- In 1997 Billy Zane had a lead role in the most successful film of his career, playing Kate Winslet's vile fiancé in TITANIC.
- Cameron regular Michael Biehn was nearly cast as Cal Hockley and attended numerous meetings with director James Cameron to discuss the role in TITANIC. Though ultimately the part went to Billy Zane
- Kate Winslet tells him, I'd rather be his whore than your wife in TITANIC. This line was delivered earlier by Peggy Lipton to Chris Mulkey in TWIN PEAKS -- in which Zane co-starred.
- Is of Greek descent.
- BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985) was Zane's first movie.
- Is a member of the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. He can be seen in TITANIC wearing his fraternity ring.
- Was originally casted 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.
- Shaved his head in 1997 because of premature balding.
- Is the voice of Broderick 'Brodi' Ford in the EA Sports Big game SSX Tricky (for Playstation2, Nintendo Gamecube, Xbox).
- Appeared as the lead in the band Staind's video for Epiphany off their album Break the Cycle opposite Mena Suvari.
- Was paid $2,000,000 for CLEOPATRA (1999) (TV)
- Attended Harand Camp of the Theater Arts, located in Elkhart Lake, WI, along with Jeremy Piven.
- Went to high school with actresses Darryl Hannah and Jennifer Beals.
- Is an avid car collector. His favorites are mustangs, especially the 1964 convertibles.
- Eye color: Brown with fleck of green
- Hair color: Dark/Bald
- Was in the plays Oklahoma! and Guys and Dolls, as a teen.
- His main influence in choosing an acting career: Gene Kelly, Cary Grant, Sean Connery, His dad, a combination of all the above, and Clark Gable.
- What scares Billy about sex: Feet
- Is very into yoga and martial arts these days, serves as creative consultant of advertising for Sama Eyeware, which contributes 100 percent of its net profits to an alternative rehab clinic for heroin addicts.
- Ambassador of Elegance for Longines' Dolce Vita watch
- Favorite colors: Black and Purple
- Likes horseback riding, painting, swimming, photography, frisbees, taking nature walks, riding a bicycle, and collecting cars.
- Loves the early James Bond films & Thunderbirds.
- His Heros: his Dad, Myiamoto Musahahi (he devised the Samurai practices) and the inventor of the Frisbee.
- Most proud of My sister and my compassion.
- Most admires his Sister and Dad.
- Book that changed his life: Musahahi's book A Book of Five Rings.
- Wants to work with Hume Cronyn, Donald O'Connor, Cyd Charisse, Steve Martin, Cate Blanchett, & Olympia Dukakis.
- His most current favorite movie is the film with Walter Huston called DODSWORTH, based on a book by Sinclair Lewis, directed by William Wyler.
- What he looks for in a woman: A certain strength that comes with ease. A woman who is not afraid of the word feminist.
- Loves the book, Serenade, by James M. Cain
- Smokes cigarettes and cigars.
- Began making movies with his father's Super 8 camera when he was 13.
- Once, he recruited some city workers to chase Lisa down the beach with a bulldozer so he could film the imitation of the crop-dusting scene in Alfred Hitchcock's North By Northwest.
- His sister Lisa Zane states: Billy is definitely a searcher, especially spiritually. He has an insatiable appetite for anything and everything on that level.
- Misses his grandmother very much and has said her cooking was amazing, especially a pilafi she made with broken up feta cheese and shredded chicken. Then, he remembered her killer tiropita and pastitsio. (All are Greek Foods)
- Best Friend: Todd Collins
- His friends in school would listen to Led Zepplin while he hummed Sinatra and Martin.
- His rules to follow for survival in Hollywood: 1.Behave as though you've already arrived. 2. You are what you wear. 3. Don't drink the water.
- Hates tomatoes
- Is allergic to cats
- Is recently became intrigued with Japanese sword play and flew to Australia to take a course in the ancient form of fighting.
- Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast at Screen Actors Guild Awards for TITANIC (1998)
- Nominated for Best Villain at MTV Movie Awards for TITANIC (1998)
Quotes- His teenage mission statement: "Act like Sean Connery. Dance like Gene Kelly, drive like Steve McQueen. Kiss like Clark Gable and dress like Cary Grant."
- "My parents exposed me to so much of the arts, but I think it was ultimately watching Gene Kelly and Vincente Minnelli's collaborations that really turned me on to the arts, to acting, as a kid."
- "I love working for women. It's the best."
- "I owe my success to my parents' whimsy and my grandmother's dignity."
- "I attribute my first gig to an old-fashioned traditional audition. The first break I got was "Back to the Future," but I think it was attributed to the tee shirt I was wearing- a George Jetson tee shirt. My life direction was attributed to a kitsch, souvenir off Melrose. You are what you wear!"
Awards- B-Movie Film Festival: Best Actor, I AWOKE EARLY THE DAY I DIED (2000)
- Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Supporting Actor - Drama, TITANIC (1998)
|
