Billy Zane

William George Zane, Jr. (born February 24, 1966 in Chicago, Illinois), better known as Billy Zane, is an American actor/model.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His 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. Although he is perhaps best known for playing Caledon Hockley in the 1997 movie blockbuster Titanic.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 plays a functional part in aiding his aerodynamics while moving through the water.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1999 he participated in the first Gumball 3000 rally, driving a 1964 Aston Martin DB5.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 Ansem in Squaresoft and Disney's renowned video game Kingdom Hearts. Zane also had a recurring role in the popular television series Charmed in which he played poetry loving ex-demon Drake.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

February 24: February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 310 days remaining, 311 in leap years. By Roman custom February 24 is the day added to a leap year, and the occurrence of February 29 is merely a consequence of this....

1966: 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar)...

Chicago, Illinois: Chicago, Illinois...

Billy Zane related Images and Photos (experimental)

Billy Zane	Billy Boys	Billy Fury	Billy Dove
Billy Idol	Billy Jack	Billy Idol	Billy Idol
Billy Fury	Billy Jack	Billy Budd (1962) (DVD)	Billy Jack (DVD)