
Billy Blanks
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 …
Acting
- 2001The Fairly OddParentsBilly Blanks (voice)1 ep.
- 1999The Parkers1 ep.
- 1995The Parent 'Hood1 ep.
Guest appearances
- 2007The Ellen DeGeneres ShowSelf1 ep.
- 2005The Tony Danza ShowSelf1 ep.
- 2003The Fairly OddParentsBilly Blanks (voice)1 ep.
- 1999V.I.P.Self1 ep.
- 1999Sabrina, the Teenage WitchBilly Blanks1 ep.
- 1999The Parkers1 ep.
- 1999Martial LawTravis King1 ep.
- 1999ERTae-Bo Instructor1 ep.
- 1998Melrose Place1 ep.
- 1998The Parent 'Hood1 ep.
Also known as: William Wayne "Billy" Blanks