year to play his title role in The Phantom (1996).

He has filmed movies in over 19 countries, including Australia 5 times.

Original family name is Tzanetakos.

His voice was used as a sample on Marilyn Manson's Mechanical Animals tour as the intro for the song, "Rock Is Dead". He can be heard on the live album, "The Last tour on Earth" saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, from the dread capital of the world, Hollwood, California, Omega and the mechanical animals".

Is best known to younger audiences as the voice of Ansem in Kingdom Hearts (2002) (VG).

Personal Quotes

"I'm enjoying 40. Old enough to know better, young enough not to care." on being asked what's the best age to be is

Salary

Where Are They Now

(October 2005) In Gaziantep (Turkey) filming for Kurtlar Vadisi-Irak (2005).

(November 2006) Currently appearing in 'Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks at the Theatre Royal Haymarket London from 29th November 2006 - 27 February 2007

(February 2008) In Belgium, shooting The Hessen Affair

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