About

Known credits:
66
Birthday:
1955-09-01
Place of birth:
Erie - Pennsylvania - USA
Website:
N/A

Billy Blanks

Overview

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

Acting
2024 American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures Actor Self (archive footage) N/A
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2024 The Last Kumite Actor Master Loren 60
Fair
2024 The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter Actor Samson N/A
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2019 Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks Actor Self 59
Average
2018 The Clapper Actor Billy Blanks 55
Average
2017 Almost Amazing Actor Mr. Wilson 59
Average
2017 The Ultimate Goal Actor N/A
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2015 Dark Moon Rising Actor Sheriff Tom 56
Average
2015 The Real Miyagi Actor Self 59
Average
2014 Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Platinum Collection Actor Self N/A
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2012 Billy Blanks TaeBo Express Actor Instructor N/A
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2011 Jack and Jill Actor Billy Blanks 46
Bad
2010 Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo Actor Himself N/A
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2007 Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Amped Fat Burn Accelerator Actor Billy Blanks N/A
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2007 Billy Blanks: Ultimate Tae Bo Actor Billy Blanks N/A
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2006 Billy's BootCamp Elite: 8 Minute Supercharge Cardio Actor N/A
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2006 Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Two - Maximum Power Actor N/A
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2006 Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Three - Rock Solid Abs Actor N/A
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2006 Billy's Bootcamp Elite: Mission Spot Training - Lower Body Actor N/A
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2006 Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission One - Get Started Actor N/A
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2005 Billy's BootCamp: Ultimate BootCamp Actor Himself N/A
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2005 Billy's BootCamp: Basic Training Bootcamp Actor Billy Blanks N/A
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2005 Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Kicks Actor Himself N/A
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2005 Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Total Body Fat Blaster Actor Himself N/A
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2004 Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp Live! Actor N/A
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2004 Billy Blanks - Tae Bo: Strength Power Actor Billy Blanks N/A
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2003 Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Cardio Actor N/A
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2003 Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Flex Actor 59
Average
2003 Billy Blanks' TaeBo Believer's Workout: The Strength Within Actor Himself N/A
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2003 Billy's Bootcamp 2: Tae Bo Actor N/A
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2003 Billy's Bootcamp 1: Tae Bo Actor N/A
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2002 The Best of TaeBo: Ultimate Upper Body Actor Himself N/A
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2001 TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 1 Workout Actor Himself N/A
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2001 TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Basic 1 Workout Actor N/A
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2001 TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 2 Workout Actor Himself N/A
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2001 TaeBo II: Get Ripped - 8-Minute Workout Actor Himself N/A
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2000 Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Gold Actor Himself N/A
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1999 Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: 8-Minute Workout Actor Himself N/A
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1999 Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Instructional Actor Himself N/A
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1999 Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Basic Workout Actor Himself N/A
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1999 Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Advanced Workout Actor Himself N/A
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1998 Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes Actor Self 59
Average
1997 Assault on Devil's Island Actor Craegan 58
Average
1997 Kiss the Girls Actor Instructor 63
Fair
1996 Balance of Power Actor Niko 58
Average
1995 Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities Actor Self 59
Average
1995 Expect No Mercy Actor Justin Vanier 58
Average
1995 Tough and Deadly Actor John Portland 58
Average
1994 Back in Action Actor Billy 58
Average
1993 Showdown Actor Billy Grant 58
Average
1993 TC 2000 Actor Jason Storm 58
Average
1992 Invincible Actor Billy 58
Average
1992 Talons of the Eagle Actor Tyler Wilson 58
Average
1992 The Master Actor Hawks Gang Member 59
Average
1991 The Last Boy Scout Actor Billy Cole 66
Fair
1991 Timebomb Actor Mr. Brown 58
Average
1990 The King of the Kickboxers Actor Khan 60
Fair
1990 Lionheart Actor African Legionnaire 63
Fair
1990 China O'Brien II Actor Baskin's Fighter #1 (uncredited) 58
Average
1990 Driving Force Actor Pool 58
Average
1989 Tango & Cash Actor Prison Thug (uncredited) 63
Fair
1989 Bloodfist Actor Black Rose 57
Average
1986 Low Blow Actor Guard 58
Average
Devotion Actor Billy Blanks N/A
N/A

Crew
1996 Kazaam Crew Stunts 52
Average
1990 China O'Brien II Crew Stunts 58
Average