Billy Zane

William George Zane Jr., born February 24, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, is an American actor and visual artist. Raised in a family involved in the performing arts, he developed an interest in acting at an early age. He attended the Harand Camp of the Theater Arts, The American School in Switzerland, and the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago before moving to California to pursue a professional career in entertainment.

Zane made his feature film debut in the 1985 science-fiction film Back to the Future and gained international recognition for his breakthrough performance in the Australian thriller Dead Calm (1989). Throughout the 1990s, he established a prominent screen presence in both film and television. His notable roles include John Justice Wheeler in the television series Twin Peaks, the title superhero in The Phantom (1996), and Caledon Hockley in James Cameron's blockbuster film Titanic (1997). His work in Titanic brought him widespread public recognition and a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble cast.

Over his multi-decade career, Zane has appeared in a diverse range of film projects, including Tombstone, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight, The Believer, and multiple entries in the Sniper action film franchise. He is also recognized for self-referential comedic roles, including appearing as himself in the comedy film Zoolander. In addition to his acting career, Zane is an active abstract expressionist painter whose artwork has been exhibited internationally in cities such as Los Angeles, London, and Miami.

In recent years, Zane has continued to work in film, television, and fine arts. His recent projects include portraying screen icon Marlon Brando in the biographical drama film Waltzing with Brando, along with roles in television movies such as Devil on Campus. He maintains an active schedule divided between screen acting, film production, and gallery exhibitions of his visual artwork.