PAXTON, Bill 1955–

(Pete Lautrec, Peter LeTrek)

PERSONAL

Full name, William Paxton; born May 17, 1955, in Fort Worth, TX; son of John Lane (a lumber company executive and museum executive) and Mary Lou (maiden name, Gray) Paxton; married second wife, Louise Newbury; children: James, Lydia. Education: Attended New York University and Richmond College; trained for the stage with Stella Adler and Vincent Chase.

Addresses: Agent— Brian Swardstrom, Endeavor, 9601 Wilshire Blvd., Third Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Publicist— Karen Samfilippo, Image Management Public Relations, 8271 Melrose Ave., Suite 208, Los Angeles, CA 90046; Craig Bankey, I/D Public Relations, 8409 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Career: Actor, director, producer, writer, production designer, musician, and singer. New World Pictures, worked as a set dresser and set decorator, sometimes using the name Pete Lautrec or Peter LeTrek. With others, made student films such as Victory at Auschwitz. Producer and performer in student plays. Performer in the rock band Martini Ranch.

Member: Screen Actors Guild.

Awards, Honors: Special award, Melbourne Film Festival, 1982, for Fish Heads; CINE Gold Eagle, Council on International Non–theatrical Events, and honorable mention, U.S.A. Film Festival, both 1983, for Scoop; Saturn Award, Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, best supporting actor, 1987, and DVD Exclusive Award nomination (with others), best audio commentary, 2003, both for Aliens; Actor Award (with others), outstanding ensemble performance in a motion picture, 1995, for Apollo 13; Screen Actors Guild Award nomination (with others), outstanding performance by a cast, 1998, for Titanic; Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actor in a miniseries or motion picture made for television, 1999, for A Bright Shining Lie; Texas Filmmaker Award, Deep Ellum Film Festival, 2001; Filmmaker's Showcase Award and Saturn Award nomination, best direction, both Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films, Chicago Film Critics Association Award nomination, most promising director, and Online Film Critics Society Award nomination, best breakthrough filmmaker, all 2003, for Frailty; filmmaking grant, American Film Institute, for The Egyptian Princess.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

John, Crazy Mama, New World, 1975.

Eddie, Night Warning (also known as Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker, The Evil Protege, Momma's Boy, Nightmare Maker, and Thrilled to Death), 1981.

Soldier, Stripes, Columbia, 1981.

Gilbreath, The Lords of Discipline, Paramount, 1982.

Fish Heads (short film), 1982.

Barfly in café, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, Embassy, 1983.

Clyde, Streets of Fire, Universal, 1983.

Eddie, Impulse, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1983.

Scoop (short film), 1983.

Taking Tiger Mountain, 1983.

Chet Donnelly, Weird Science, Universal, 1984.

Paul Andrews, Mortuary (also known as Embalmed), Hickmar Productions, 1984.

Punk leader, The Terminator, Orion, 1984.

Intercept officer, Commando, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1985.

Private W. Hudson, Aliens, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1985.

Bobo, Riding Fast, 1986.

Severen, Near Dark, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1987.

Jesse Wilkes, Pass the Ammo, New Century/Vista, 1988.

The Roommate, 1988.

Gerald Gates, Next of Kin, Warner Bros., 1989.

Bo Brand, Back to Back, Concorde/Vertex, 1990.

Dane, Navy SEALS, Orion, 1990.

Howard "Hojo" Jones, The Last of the Finest (also known as Blue Heat and Street Legal), Orion, 1990.

Jerry Lambert, Predator 2, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1990.

Jim Reston, Brain Dead (also known as Paranoia), Concorde, 1990.

Matt Owens, Slipstream, Virgin Home Entertainment, 1990.

Gus, The Dark Backward (also known as The Man with Three Arms), RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video, 1991.

Chief Dale "Hurricane" Dixon, One False Move, IRS Releasing, 1992.

Graham Krakowski, The Vagrant, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer/United Artists Home Video, 1992.

Vince, Trespass (also known as Looters), Universal, 1992.

Jack Belston, Indian Summer (also known as L'ete indien), Buena Vista, 1993.

Morgan Earp, Tombstone, Buena Vista, 1993.

Ray O'Malley, Boxing Helena, Orion, 1993.

Tucker, Monolith, 1993.

Simon, True Lies, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1994.

Vince, Future Shock, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1994.

Fred W. Haise, Apollo 13 (also known as Lost Moon 13), Universal, 1995, released as Apollo 13: The IMAX Experience, 2002.

Jerry Bruckner, The Evening Star, Paramount, 1996.

William "Bill" Harding, Twister, Warner Bros., 1996.

Zachary "Zack" Cody, The Last Supper, Sony Pictures Releasing, 1996.

Bokky, Traveller, October Films, 1997.

Brock Lovett, Titanic, Twentieth Century–Fox/Paramount, 1997.

Himself, Twister: Ride It Out (documentary), 1998.

Gregg O'Hara, Mighty Joe Young (also known as Mighty Joe), Buena Vista, 1998.

Hank Mitchell, A Simple Plan (also known as Ein Einfacher Plan and Un plan simple), Paramount, 1998.

Elliot Vaughn, Vertical Limit, Sony Pictures Releasing, 2000.

Lieutenant commander Mike Dahlgren, U–571, Universal, 2000.

Dad Meiks, Frailty (also known as Daemonisch and Nessuno e al sicuro), Lions Gate Films, 2001.

Dinky Winks, Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams, Dimension Films, 2002.

Himself, Ghosts of the Abyss (documentary), Buena Vista, 2003, IMAX version released as Titanic3D: Ghosts of the Abyss.

Dinky Winks, Spy Kids 3–D: Game Over (also known as Spy Kids 3: Game Over), Miramax, 2003.

Narrator, University Greys: From Students to Soldiers, 2003.

Ted, Resistance, 2003.

Carl Ridley, Haven, 2004.

Coconut Pete, Club Dread (also known as Broken Lizard's Club Dread), Twentieth Century–Fox, 2004.

Jeff Tracy, Thunderbirds, Universal, 2004.

Some sources cite an appearance in Touched by the Hand of God, 1987.

Film Director:

Fish Heads (short film), 1982.

Scoop (short film), 1983.

Frailty (also known as Daemonisch and Nessuno e al sicuro), Lions Gate Films, 2001.

The Greatest Game Ever Played, Buena Vista, 2005.

Film Producer:

Fish Heads (short film), 1982.

Scoop (short film), 1983.

Traveller, October Films, 1997.

Film Production Designer:

(As Pete Lautrec) High School Fantasies, 1974.

Taking Tiger Mountain, 1983.

Film Set Decorator:

Assistant set decorator, Death Game (also known as Mrs. Manning's Weekend and The Seducers), 1977.

Galaxy of Terror (also known as Mindwarp: An Infinity of Terror, Planet of Horrors, and Quest), 1981.

Film Set Dresser:

Big Bad Mama, 1974.

(As Pete Lautrec) Beach Blanket Bango (also known as Beach Party Bango and Teenage Throat), 1975.

Film Work; Other:

(As Pete Lautrec) Art director, Beach Blanket Bango (also known as Beach Party Bango and Teenage Throat), 1975.

Unit manager, Bajadores de narcos (also known as Trap), 1998.

Also affiliated with the short film The Egyptian Princess.

Television Appearances; Series:

The Six O'Clock Follies, NBC, 1980.

Bill Henrickson, Big Love, HBO, beginning 2005.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Campbell, The Atlanta Child Murders, CBS, 1985.

Billy Jo Bobb, Fresno, CBS, 1986.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Eddie Fox, Deadly Lessons, ABC, 1983.

Bob Maracek, An Early Frost, NBC, 1985.

Frank James, Frank and Jesse, HBO, 1995.

Lieutenant colonel John Paul Vann, A Bright Shining Lie, HBO, 1998.

Television Appearances; Specials:

The Making of "Terminator," 1984.

The Making of "Alien 3," 1992.

The Making of "True Lies," Fox, 1994.

100 Years of the Hollywood Western, 1994.

A Day with, Fox, 1995.

The Making of "Apollo 13," Sci–Fi Channel, 1995.

Himself, Tom Hanks: Hollywood's Golden Boy, Arts and Entertainment, 1997.

The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory—75 Years of Blockbusters, TNT, 1998.

The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory—75 Years of Laughter, TNT, 1998.

The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory—75 Years of Stars, TNT, 1998.

Himself, Kurt Russell: Hollywood's Heavy Hitter, Arts and Entertainment, 1999.

Narrator, War Letters, 2001.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Presenter, The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1995.

Presenter, The 22nd Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1996.

Presenter, The 2001 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (also known as The 16th Annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards), Independent Film Channel, 2001.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Vic Romano, "Streetwise," Miami Vice, NBC, 1986.

Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1986.

Trout, "Made for Each Other," The Hitchhiker, HBO, 1987.

Guest, The Howard Stern Show, 1991.

Billy, "People Who Live in Brass Hearses," Tales from the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1993.

Guest, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1997.

Guest, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1998.

Guest host, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's Saturday Night, Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC, 1999.

Guest, Larry King Live, Cable News Network, 2000.

Guest, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, 2002, 2003, 2004.

Host, "Titanic Tech," Modern Marvels, History Channel, 2003.

Voice of Ernie, "Analyzed Kiss," Frasier, NBC, 2003.

Guest, Coming Attractions, E! Entertainment Television, 2004.

Appeared in Festival Pass with Chris Gore, Starz!; and Sidewalks Entertainment, syndicated.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Rudy, Great Day, CBS, 1983.

Bill Henrickson, Big Love, HBO, 2005.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

(In "Shadows of the Night" music video) Pat Benatar: Hit Videos, 1984.

(In "Shadows of the Night" music video) Pat Benatar: The Visual Music Collection, 1986.

Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection, 1991.

Lost Moon: The Triumph of Apollo 13, 1996.

Directors: James Cameron, 1997.

Breaking the Silence: The Making of "Hannibal," 2001.

Living in Darkness, 2002.

The Making of "Frailty," 2002.

(In "Shadows of the Night" music video) Pat Benatar: Choice Cuts—The Complete Video Collection, 2003.

Superior Firepower: The Making of "Aliens," 2003.

Music Videos:

Radio operator, "Shadows of the Night," by Pat Benatar, 1982.

"How Can the Laboring Man Find Time for Self–Culture?," by Martini Ranch, 1986.

"Touched by the Hand of God," by New Order, 1987.

"Reach," by Martini Ranch, 1988.

"Eat You Alive," by Limp Bizkit, 2003.

Albums:

(With Martini Ranch) Holy Cow, 1986.

Singles:

"How Can the Laboring Man Find Time for Self–Culture?," c. 1986.

"Reach," c. 1988.

WRITINGS

Screenplays:

Fish Heads (short film), 1982.

(With others) Scoop (short film), 1983.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Newsmakers 1999, Issue 3, Gale, 1999.

Periodicals:

Entertainment Weekly, June 23, 1995, p. 14; October 4, 1996, p. 70.

Film Comment, November, 1998, p. 78.

Guardian, August 22, 2002.

Harper's Bazaar, December, 1998, p. 162.

Interview, January, 1993, p. 94.

Newsday, December 6, 1998, p. D6.

New York Times, June 2, 1996, p. H11.

People Weekly, March 31, 1997, p. 22.

Premiere, December, 1998, p. 116.

Texas Monthly, April, 1997, p. 26; May, 1997, p. 114.

TV Guide, May 30, 1998, p. 5.

USA Today, July 7, 1995.