photo:
http://hollywood.greekreporter.com/files/2009/05/zane.jpg
Background and family
Billy Zane, born William Zanetakos, is of Greek American heritage and speaks fluent Greek. His parents, George and Thalia, ran a medical technical school, and his older sister is actress Lisa Zane. He is a graduate of the Francis W. Parker School. Two of his classmates were future actors, Daryl Hannah and Jennifer Beals.
Zane married co-actress Lisa Collins in 1989. The couple divorced in 1995. He was also engaged for a time to Chilean actress Leonor Varela, his costar in the 1999 television movie Cleopatra. As of 2006, Zane is engaged to marry British actress Kelly Brook.
Career in entertainment
Zane's first prominent screen role was in Back to the Future (1985) playing Biff Tannen's friend Match. He landed the role as a fluke by appearing nonchalant, dressed in a T-shirt. Zane later reprised the role for the 1989 sequel, Back to the Future II. Zane is perhaps best known for playing Caledon Hockley in the 1997 movie blockbuster Titanic and the eponymous classic comic book hero in The Phantom. His most recent role is in the controversial Turkish film Valley of the Wolves Iraq Zane portrays Special Forces commander Sam William Marshall, a violent, greedy American soldier who massacres innocent Iraqis.
Zane keeps busy in other parts of the entertainment industry as well. He is a singer and can occasionally be seen in various Broadway shows. He also played the voice of Xehanort (then known as Ansem) in Squaresoft and Disney's renowned video game Kingdom Hearts, but was replaced by Richard Epcar for Kingdom Hearts II. Zane also had a recurring role in the popular television series Charmed in which he played poetry loving ex-demon Drake.
Miscellaneous facts
Zane is 6 feet, 1 inches tall.
Premature hair loss has not diminished Zane's acting career. Sometimes, while in character, he wears a wig, although he usually shaves his head while not in character and has been forefront in promoting this look. Zane is also an avid swimmer, therefore shaving his head aids his hydrodynamics while moving through the water.
In 1999, he participated in the first Gumball 3000 rally, driving a 1964 Aston Martin DB5.
Was featured in the music video, Epiphany by Staind.
Filmography
Valley of the Wolves Iraq (2006) .... Sam William Marshall
BloodRayne (2006) .... Elrich
Mem-o-re (2005) .... Taylor Briggs
The Pleasure Drivers (2005) .... Marvin
The Last Drop (2005) .... Oates
Silver City (2004) .... Chandler Tyson
Big Kiss (2004) .... Billy
Dead Fish (2004) .... Virgil
Three (2004) .... Jack
The Kiss (2003) .... Alan Roberts/young Philip Naudet
Vlad (2003) .... Adrian
Imaginary Grace (2003) .... Nero
Starving Hysterical Naked (2003)
Claim (2002) .... Roberto Bealing
Landspeed (2002) .... Michael Sanger
CQ (2001) .... Mr. E
The Believer (2001) .... Curtis Zampf
Zoolander (2001) ....Himself (uncredited)
Taxman (1999/II) .... George Putter
Morgan's Ferry (1999) .... Sam
Susan's Plan (1998) .... Sam Myers
I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998) .... The Thief
Titanic (1997) .... Caledon Hockley
This World, Then the Fireworks (1997) .... Marty Lakewood
Danger Zone (1997) .... Rick Morgan
Head Above Water (1996) .... Kent
The Phantom (1996) .... The Phantom/Kit Walker
Demon Knight (1995) .... The Collector
The Set Up (1995) .... Charles Thorpe
Only You (1994) .... Harry, The False Damon Bradley
Silenzio dei prosciutti, Il (1994) .... Joe Dee Foster
Reflections on a Crime (1994) .... Colin
Tombstone (1993) .... Mr. Fabian
Poetic Justice (1993) .... Brad
Posse (1993) .... Colonel Graham
Sniper (1993) .... Richard Miller
Betrayal of the Dove (1993) .... Dr. Jesse Peter
Flashfire (1993) .... Jack Flinder
Orlando (1992) .... Shelmerdine
Blood and Concrete (1991) .... Joey Turks
Femme Fatale (1991) .... Elijah
Miliardi (1991) .... Maurizio Ferretti
Memphis Belle (1990) .... Lt. Val Kozlowski
Megaville (1990) .... Palinov/Jensen
Kickboxer (1990) .... Tung Po
Back to the Future Part II (1989) .... Match
Dead Calm (1989) .... Hughie Warriner
Going Overboard (1989) .... King Neptune
Critters (1986) .... Steve Elliot
Back to the Future (1985) .... Match
Television
Charmed (2005) (TV) .... Drake
Bet Your Life (2004) (TV) .... Joseph
Invincible (2001/I) (TV) .... Os
The Diamond of Jeru (2001) (TV) .... Mike Kardec
Hendrix (2000) (TV) .... Michael Jeffrey
Sole Survivor (2000) (mini) TV Series .... Joe Carpenter
Cleopatra (1999) (TV) .... Marc Antony
Running Delilah (1994) (TV) .... Paul
Lake Consequence (1993) (TV) .... Billy
Twin Peaks (1991) (TV) .... John Justice Wheeler
The Case of the Hillside Stranglers (1989) (TV) .... Kenneth Bianchi
Police Story: Monster Manor (1988) (TV) .... Officer Don Varney
21 Jump Street' (1987) (TV) .... Matthew Goldblatt
Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8 (1987) (TV) .... Police Officer
Brotherhood of Justice (1986) (TV) .... Les
