American actor and film director Bill Paxton was born on May 17, 1955 in Fort Worth, Texas. He entered the then-named Southwest Texas State University, and after graduation, moved to Los Angeles to work as a set designer for the films of director Roger Corman. His exposure to films at that time ultimately influenced his decision to pursue an acting career; he moved to New York City and decided to train under noted acting coach Stella Adler.
Paxton was known for his many films, beginning in 1975, when he took a minor role in the gangster film Crazy Mama. He has gone on to play many memorable film roles. In the 1985 release Weird Science, he played sneering older brother Chet Donnelly. In the following year’s sci-fi release Aliens, he played loud-mouthed military officer William Hudson. He played the role of sheriff Dale Dixon in the critically acclaimed 1992 crime drama One False Move. In 1994, he appeared in the drama True Lies as Simon, a sleazy salesman. In the 1995 biopic Apollo 13, he took on the role of astronaut Fred Haise. The following year, he played storm researcher Bill Harding in Twister. The year after that, he played a treasure hunter who learns of Rose Hudson’s (Kate Winslet) story in Titanic.
Paxton is also an accomplished director. He directed his first film in 1980: the short comedy film Fish Heads, which was exhibited in an episode of Saturday Night Live that year. He later directed two feature films: the 2001 psychological thriller Frailty, which starred Matthew McConaughey; and the 2005 sports biopic The Greatest Game Ever Told, which starred Shia LaBeouf.
Paxton has appeared occasionally on television, appearing as a guest in weekly series as well as some miniseries scattered throughout his career. His first notable regular television role came only in 2006, when he joined the cast of the acclaimed drama Big Love. He played the role of Bill Henrickson, the husband in a polygamous family where the series revolves. This role earned him two Golden Globe nominations, in 2007 and 2008.