Member DragonClaws Posted March 29, 2017 Member Share Posted March 29, 2017 (edited) Billy Blanks Brief Biogrpahy & Filmography Billy Blanks was born in Erie Pennsylvannia, on the 1st of September 1955. Despite suffering from a hip anomaly, which he was born with. Blanks still pursued an interest in Martial Arts, aged just eleven he began attending Tae Kwon Do & Karate lessons. Eventually attaining a seventh degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and became the leader of the 1980 U.S Olympic Karate Team. Boxing was also a big interest of his, becoming the 1984 Massachusett's Golden Gloves Boxing Champion. In addition he won the Tri-State Golden Gloves Champion of Champions. He made his movie debut in the indiependent Frank Harris directed Low Blow(1986). Starring a former student of Bruce Lee, Leo Fong. He was written into the script of Driving Force(1988), after impressing the producers with his Martial Arts skills on-set. While he was working as a body guard for actress Catherine Bach, who starred in the movie. image source- https://www.unlockingconnecticut.com/2018/01/interview-with-billy-blanks/ This led to minor roles in other movies, such as Tango And Cash(1989) Bloodfist(1989) China O'Brien 2(1990) and A.W.O.L (1990)starring Jean Claude Van-Damme. His first T.V appearance was in Spenser for Hire(1986). Blanks also appeared season six of the T.V series Kids Incorporated(1984). Where he played a Karate instructor. His role as the bad guy Khan, in the cult Martial Arts classic King Of The Kickboxers(1990) was his first substantial role. Which lead to him appearing/starring in a number of American produced Martial Arts actioners, including Talons Of The Eagle, Balance Of Power and Showdown, to name just a few. Two of his most memorable roles was opposite the late Roddy Piper in Back In Action(1993) and Tough & Deadly(1995). In the late 1990's he gained the attention of non Martial Arts film fans, with the success of his Tae-Bo exercise videos. Which has later spawned into a series of ever expanding Videos/DVD's which have grossed over $130 million dollars. Making his last on-screen Martial Arts performance in the 1999 Sammo Hung show Martial Law. At age 61 he is still active in the film and fitness industry’s. With a recent role in the 2017 production The Clapper starring Amanda Seyfried, which is currently in production. With two more productions just recently announced, A Cup Full of Crazy and Devotion. He relocated from America to Japan in 2009, and currently lives there with his wife. Additional Trivia - He was the fourth of fifteen children in his family, battling Dyslexia and tendon problems. - He was inducted into the Karate Hall Of Fame in 1982. - Blanks was the captain of the U.S Karate Team and he won over 30 gold medals in International competition - In 1984 he became the Massachusetts Golden Gloves Boxing Champion, and the Tri-State Golden Gloves Champion of Champions. - Starred in a stage version of the musical Fame. - 7-time World Karate Champion Filmography (1986 - 2022) 1980's - Low Blow (1986) - Driving Force (1986) - Bloodfist (1989) - Tango & Cash (1989) - The Master (1989) Above- Billy Blanks faces fellow Martial Artist Loren Avedon, in the finale of King Of The Kickboxers (1990). 1990's - China O'Brien 2 (1990) - Lionheart (1990) - The King of The Kickboxer's (1990) - TimeBomb (1991) - The Last Boy Scout (1991) - Talons of The Eagle (1992) - Invincible (1992) - T.C 2000 (1993) - Showdown (1993) - Back in Action (1994) - Tough & Deadly (1995) - Expect No Mercy (1995) - Balance of Power (1996) - Kiss the Girls (1997) - Assualt on Devils Island (1997) 2000 - 2022 - Dance Club: The Movie (2007) - Jack & Jill (2011) - Dark Moon Rising (2015) - Almost Amazing (2017) - The Clapper (2017) - Devotion (Pre-Proudction) T.V Roles - Spencer For Hire (1987) - Kid Incorporated (1989) - Street Justice (1982) - Muppet's Tonight (1996) - Soldier of Fortune Inc (1997) - The Parent 'Hood (1998) - E.R (1999) - Martial Law (1999) - Sabrina The Teenage Witch (1999) - Sunset Beach (1999) - Neo the Office Chuckler (2004) - Anamoty of an Anti-Hero 2 (2017) - The Circuit 2020 (2021) Edited July 5, 2022 by DragonClaws 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted April 4, 2017 Author Member Share Posted April 4, 2017 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member AlbertV Posted April 4, 2017 Member Share Posted April 4, 2017 He's so popular in Japan the hit anime series Yo-Kai Watch has a character named after Blanks, Captain Bully One of the ending sequences even takes a page from Tae-Bo Billy's son Billy Jr. has his own Boot Camp exercise video as well Billy's brother Michael had appeared in a few martial arts films in the 90's as well. His nickname was "The Kicking Machine" as like big bro Billy, Michael was quite the kicker himself. He even appeared with Billy in Expect No Mercy, but was in Dragon Fire and The Circuit films. Here's Michael fighting in Expect No Mercy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Mike Leeder Posted April 5, 2017 Member Share Posted April 5, 2017 met Billy when he was in Hong Kong for the oh it should have been so much of a better movie INVINCIBLE the French Foreign Legion movie with Dave Wang Chieh, Danny Lee & the late great Blackie Ko who also directed the movie, Wang Chieh's character joins the French Foreign Legion at one point where he meets all manner of motley gwailo's including Billy B, Jerry Trimble and Stefanos Miklos, and a very skinny young me can be seen mucking around in the barracks with Mike Miller, Steve Brettingham and co Sadly not the best movie and Billy's character is not the most PC, and its a real waste of the talent of the fighters involved, dodgy gunplay and rough housing... Billy was cool though, nice guy and was talking about his early ideas for Billy Blanks Karate Aerobics which became Tai Bo 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted April 9, 2017 Author Member Share Posted April 9, 2017 (edited) On 05/04/2017 at 5:17 AM, Mike Leeder said: Sadly not the best movie and Billy's character is not the most PC, and its a real waste of the talent of the fighters involved, dodgy gunplay and rough housing... Shame this didnt turn out better, I was thinking about getting hold of a copy until reading the above line. Here's a link for my review of Tough & Deadly- Edited April 9, 2017 by DragonClaws 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Mike Leeder Posted April 10, 2017 Member Share Posted April 10, 2017 Invincible had so many problems, originally it was meant to star Andy Lau, then Dave Wong (Wang Chieh) was hired and he's not the most physical performer, great guy, incredible singer and great haunted troubled look.... and production did halt for a while after he and Blackie Ko had a very physical falling out during shooting When filming resumed, they seemed to have lost the spark, they really wasted Billy, Jerry (i dont think he throws more than a punch) and Stefanos, the big action scenes kept getting pared down and the finale we spent about a week running around in the woods doing night vision stuff and they just cut the action down to nothing...big disappointment And Billy i don't think was very happy about the way his character is portrayed, his introductory dialogue sets the tone.... At one point there was talk of Billy being brought in to fight Jackie on Twin Dragons in the finale, which i think 91/92 era for both would have been epic 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted April 11, 2017 Author Member Share Posted April 11, 2017 On 10/04/2017 at 2:33 AM, Mike Leeder said: At one point there was talk of Billy being brought in to fight Jackie on Twin Dragons in the finale, which i think 91/92 era for both would have been epic That would have been great, and as much as I enjoy Twin Dragons, a Blanks VS Chan finale would have surely enhance the movie a lot. Thanks for sharing the information about the Invincible production. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member AlbertV Posted April 13, 2017 Member Share Posted April 13, 2017 Here's one of Blanks' first on-screen fights, against Leo Fong in Low Blow (1986) Blanks against Keith Cooke after Cooke beats Chris Casamassa and David Brooks in China O'Brien II 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted April 13, 2017 Author Member Share Posted April 13, 2017 2 hours ago, AlbertV said: Here's one of Blanks' first on-screen fights, against Leo Fong in Low Blow (1986) Thanks for those Albert, Blanks also had a minor role in the opening of A.W.O.L. He plays one of the foreign legion soldiers that trys to stop Van Dammes escape. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted April 27, 2017 Author Member Share Posted April 27, 2017 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member sifu iron perm Posted April 27, 2017 Member Share Posted April 27, 2017 he also went and helped the legend james lights out Toney get in shape for one of his fights .. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted May 10, 2017 Author Member Share Posted May 10, 2017 Billy Blanks and his wife, with former Boxer champion Evander Holyfield. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted May 29, 2017 Author Member Share Posted May 29, 2017 Billy Blanks with his younger brother Charles Blanks, Navy Master Chief. Picture from this article about the pair, Link- https://www.stripes.com/news/in-uniform-and-out-blanks-brothers-preach-mind-and-body-fitness-1.47327#.WSwjrcbTXIV 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted June 24, 2017 Author Member Share Posted June 24, 2017 (edited) You can check out my thoughts/ramblings on the Billy Blanks actioner Balace Of Power, just click n the link belwo, thank you. (Below)Mr Blanks appears to defy aging, the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. (Links Expired) Edited November 27, 2020 by DragonClaws 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted August 1, 2017 Author Member Share Posted August 1, 2017 (edited) Before Billy Blanks was kicking butt on screen, he was kicking butt in Martial Art compititions. (Links Expired) Blanks having a rest between sets, the guys still in great shape (Links Expired) Edited November 27, 2020 by DragonClaws 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted August 5, 2017 Author Member Share Posted August 5, 2017 (edited) (Links Expired) Edited November 27, 2020 by DragonClaws 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted August 15, 2017 Author Member Share Posted August 15, 2017 (edited) Heavy Duty. (Links Expired) Edited November 27, 2020 by DragonClaws 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted September 29, 2017 Author Member Share Posted September 29, 2017 (edited) (Links Expired) Edited November 27, 2020 by DragonClaws 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted December 19, 2017 Author Member Share Posted December 19, 2017 Mr Blanks, still looking sharp and in shape aged 62. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted January 26, 2018 Author Member Share Posted January 26, 2018 (edited) (Links Expired) Edited November 27, 2020 by DragonClaws 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted March 14, 2018 Author Member Share Posted March 14, 2018 (edited) (Links Expired) Edited November 27, 2020 by DragonClaws 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted April 5, 2018 Author Member Share Posted April 5, 2018 (edited) (Links Expired) Edited November 27, 2020 by DragonClaws 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted April 10, 2018 Author Member Share Posted April 10, 2018 (edited) (Links Expired) Edited November 27, 2020 by DragonClaws 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DrNgor Posted April 12, 2018 Member Share Posted April 12, 2018 Aged 62? Gosh darn! He looks like he can still take on the entire EXPENDABLES cast. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member DragonClaws Posted May 30, 2018 Author Member Share Posted May 30, 2018 Here's my latest review, featuring the Billy Blanks among other talents. Please click on the link below, for my full review, thank you. 90's U.K VHS cover. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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