Billy Zane

Actor, Producer, Director

Birthdate: Feb 24, 1966

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

William George Zane, better known as Billy Zane, was born on February 24, 1966 in Chicago, Illinois, to Thalia (Colovos) and William Zane, both of Greek ancestry. His parents were amateur actors and managed a medical technical school. Billy has an older sister, actress and singer Lisa Zane. 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 Beals also attended Parker, prior to Billy's attendance.

Soon after graduating from high school, Billy decided to venture out to California to attempt acting for the first time. Within three weeks, he won his very first big screen role in Back to the Future (1985), playing the role of Match, one of Biff Tannen's thugs. He would later reprise that role for the sequel Back to the Future Part II (1989). Then after a small role in the science fiction horror film Critters (1986), he landed starring roles in several television films. Billy played villain Hughie Warriner in the Australian thriller film Dead Calm (1989), where he met his future wife, Lisa Collins.

He also co-starred in Memphis Belle (1990), a film version of a 1944 documentary about a World War II bomber. In 1991, he appeared as John Justice Wheeler on several episodes of David Lynch's television series Twin Peaks (1990). Billy starred as the eponymous superhero in The Phantom (1996) and as Caledon Hockley in the billion dollar grossing Titanic (1997). Then, he starred in the television movie Cleopatra (1999) where he met his soon-to-be fiance, actress Leonor Varela from whom he subsequently separated. In 2005, he had a recurring role as the poetry loving ex-demon Drake on the television series Charmed (1998).

Known For

The Phantom
The Phantom

(1996)

Back to the Future Part II
Back to the Future Part II

(1989)

Dead Calm
Dead Calm

(1989)

Billy Zane Movies

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Previous (102)

  • 2026 |

    Takeover

    asGamal Akopyan
  • 2025 |

    Waltzing with Brando

    asMarlon Brando
  • 2025 |

    Day of Reckoning

    asMarshal Butch Hayden
  • 2024 |
    Food Fightas Tommy
  • 2023 |
    Centurion: The Dancing Stallionas Jeffrey Hall
  • 2023 |
    Stai Sereno (Stay Calm)as Giorgio
  • 2023 |
    Tapawingoas Stoney Tarwater
  • 2023 |

    The Oath

    asKing Aaron
  • 2022 |
    Titanic Secrets
  • 2022 |

    Memory

    asTaylor Briggs
  • 2021 |
    Iké Boysas Newt Grafstrom
  • 2021 |
    Legend of Destructionas Simeon Bar Giora
  • 2021 |
    Ruptureas Victor
  • 2021 |
    Stallone: Frank, That Is
  • 2021 |
    The Believeras Dr. Benedict
  • 2020 |
    All Hail the Hams! Breaking the Silence on a Comedy Classic
  • 2020 |
    Battle of the Bulge: Winter Waras General Omar Bradly
  • 2020 |
    Final Killas Carl Riser
  • 2020 |
    Ghosts of Waras Dr. Engel
  • 2020 |
    Guest Houseas Douglas
  • 2020 |
    The Downside of Blissas Mic
  • 2019 |
    The Ballet of the Nationsas Narrator
  • 2019 |
    The Great Waras Col. Jack Morrison
  • 2019 |

    Cliffs of Freedom

    asChristo
  • 2018 |
    Trouble Sleepingas Charles
  • 2018 |

    Samson

    asKing Balek
  • 2017 |
    Adventure Clubas Langley
  • 2017 |
    Blue World Orderas Master Crane
  • 2017 |
    Mining for Rubyas Professor Sam Goodwell
  • 2017 |
    Sniper: Ultimate Killas Richard Miller
  • 2017 |
    V-Force: New Dawn of V.I.C.T.O.R.Y.as Lazlo Lazaar
  • 2016 |
    Dead Rising: Endgameas Rand
  • 2016 |
    White Islandas Leo
  • 2015 |
    West of Redemptionas Hank Keller
  • 2015 |
    ZK: Elephant's Graveyardas Seiler
  • 2014 |
    A Winter Roseas Preston Holdsworth
  • 2014 |
    Finding Harmonyas Casey Colter
  • 2014 |
    Ghost of Goodnight Laneas Alan
  • 2014 |
    The Ganzfeld Hauntingas Father
  • 2013 |
    Blood of Redemptionas Quinn
  • 2013 |
    Scornedas Kevin
  • 2013 |
    The Employeras Alan
  • 2012 |
    2 Jacksas Max Faraday
  • 2012 |
    A Green Storyas Greg Hutchins
  • 2012 |
    Border Runas Aaron Talbert
  • 2012 |
    Electrick Childrenas Paul
  • 2012 |
    The Kill Holeas Marshall
  • 2012 |
    Titanic: 100 Years On
  • 2011 |
    Flutteras Dentist
  • 2011 |
    Guidoas Sid Shine
  • 2011 |
    Lovemakersas Jake's agent
  • 2011 |
    Mysteriaas Producer
  • 2011 |
    The Roommateas Professor Roberts
  • 2010 |
    Enemies Among Usas Graham
  • 2010 |
    Magic Manas Darius
  • 2010 |
    The Confidantas Monty
  • 2009 |
    Attack on Darfuras Bob Jones
  • 2009 |
    Surviving Evilas Seb
  • 2009 |
    The Gold Retrieversas Hector James
  • 2009 |
    The Hessen Conspiracyas Jack Durant
  • 2008 |
    Perfect Hideoutas Victor
  • 2008 |
    The Man Who Came Backas Ezra
  • 2007 |
    Fishtalesas Dr. Thomas Bradley
  • 2007 |
    The Madas Jason Hunt
  • 2006 |
    The Pleasure Driversas Marvin
  • 2006 |
    Valley of the Wolves: Iraqas Sam William Marshall
  • 2005 |
    Survival Islandas Jack
  • 2004 |
    Big Kissas Billy
  • 2004 |
    Silver Cityas Chandler Tyson
  • 2003 |
    Vladas Adrian
  • 2003 |
    Imaginary Graceas Nero
  • 2003 |
    Starving Hysterical Nakedas Jack
  • 2002 |
    Claimas Roberto Bealing
  • 2002 |
    Landspeedas Michael Sanger
  • 2001 |
    CQas Mr. E
  • 1999 |
    Promise Her Anythingas George Putter
  • 1998 |
    I Woke Up Early the Day I Diedas The Thief
  • 1998 |
    Susan's Planas Sam Myers
  • 1997 |

    Titanic

    asCal Hockley
  • 1997 |
    This World, Then the Fireworksas Marty Lakewood
  • 1996 |
    Head Above Wateras Kent
  • 1996 |
    Danger Zoneas Rick Morgan
  • 1995 |
    Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knightas The Collector
  • 1994 |
    Flashfireas Jack Flinder
  • 1994 |
    Reflections on a Crimeas Colin
  • 1994 |
    The Silence of the Hamsas Jo Dee Fostar
  • 1994 |
    Only Youas The False Damon Bradley
  • 1993 |
    Betrayal of the Doveas Dr. Jesse Peter
  • 1992 |
    Orlandoas Shelmerdine
  • 1993 |

    Orlando

    asShelmerdine
  • 1993 |
    Sniperas Richard Miller
  • 1991 |
    Femme Fataleas Elijah
  • 1991 |
    Millionsas Maurizio Ferretti
  • 1991 |
    Blood and Concreteas Joey Turks
  • 1990 |
    Megavilleas Palinov
  • 1990 |
    Memphis Belleas Lt. Val "Valentine" Kozlowski
  • 1989 |
    Going Overboardas King Neptune
  • 1989 |
    Back to the Future Part IIas Match
  • 1989 |

    Back to the Future Part II

    asMatch
  • 1989 |
    Dead Calmas Hughie Warriner
  • 1986 |
    Crittersas Steve Elliot
  • 1985 |

    Back to the Future

    asMatch

Billy Zane News

Billy Zane: Biography, Movies, Net Worth & Photos