Billy Blanks

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

69

Gender

Male

Birthday

1955-09-01 (68 years old)

Place of Birth

Erie - Pennsylvania - USA

Also Known As

  • William Wayne "Billy" Blanks

Billy Blanks

Biography

Muscular African American sports star, actor, media identity and inventor of the phenomenally popular "Tae Bo" fitness system, derived from his extensive martial arts training. Blanks was born in Eerie, Pennsylvania in 1955 amongst humble backgrounds and grew up as one of 15 children, battling dyslexia and tendon problems. However that didn't stop him from starting his martial arts training at age 14 and eventually achieving black belts in tae kwon do & several other arts, and winning numerous US martial arts tournaments.

Blanks first popped up on movie screens in the mid 1980s in tough guy parts utilizing his athletic background and grim faced looks. Films roles included Tango & Cash (1989), Driving Force (1989) and A.W.O.L.: Absent Without Leave (1990). Things looked up in 1991, when Blanks scored the minor role of drug addicted running back "Billy Cole" in the explosive The Last Boy Scout (1991)....and further work followed often sharing lead billing in low budget - high action fare such as Talons of the Eagle (1992), TC 2000 (1993) and Expect No Mercy (1995).

In the late 1990s, Billy's innovative and exciting "Tae Bo" workout routine swept around the world like wildfire, and propelled him into the position of one of the world's most recognizable and biggest selling fitness trainers. The remarkable Blanks continues to refine and promote his unique "Tae Bo" fitness system, and he operates the Billy Blanks World Training Center in Sherman Oaks, California.

7th Degree Black Belt Billy Blanks had one of the greatest karate fight records in the sport's long history. Blanks was a 7-time world karate champion, the first Amateur Athletic Union Champ in 1975, the 1984 Massachusetts Golden Gloves Boxing Champion, and the Tri-State Golden Gloves Champion of Champions. He was the captain of the United States Karate Team and won over 30 gold medals in international competition. He was the number 1 or number 2 rated full-contact karate fighter in the United States for almost seven straight years. His epic battles with "Nasty" Anderson are legends among martial arts fans. He posted over 300 career victories. In 1982, Billy Blanks was honored by being inducted into the Karate Hall of Fame.

Known For

Jack and Jill
4.4%

Jack and Jill

Nov 11, 2011

Tango & Cash
6.4%

Tango & Cash

Dec 22, 1989

The Last Boy Scout
6.8%

The Last Boy Scout

Dec 13, 1991

Kiss the Girls
6.5%

Kiss the Girls

Sep 29, 1997

Lionheart
6.5%

Lionheart

Jun 7, 1990

ER
7.8%

ER

Sep 19, 1994

The Clapper
4.9%

The Clapper

Jan 26, 2018

Melrose Place
5.7%

Melrose Place

Jul 8, 1992

The Master
6.4%

The Master

May 28, 1992

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Acting

Devotion as Billy Blanks
2024
The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter as Samson
2024
The Last Kumite as Loren
2019
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks as Self
2018
The Clapper as Billy Blanks
2017
Almost Amazing as Mr. Wilson
2017
The Ultimate Goal
2015
Dark Moon Rising as Sheriff Tom
2015
The Real Miyagi as Self
2014
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Platinum Collection as Self
2011
Jack and Jill as Billy Blanks
2010
Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo as Himself
2007
Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Amped Fat Burn Accelerator as Billy Blanks
2007
Billy Blanks: Ultimate Tae Bo as Billy Blanks
2006
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission One - Get Started
2006
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Two - Maximum Power
2006
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Three - Rock Solid Abs
2006
Billy's BootCamp Elite: 8 Minute Supercharge Cardio
2006
Billy's Bootcamp Elite: Mission Spot Training - Lower Body
2005
Billy's BootCamp: Basic Training Bootcamp as Billy Blanks
2005
Billy's BootCamp: Ultimate BootCamp as Himself
2005
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Kicks as Himself
2005
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Total Body Fat Blaster as Himself
2004
The Tony Danza Show as Self
2004
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo: Strength Power as Billy Blanks
2004
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp Live!
2003
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Flex
2003
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Cardio
2003
Billy Blanks' TaeBo Believer's Workout: The Strength Within as Himself
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
2003
Billy's Bootcamp 1: Tae Bo
2003
Billy's Bootcamp 2: Tae Bo
2002
The Best of TaeBo: Ultimate Upper Body as Himself
2001
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 1 Workout as Himself
2001
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 2 Workout as Himself
2001
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - 8-Minute Workout as Himself
2001
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Basic 1 Workout
2000
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Gold as Himself
1999
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Basic Workout as Himself
1999
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Instructional as Himself
1999
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: 8-Minute Workout as Himself
1999
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Advanced Workout as Himself
1999
The Parkers
1998
V.I.P. as Self
1997
Assault on Devil's Island as Craegan
1997
Kiss the Girls as Instructor
1996
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch as Billy Blanks
1996
Balance of Power as Niko
1995
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities as Self
1995
Expect No Mercy as Justin Vanier
1995
Tough and Deadly as John Portland
1995
The Parent 'Hood
1994
ER as Tae-Bo Instructor
1994
Back in Action as Billy
1993
Showdown as Billy Grant
1993
TC 2000 as Jason Storm
1992
Invincible as Billy
1992
Talons of the Eagle as Tyler Wilson
1992
Melrose Place
1992
The Master as Black Thug (uncredited)
1991
The Last Boy Scout as Billy Cole
1991
Timebomb as Mr. Brown
1990
The King of the Kickboxers as Khan
1990
Lionheart as African Legionnaire
1990
China O'Brien II as Baskin's Fighter #1
1990
Driving Force as Pool
1989
Tango & Cash as Prison Thug (uncredited)
1989
Bloodfist as Black Rose
1986
Low Blow as Guard
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