American actor Bill Paxton started his Hollywood journey as a set dresser for New World Pictures. His first ever acting role (uncredited) was in the 1975 film Crazy Mama. Paxton was serious about furthering his career, the reason for enrolling in the classes of Stella Adler. After many minor roles, Paxton got his first big break when he worked with James Cameron in The Terminator (1984) and Aliens (1986). His performance in the latter made him known to many, thereby getting more acting jobs.
One of his notable roles includes a vampire in Near Dark in 1987. He got his first starring role in 1993 with One False Move. He bagged two more Cameron projects in 1994 and 1997 with True Lies and Titanic, respectively. Aside from film, Paxton also ventured into television, like in HBO’s Big Love, from 2006 to 2011. Meanwhile, for his role in Hatfields & McCoys, he earned an Emmy Award nomination (Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie). He was also praised for his roles in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Training Day. His last film project before he died was The Circle. If not for Paxton’s death, he would have delivered more stunning performances.
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8 Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Paxton played Master Sergeant Farell in the hit science fiction film Edge of Tomorrow, a movie featuring a time loop. Film critic Todd McCarthy from The Hollywood Reporter praised the actor for his performance, while other writers said he did a great and outstanding job. In an interview, Paxton said he was “the ultimate badass” in the movie. Thanks to his beaming character and the unique plot of the movie, the actor enjoyed the shoot and the improvisations that came with it. Though he had a supporting role, Paxton delivered, especially since he was assigned to have a strong character. Those who have watched a movie might want a repeat.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 The Terminator (1984)
Orion Pictures
Paxton only had a minor role in The Terminator, but it is one that’s easy to remember. Why so? Paxton and another character (Brian Thompson) were among the first to be killed by the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) when he arrived in Los Angeles. What makes his role memorable is the look of his punk character: blue, spiked hair with a tire tread tattoo on the face. His portrayal of an oddball character in this science fiction movie is proof that he can do almost any role. Thanks to his unique take on his punk character, Cameron cast Paxton in his future films, giving the actor a chance to showcase his versatility.
6 True Lies (1994)
20th Century Fox
Paxton played a used car salesman named Simon in the spy movie True Lies. In this action-comedy, the lead character, Harry Tasker (played by Schwarzenegger, whom Paxton worked with in The Terminator), suspects his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) is having an affair with Simon. A series of hilarious events ensued. As in The Terminator, Paxton also had a minor role and a short screen time, but as with his previous punk role, he left a mark. Film critic Benjamin Cox applauded the actor for the comic relief, while Rodney Twelftree thanked him for lines that entered pop culture. Paxton is indeed fantastic, whatever his role.
5 Weird Science (1985)
Universal Pictures
Paxton’s role as Chet Donnelly in the comedy film Weird Science is one of his most notable. Film critic Bryan Kluger believes that his role is one of the most underrated performances in the industry, praising the actor for his spot-on execution, making him wonderful to watch. Some writers said Paxton stood out in this movie, especially since he had fun even though his character was “one of the greatest assholes in the history of cinema.” Many movie buffs still remember his “incomparable” Chet, thanks to his amusing ways of presenting this character. Paxton knows how to be a bad boy, indeed. The question stands: will Weird Science be the next comeback film?
4 Aliens (1986)
Cameron was so impressed with Paxton that after The Terminator, they worked with each other again in the classic science fiction movie Aliens. He brought to life the character of Private First Class William L. Hudson, a fan favorite and considered one of Paxton’s iconic roles. The film studio loved Paxton in Weird Science, which was why he landed a role in Aliens. His portrayal of Hudson earned praise, ending with a Best Supporting Actor award from Saturn Awards. His effective performance in this iconic movie resulted in many more projects. Fun fact: Paxton, alongside Lance Henriksen, have the honor of being killed by a Terminator, an alien, and a Predator.
3 Apollo 13 (1995)
In another commendable performance, Paxton played the role of astronaut Fred Haise in the blockbuster hit Apollo 13. This docudrama film based on the book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13 focused on the aborted lunar mission. For their stunning performances, Paxton, Tom Hanks, and Kevin Bacon received the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture prize from the Screen Actors Guild Awards. The cast is nothing but excellent, with Paxton “never better.” This powerful movie is a classic not just because of the story but because of the actors’ stellar performances.
2 A Simple Plan (1998)
Paramount Pictures (North America and United Kingdom) / Concorde Filmverleih (Germany)/ UGC Fox Distribution (France) / Toho-Towa (Japan)
Paxton played Hank Mitchell in the crime thriller A Simple Plan. The story followed Hank, his brother (Billy Bob Thornton), and a friend (Brent Briscoe) after discovering $4.4 million in cash and their attempts to keep it secret. Paxton delivered a convincing performance in this neo-noir film, so much so that the acclaimed critic Roger Ebert suggested that Paxton be nominated as best actor at the 1999 Academy Awards. This, as Ebert said the actor showed “the complexities that he’s capable of.” After Paxton’s death, a writer said his portrayal of Hank was his best, highlighting that it was his “most sorrowful performance as well as his most frightening.”
1 Frailty (2001)
Lions Gate Films
Frailty was Paxton’s directorial debut, and it follows his character, a fanatically religious father. For a newbie director, Paxton was surely all smiles after his film received positive reviews. Ebert called him “gifted” for his “extraordinary work.” The consensus on Rotten Tomatoes praised this psychological thriller for being “well-crafted.” Critic Sean O’Neal from Texas Monthly said that for this movie, Paxton used his “inherent good ol’ boy affability to its greatest advantage.” In this “underrated gem,” Paxton the director and the actor delivered a unique take on the genre and presented the character in the way he knew best. Long live Paxton, indeed.
