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Actor · Acting

Billy Blanks

Born 1955-09-01
📍 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.

Filmography 78

American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures
as Self (archive footage)
2024
The Last Kumite
as Master Loren
2024
The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter
as Samson
2024
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
as Self
2019
The Clapper
as Billy Blanks
2018
Almost Amazing
as Mr. Wilson
2017
Dark Moon Rising
as Sheriff Tom
2015
The Real Miyagi
as Self
2015
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Platinum Collection
as Self
2014
Billy Blanks TaeBo Express
as Instructor
2012
Jack and Jill
as Billy Blanks
2011
Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo
as Himself
2010
Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Amped Fat Burn Accelerator
as Billy Blanks
2007
Billy Blanks: Ultimate Tae Bo
as Billy Blanks
2007
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission One - Get Started
2006
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Two - Maximum Power
2006
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Three - Rock Solid Abs
2006
Billy's BootCamp Elite: 8 Minute Supercharge Cardio
2006
Billy's Bootcamp Elite: Mission Spot Training - Lower Body
2006
Billy's BootCamp: Basic Training Bootcamp
as Billy Blanks
2005
Billy's BootCamp: Ultimate BootCamp
as Himself
2005
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Kicks
as Himself
2005
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Total Body Fat Blaster
as Himself
2005
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp Live!
2004
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo: Strength Power
as Billy Blanks
2004
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power POWER
as Himself
2004
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power STRENGTH
as Himself
2004
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Cardio
2003
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Flex
2003
Billy Blanks' TaeBo Believer's Workout: The Strength Within
as Himself
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
as Self
2003
Billy's Bootcamp 1: Tae Bo
2003
Billy's Bootcamp 2: Tae Bo
2003
The Best of TaeBo: Ultimate Upper Body
as Himself
2002
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 1 Workout
as Himself
2001
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 2 Workout
as Himself
2001
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - 8-Minute Workout
as Himself
2001
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Basic 1 Workout
2001
The Fairly OddParents
as Billy Blanks (voice)
2001
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Gold
as Himself
2000
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: 8-Minute Workout
as Himself
1999
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Advanced Workout
as Himself
1999
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Basic Workout
as Himself
1999
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Instructional
as Himself
1999
The Parkers
1999
V.I.P.
as Self
1998
Martial Law
as Travis King
1998
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
as Self
1998
Assault on Devil's Island
as Craegan
1997
Kiss the Girls
as Instructor
1997
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
as Billy Blanks
1996
Balance of Power
as Niko
1996
Expect No Mercy
as Justin Vanier
1995
Tough and Deadly
as John Portland
1995
The Parent 'Hood
1995
ER
as Tae-Bo Instructor
1994
Back in Action
as Billy
1994
Showdown
as Billy Grant
1993
TC 2000
as Jason Storm
1993
Invincible
as Billy
1992
Talons of the Eagle
as Tyler Wilson
1992
Melrose Place
1992
The Master
as Hawks Gang Member
1992
The Last Boy Scout
as Billy Cole
1991
Timebomb
as Mr. Brown
1991
The King of the Kickboxers
as Khan
1990
Lionheart
as African Legionnaire
1990
China O'Brien II
as Baskin's Fighter #1 (uncredited)
1990
Driving Force
as Pool
1990
Tango & Cash
as Prison Thug (uncredited)
1989
Bloodfist
as Black Rose
1989
Low Blow
as Guard
1986
Devotion
as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks: Bootcamp Cardio Inferno
as Himself
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo - Amped Full Throttle
as Himself
Tae Bo Extreme: Push Your Limits
as Himself
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp
as Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power ENERGY
as Himself