Billy Blanks

Known for ActingBorn 1955-09-01 (age 70)Erie - Pennsylvania - USA

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.Read more

Movies & web series

Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: 8-Minute Workout

Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities

Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes

The Parkers

Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

ER

The Fairly OddParents

The Parent 'Hood

Martial Law

The Last Kumite

Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks

Invincible

The Last Boy Scout

The King of the Kickboxers

The Real Miyagi

Kiss the Girls

Lionheart

The Master

The Tony Danza Show

Tango & Cash

Balance of Power

Almost Amazing

Showdown

Melrose Place

Tough and Deadly

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Back in Action

V.I.P.

American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures

TC 2000

Timebomb

Driving Force

The Clapper

Talons of the Eagle

China O'Brien II

Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Flex

Bloodfist

Low Blow

Expect No Mercy

Jack and Jill

Assault on Devil's Island

The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter

Kazaam

Dark Moon Rising

The Ultimate Goal

Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Platinum Collection

Billy Blanks Tae Bo Express

Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo