Bill Paxton, a four-decade-long star on broadcast and cable TV, and the big screen, has died, his family announced Sunday.
His career spanned such films as “Apollo 13,” “Aliens,” “Twister” and “Weird Science” and the HBO series “Big Love.” At the time of his death, Paxton was starring in the CBS TV series “Training Day.”
He died of complications from surgery, his family announced in a statement to the media. Bill Paxton was 61.
“It is with heavy hearts we share the news that Bill Paxton has passed away due to complications from surgery,” the statement said.
Bill Paxton was born in Fort Worth, TX, in 1955 and arrived in Hollywood at age 18, working as a set dresser for Roger Corman. Roles in low budget films and television led to some quirky credits, including writing and directing the award-winning “Fish Heads” short film aired in 1980 on Saturday Night Live.
A small role in “Alien” led to a starring performance as Private Hudson in “Aliens” in 1986, according to his biography at imdb.com.
His big break came in “One False Move,” and other roles included “Tombstone,” “Apollo 13,” “True Lies,” `Titanic and the HBO series “Big Love.”
Paxton reportedly lived in Ojai.
— From Staff and Wire Reports