Billy Blanks
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- September 1, 1955 (age 71)
- Birthplace
- Erie - Pennsylvania - USA
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
Filmography
Devotion
Movie · as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks: Bootcamp Cardio Inferno
Movie · as Himself
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo - Amped Full Throttle
Movie · as Himself
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp
Movie · as Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power ENERGY
Movie · as Himself
The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter
Movie · as Samson
The Last Kumite
Movie · as Master Loren
American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Movie · as Self
The Clapper
Movie · as Billy Blanks
The Ultimate Goal
Movie
Almost Amazing
Movie · as Mr. Wilson
The Real Miyagi
Movie · as Self
Dark Moon Rising
Movie · as Sheriff Tom
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Platinum Collection
Movie · as Self
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Body Shape
Movie · as Self
Billy Blanks Tae Bo Express
Movie · as Instructor
Jack and Jill
Movie · as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo
Movie · as Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Insane Abs
Movie · as Self
Billy Blanks: Ultimate Tae Bo
Movie · as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Amped Fat Burn Accelerator
Movie · as Billy Blanks
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Two - Maximum Power
Movie
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission One - Get Started
Movie
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Three - Rock Solid Abs
Movie
Billy's Bootcamp Elite: Mission Spot Training - Lower Body
Movie
Billy's BootCamp Elite: 8 Minute Supercharge Cardio
Movie
Billy's BootCamp: Basic Training Bootcamp
Movie · as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Kicks
Movie · as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Total Body Fat Blaster
Movie · as Himself
Billy's BootCamp: Ultimate BootCamp
Movie · as Himself
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp Live!
Movie
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo: Strength Power
Movie · as Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo Extreme: Push Your Limits
Movie · as Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power POWER
Movie · as Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power STRENGTH
Movie · as Himself
The Tony Danza Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Billy's Bootcamp 1: Tae Bo
Movie
Billy's Bootcamp 2: Tae Bo
Movie
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Cardio
Movie
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Flex
Movie
Billy Blanks' TaeBo Believer's Workout: The Strength Within
Movie · as Himself
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Best of TaeBo: Ultimate Upper Body
Movie · as Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 1 Workout
Movie · as Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 2 Workout
Movie · as Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - 8-Minute Workout
Movie · as Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Basic 1 Workout
Movie
The Fairly OddParents
TV · as Billy Blanks (voice) · 1 ep
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Gold
Movie · as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Basic Workout
Movie · as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Instructional
Movie · as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: 8-Minute Workout
Movie · as Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Advanced Workout
Movie · as Himself
The Parkers
TV · 1 ep
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
Movie · as Self
V.I.P.
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Martial Law
TV · as Travis King · 1 ep
Assault on Devil's Island
Movie · as Craegan
Kiss the Girls
Movie · as Instructor
Balance of Power
Movie · as Niko
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
TV · as Billy Blanks · 1 ep
Tough and Deadly
Movie · as John Portland
Expect No Mercy
Movie · as Justin Vanier
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
Movie · as Self
The Parent 'Hood
TV · 1 ep
Back in Action
Movie · as Billy
ER
TV · as Tae-Bo Instructor · 1 ep
TC 2000
Movie · as Jason Storm
Showdown
Movie · as Billy Grant
The Master
Movie · as Hawks Gang Member
Talons of the Eagle
Movie · as Tyler Wilson
Invincible
Movie · as Billy
Melrose Place
TV · 1 ep
The Last Boy Scout
Movie · as Billy Cole
Timebomb
Movie · as Mr. Brown
The King of the Kickboxers
Movie · as Khan
Driving Force
Movie · as Pool
China O'Brien II
Movie · as Baskin's Fighter #1 (uncredited)
Lionheart
Movie · as African Legionnaire
Bloodfist
Movie · as Black Rose
Tango & Cash
Movie · as Prison Thug (uncredited)
Low Blow
Movie · as Guard