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Billy Blanks
Acting
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…
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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.
Biography expanded
BODY OF WORK
Billy Blanks's Filmography
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American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures
as Self (archive footage)
The Last Kumite
as Master Loren
The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter
as Samson
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
as Self
The Clapper
as Billy Blanks
Almost Amazing
as Mr. Wilson
No Poster
The Ultimate Goal
Dark Moon Rising
as Sheriff Tom
The Real Miyagi
as Self
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Platinum Collection
as Self
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Body Shape
as Self
Billy Blanks Tae Bo Express
as Instructor
Jack and Jill
as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Insane Abs
as Self
Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo
as Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Amped Fat Burn Accelerator
as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks: Ultimate Tae Bo
as Billy Blanks
Billy's Bootcamp Elite: Mission Spot Training - Lower Body
Billy's BootCamp Elite: 8 Minute Supercharge Cardio
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Two - Maximum Power
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission One - Get Started
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Three - Rock Solid Abs
Billy's BootCamp: Ultimate BootCamp
as Himself
Billy's BootCamp: Basic Training Bootcamp
as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Kicks
as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Total Body Fat Blaster
as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo Extreme: Push Your Limits
as Himself
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp Live!
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo: Strength Power
as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power POWER
as Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power STRENGTH
as Himself
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Cardio
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Flex
Billy Blanks' TaeBo Believer's Workout: The Strength Within
as Himself
Billy's Bootcamp 1: Tae Bo
Billy's Bootcamp 2: Tae Bo
The Best of TaeBo: Ultimate Upper Body
as Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 2 Workout
as Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 1 Workout
as Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - 8-Minute Workout
as Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Basic 1 Workout
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Gold
as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Basic Workout
as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Advanced Workout
as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Instructional
as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: 8-Minute Workout
as Himself
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
as Self
Assault on Devil's Island
as Craegan
Kiss the Girls
as Instructor
Balance of Power
as Niko
No Poster
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
as Self
Expect No Mercy
as Justin Vanier
Tough and Deadly
as John Portland
Back in Action
as Billy
Showdown
as Billy Grant
TC 2000
as Jason Storm
Invincible
as Billy
Talons of the Eagle
as Tyler Wilson
The Master
as Hawks Gang Member
The Last Boy Scout
as Billy Cole
Timebomb
as Mr. Brown
The King of the Kickboxers
as Khan
Lionheart
as African Legionnaire
China O'Brien II
as Baskin's Fighter #1 (uncredited)
Driving Force
as Pool
Tango & Cash
as Prison Thug (uncredited)
Bloodfist
as Black Rose
Low Blow
as Guard
Devotion
as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo - Amped Full Throttle
as Himself
Billy Blanks: Bootcamp Cardio Inferno
as Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power ENERGY
as Himself
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp
as Himself