Bill Paxton, one of the most charismatic, memorable, and watchable actors of our lifetime, has sadly passed away at the age of 61 from complications due to surgery. The Texas native first broke out with his unforgettable turn as Chet in the 1985 comedyWeird Science, and then solidified his versatility with yet another unforgettable turn inJames Cameron’s high-profile sci-fi sequelAliens, coining the phrase (and line-reading) “Game over, man! Game over!” for generations to come.
It wasn’t just Paxton’s charm and dynamism that made him memorable—he was a genuinely talented performer who could inflect his voice or body language to tremendously telling results. He’s just at home playing the coward in Cameron movies likeAliensandTrue Liesas he is playing the hero inJan de Bont’s thrilling 1996 disaster picTwister.
It’s impossible to single out Paxton’s best role—fromNear DarktoApollo 13toA Simple Plan, he was always surprising audiences with something different, something interesting. Even in recent years, turns in films likeNightcrawler,Edge of Tomorrow, andSteven Soderbergh’s underseenHaywirecontinued to be scene-stealing performances despite the fact that Paxton was filling a supporting role.
Paxton also ventured behind the camera to impressive results, with his 2001 directorial debutFrailtyouting him as a serious talent in handling a chilling tone and complex narrative. Most recently, Paxton was co-starring on the CBS seriesTraining Dayfilling the role played byDenzel Washingtonin the feature film, and he has a role in the upcoming filmThe Circle.
Bill Paxton transcended the “character actor” moniker to become a leading man in his own right, albeit one that eschewed the blandness and predictability that so often permeates Hollywood’s stars. He was—and still is—a towering talent who will never be forgotten, and his extensive filmography basically offers a grab-bag of great and interesting films and roles. This one hurts.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Paxton’s family and friends during this difficult time.
