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