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