Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks (born September 1, 1955 in Erie , Pennsylvania ) is an American martial artist, trainer and actor. He is known for his action films and the Tae Bo training method he developed .
Blanks grew up in a poor family as the fourth of fifteen children. Already at the age of 11 he became interested in martial arts and started to train. During his high school years he met his then-wife Gayle, with whom he has two children. Despite a learning disability and hip problems, Billy managed to become one of the world's most successful martial artists. Today Billy Blanks is married to Tomoko Sato, with whom he has a daughter named Angelika. In addition, he also adopted the two daughters that Tomoko brought with him into the marriage.
He took part in martial arts competitions and in 1975 won the title of "Amateur Athletic Union Champion" for the first time. He was able to win this award a total of five times. Billy Blanks practiced various martial arts, quickly became a champion in karate and earned a black belt in taekwondo . He was also very successful in boxing and won many titles, such as the "Golden Gloves Champion" in 1984 in Massachusetts.
He coached the American national team in karate, and with his support they won 36 gold medals. Motivated by his success, he opened his first karate studio in Boston.
In the mid-1980s, Billy Blanks launched his Tae Bo , and later he developed the “Billy's Bootcamp” workout.
Billy Blanks worked in Manila in 1988 as a bodyguard for Catherine Bach. There she played the lead role in the film Driving Force. While he was the bodyguard of Catherine Bach, he convinced the directors of his acting skills and was assigned a small supporting role.
Filmography (selection)
- 1989: Bloodfist Fighter (Bloodfist)
- 1989: Tango & Cash
- 1990: Karate Tiger 5 - The King of the Kickboxers
- 1991: Last Boy Scout (The Last Boy Scout)
- 1991: Nameless - Total Terminator (Timebomb)
- 1992: The Talons of the Eagle
- 1993: TC 2000
- 1993: American Karate Tiger (Showdown)
- 1994: Retribution (Back in Action)
- 1994: Tough and Deadly
- 1995: Mercy (Expect No Mercy)
- 1996: Balance Of Power
- 1997: ... because they are there to be kissed (Kiss the Girls)
- 1999: Emergency Room - Die Notaufnahme ( ER , TV series, episode 5x14)
- 2011: Jack and Jill
- 2015: Dark Moon Rising
Web links
- Billy Blanks in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- official homepage
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Blanks, Billy |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American martial artist, trainer, and actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 1, 1955 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Erie , Pennsylvania , USA |