Billy Blanks
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), 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
Hawks Gang Member
黃飛鴻'92之龍行天下
Billy
Back in Action
Billy Cole
The Last Boy Scout
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission One - Get Started
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Two - Maximum Power
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Three - Rock Solid Abs
Billy's BootCamp Elite: 8 Minute Supercharge Cardio
Billy's Bootcamp Elite: Mission Spot Training - Lower Body
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp Live!
Billy's Bootcamp 1: Tae Bo
Billy's Bootcamp 2: Tae Bo
Black Rose
Bloodfist
Khan
The King of the Kickboxers
John Portland
Tough and Deadly
Tyler Wilson
Talons of the Eagle
Craegan
Assault on Devil's Island
Jason Storm
TC 2000
Billy Grant
Showdown
Justin Vanier
Expect No Mercy
Pool
Driving Force
Billy Blanks
Devotion
The Ultimate Goal
Self
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
Self
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Platinum Collection
Niko
Balance of Power
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Cardio
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo: Strength Power
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Flex
Self
The Real Miyagi
Sheriff Tom
Dark Moon Rising
Samson
The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter
Self
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
Guard
Low Blow
Billy
戰龍在野
Instructor
Billy Blanks TaeBo Express
Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 1 Workout
Master Loren
The Last Kumite
Billy Blanks
The Clapper
Self (archive footage)
American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures
African Legionnaire
Lionheart
Baskin's Fighter #1 (uncredited)
China O'Brien II
Billy Blanks
Billy's BootCamp: Basic Training Bootcamp
Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 2 Workout
Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - 8-Minute Workout
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Total Body Fat Blaster
Himself
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Kicks
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: 8-Minute Workout
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Advanced Workout
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Basic Workout
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Instructional
Himself
Billy's BootCamp: Ultimate BootCamp
Himself
The Best of TaeBo: Ultimate Upper Body
Himself
Billy Blanks' TaeBo Believer's Workout: The Strength Within
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Gold
Himself
Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Basic 1 Workout
Self
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Mr. Brown
Timebomb
Mr. Wilson
Almost Amazing
Instructor
Kiss the Girls
Billy Blanks
Jack and Jill
Prison Thug (uncredited)
Tango & Cash
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks: Ultimate Tae Bo
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Amped Fat Burn Accelerator
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
64
Gender
Male
Birthday
1955-09-01
Place of Birth
Erie - Pennsylvania - USA
Also Known As
William Wayne "Billy" Blanks