Billy Zane was born on February 24, 1966 in Chicago, Illinois, to a Greek-American father, William George Zane, Sr., and an Italian-American mother, Thalia Zane. His parents divorced when he was nine years old and he was raised by his mother on the city’s North Side. Zane was educated at the Francis W. Parker School and at Harand Camp of the Arts in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. He attended Harand Theater Camp at age 16.
Zane’s first film appearance was in Back to the Future (1985), in which he played a high school bully. He also appeared in the television series Miami Vice (1984-1985) and Roseanne (1988-1989). His first leading role was in the 1989 horror film Dead Calm, opposite Nicole Kidman.
Zane’s other film credits include The Phantom (1996), Titanic (1997), The Madam’s Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel (2003), and Sniper: Reloaded (2011). He has also appeared in episodes of the television series Twin Peaks (2017) and Chicago P.D. (2018).
Zane has a net worth of $20 million. He has been married twice: first to Lisa Collins from 1989 to 1995, and then to Candice Neil from 2002 to present. He has three children: Ava Elizabeth (born 2011), Gia Francesca (born 2014), and Zoey Andrea (born 2016).
General Info
Full Name
Billy Zane
Net Worth
$20 million
Date Of Birth
February 24, 1966
Height
1.83 m
Profession
Film producer, Voice Actor, Film director
Education
American School in Switzerland, Francis W. Parker School
Nationality
American
Family
Children
Ava Katherine Zane, Gia
Parents
Thalia Zane, William George Zane, Sr.
Siblings
Lisa Zane
Partner
Candice Neil, Candice Neil
Accomplishments
Awards
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor - Drama
Nominations
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, MTV Movie Award for Best Villain
Movies
Titanic, The Phantom, Dead Calm, Demon Knight, Memphis Belle, The Roommate, Sniper: Ghost Shooter, Survival Island, Back to the Future Part II, Tombstone, The Believer, Sniper: Reloaded, Critters, The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption, BloodRayne, Fishtales, Love N' Dancing, This World, Then th...
[on The Phantom (1996)] That film was ahead of its time, in a weird way. If it came out any later, in the glut of superhero-dom, it would've been squeezed into the same sociopathic, postmodern, all-too-slick, forgettable fare that's out there. What fans seem to like about that movie is it has a very sweet, heroic heart. And it was Catherine Zeta-Jones's first American film.
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[on Zoolander (2001)] I swear I get more love for five minutes of playing myself in that than 30 years of character work! [laughs] I was living in New York at the time, and I'd see Ben out and about quite a bit, and he called and asked if I'd do a cameo. When I was there, it suddenly evolved and all that came out of improv. I love that I was the only one in Derek's corner. But we did so many different versions of that scene. "Stuff it, Zane!" "Put a cork in it, Zane!" "Save it, Zane!". The fact that he kept saying my name... "Billy Zane's a cool dude!". He just kept hitting it and I was very embarrassed on the day, but have come to be so grateful because I'm constantly met with strangers who claim, "Billy Zane is a cool dude." I just hope to live up to it. Or I hear "Save it, Zane!". It's certainly better than "You're the asshole from Titanic!". I'm like "Come on! I wasn't the iceberg! I didn't kill 2,000 people!".
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[on Twin Peaks (1990)] Twin Peaks was awesome. It was an incredible gift playing that role and supposedly getting to deflower Audrey Horne [played by Sherilyn Fenn] on your private jet while saving an endangered species. I was like "Did I win the lottery?".
4
[on what caused his career to decline] One word: alimony. I was married at 21 for eight years with no children to a lovely girl, Lisa Collins, and we're still friends, but L.A. law had gouged my assets and required exorbitant ransom for the better part of five years, and I chose ultimate freedom, and was happy to do anything to pay off a ridiculous monthly alimony. Dude, it was heinous for a young man, and this was happening right in the middle of Titanic. From that point on, if you see a nose dip, I was basically doing anything that paid to pay that off so it didn't get extended, because then there's a penalty.
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[on Dead Calm (1989) being his breakout role] Absolutely. I had everything to prove and nothing to lose. It's a dangerous combination for a 21-year-old actor. I remember once the film was in the can thinking, "If this plane from Australia goes down, I'll at least have that [performance]." I was satisfied and able to demonstrate my abilities as an actor, you know? After working with those guys, I had made a mark and I was content with that, honestly.
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[on Back to the Future (1985)] That was my first gig. I had the rare and beautiful pleasure of being in town only two weeks before landing that film, which set the tone for at least the first half of my career. [laughs] I had auditioned for Biff, and everyone they liked as a runner-up became [his goon squad].
7
[on James Cameron] I had not met Jim before auditioning for Titanic (1997) and I found him thoroughly charming and a genuine wit. My impression of him revolves around his sense of humor, which he never gets any credit for. I don't think you take on incredible risks without a great sense of humor, and Titanic was the biggest film that anyone had ever worked on.
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Every day is a surprise. There are confirmations of an interconnectivity and synchronicity which inspire, titillate and confirm the inherent comedy of the universe.
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With me, it's always about first impressions. I trust my instincts. I love to prepare if it's something that requires training. But I don't like to prepare the psychology too much.
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I paint abstract expressions.
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My best evenings are at home with my lady.
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[what he thinks the best age is] I'm enjoying 40. Old enough to know better, young enough not to care.
Is perhaps best known to younger audiences as the voice of Ansem (Xehanort) in Kingdom Hearts (2002).
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His voice was used as a sample on Marilyn Manson's Mechanical Animals Tour as the intro for the song "Rock Is Dead". He can be heard on the live album "The Last Tour on Earth" saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, from the dread capital of the world, Hollywood, California, Omega and the Mechanical Animals.".
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Has filmed movies in over 19 countries, including Australia five times.
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Has pumped iron for over a year to play the title role in The Phantom (1996).
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Engaged to English actress Kelly Brook, having been in a relationship with her since July 2004 (April 2005-August 2008).
20
Has played complete opposite sides of the typical "marooned love triangle". In Dead Calm (1989), he played the handsome and mysterious stranger who gets marooned with Sam Neill (the husband) and Nicole Kidman (wife). In Survival Island (2005), he played the jealous husband, in opposition to Kelly Brook (wife) and Juan Pablo Di Pace (handsome outsider).
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Added more muscle to his already buff physique in order to effectively play Marc Antony in the television movie Cleopatra (1999).
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All of his grandparents were Greek. His family's surname was originally "Zanetakos".
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Is the voice of Broderick "Brodi" Ford in the EA Sports Big game SSX Tricky (2001) (for PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox).
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Is an avid swimmer and started shaving his head in 1997 for aerodynamics.
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Was originally cast as Johnny Castle in the romance drama Dirty Dancing (1987). During auditions, choreographer Emile Ardolino realized that Zane could not dance, so the role went to Patrick Swayze.
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Attended Parker School in Chicago and Harand Camp of the Theater Arts in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin with Jeremy Piven.
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Attended the American School in Switzerland for his sophomore year of high school.
