“Why don't you put her in charge?”
February 26, 2017 8:02 AM   Subscribe

Bill Paxton, Actor Who Starred in Aliens and Titanic, Dies at 61 [The Guardian] “The actor Bill Paxton has died at the age of 61. The star of films including Aliens, Titanic and Apollo 13 died after complications from heart surgery, according to a statement released by his family. “It is with heavy hearts we share the news that Bill Paxton has passed away due to complications from surgery,” the statement said. “A loving husband and father, Bill began his career in Hollywood working on films in the art department and went on to have an illustrious career spanning four decades as a beloved and prolific actor and filmmaker. “Bill’s passion for the arts was felt by all who knew him, and his warmth and tireless energy were undeniable. We ask to please respect the family’s wish for privacy as they mourn the loss of their adored husband and father.””
posted by Fizz (184 comments total) 22 users marked this as a favorite
 
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posted by Fizz at 8:02 AM on February 26, 2017


"Game over, man, game over"

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posted by daveje at 8:03 AM on February 26, 2017 [71 favorites]


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posted by foodbedgospel at 8:05 AM on February 26, 2017


Just listened to his interview on Marc Maron's podcast. Go check it out if you have an hour. He's a pretty great down to earth guy, and you can tell he's as big a fan of Maron as Maron is of him.

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posted by Existential Dread at 8:06 AM on February 26, 2017 [13 favorites]


The more you think about it, the more you realize how he is in all these amazing fucking movies: Aliens, Apollo 13, Twister, Edge of Tomorrow, True Lies, The Terminator, Tombstone....and on and on. And even if it was a small role, he brought character to it.

He's barely in Edge of Tomorrow, but I loved every second that he's on screen. I wasn't really liking the idea of Training Day as a television series. But I was interested in seeing what Paxton brought to that role because he always brings his A-game when it comes to acting. He will be sorely missed.
posted by Fizz at 8:06 AM on February 26, 2017 [28 favorites]


Also, from Twitter (@_thegeoff): “The only actor to have been killed by an Alien, a Predator, AND a Terminator.”
posted by Fizz at 8:08 AM on February 26, 2017 [68 favorites]


Oh, and go back and check out the first ten minutes of The Terminator. He plays a punk with green hair who gets his ass kicked by Arnold, it's awesome.
posted by Existential Dread at 8:09 AM on February 26, 2017 [15 favorites]


i feel like i just had a nice greasy pork sandwich served in a dirty ashtray :(

With a 1-2 punch of the two unforgettable roles of Chet in (the, yes, problematic) Weird Science and Hudson in Aliens, Paxton was this Gen-Xer's first "hey it's that guy" actor, but he was so much more than that. If you haven't seen Frailty, see it. Now. The recent WTF with Marc Maron is a good longform interview for any fan.

He seemed like a really down-to-earth good guy. This really makes me sad. Sixty-one is way too young.
posted by entropicamericana at 8:11 AM on February 26, 2017 [13 favorites]


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posted by Pendragon at 8:12 AM on February 26, 2017


He plays a punk with green hair who gets his ass kicked by Arnold, it's awesome.

Blue hair.

(The fake news version of him in Terminator Genisys has green hair.)
posted by effbot at 8:12 AM on February 26, 2017 [16 favorites]


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posted by grumpybear69 at 8:14 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by Neronomius at 8:14 AM on February 26, 2017


Seconding Frailty, which was his film from top to bottom and he's great in it. Way, way too young.

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posted by dragstroke at 8:15 AM on February 26, 2017 [9 favorites]


He plays a punk with green blue hair who gets his ass kicked by Arnold, it's awesome.
The scene: "Nice night for a walk"

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posted by jammy at 8:17 AM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]


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posted by greermahoney at 8:17 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by Catblack at 8:19 AM on February 26, 2017


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Too bummed out to quote Alien.
posted by Artw at 8:19 AM on February 26, 2017 [3 favorites]


Is this gonna be a stand-up fight, sir, or another bughunt?
posted by Existential Dread at 8:22 AM on February 26, 2017 [7 favorites]


"it's Wyatt's brother Chet. He's kind of an asshole."
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posted by Flashman at 8:22 AM on February 26, 2017 [13 favorites]


Also directed and starred in the Dr. Demento-featured video "Fish Heads."

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posted by Halloween Jack at 8:23 AM on February 26, 2017 [32 favorites]


Too young.

To add to his credits, he was in the Devo-esque band Martini Ranch: "Reach" (directed by James Cameron) and "How Can the Labouring Man Find Time for Self Culture?" (produced by Bob Casale).
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:23 AM on February 26, 2017 [22 favorites]


. Oh damn. This one hits hard.
posted by octothorpe at 8:23 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by sleeping bear at 8:23 AM on February 26, 2017


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As much as I respected him as an actor, for me his most memorable role was as a member of his band Martini Ranch, and for recording the 80s earworm "How Can the Labouring Man Find Time for Self-Culture?"
posted by vverse23 at 8:25 AM on February 26, 2017 [6 favorites]


Damn. His turn in True Lies was just the best. Just an absolutely terrific actor.

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posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 8:26 AM on February 26, 2017 [7 favorites]


Near Dark. A thoroughly unappreciated movie from a thoroughly underappreciated director is my intro to Bill Paxton. Man, I'm sorry to hear this.
posted by crush-onastick at 8:26 AM on February 26, 2017 [29 favorites]


Where are we going to get greasy pork sandwiches served in dirty ashtrays for the funeral on such short notice!?

nthing Frailty- he's amazing, Matthew McConaughey is awesome, and it's outstanding start to finish. And who can forget his role as Severn in Near Dark, one of the greatest vampire movies of all time?!

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posted by Pope Guilty at 8:26 AM on February 26, 2017 [8 favorites]


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posted by Ickster at 8:27 AM on February 26, 2017


The story behind the photo that's making the rounds on Twitter: The Day Bill Paxton Saw John F. Kennedy.
posted by effbot at 8:29 AM on February 26, 2017 [14 favorites]


Oh no

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posted by littlesq at 8:31 AM on February 26, 2017


You're stewed, buttwad.

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posted by middleclasstool at 8:31 AM on February 26, 2017 [8 favorites]


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posted by Bringer Tom at 8:32 AM on February 26, 2017


Although mainly known for supporting roles, he was the leading man in Twister. That film is perfect.
posted by w0mbat at 8:32 AM on February 26, 2017 [16 favorites]


He was in so many movies that were important to my developing fandom; he always brought energy and presence to even the smallest role. Farewell, Bill. Tear the cover off the flight plan.

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posted by nubs at 8:33 AM on February 26, 2017 [4 favorites]


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posted by Silverstone at 8:34 AM on February 26, 2017


Ugh.


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posted by cashman at 8:37 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 8:41 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by mmascolino at 8:42 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 8:43 AM on February 26, 2017


He always did interesting stuff.

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posted by pjmoy at 8:44 AM on February 26, 2017


I always considered him an extremely underrated actor. He was especially good in One False Move, itself an excellent potboiler. He took a extremely cliched character (the southern 'bumpkin' sherrif) and gave him depth and complexity. Credit is due to Billy Bob Thornton's script and Carl Franklin's direction as well. And Michael Beach gives a chilling performance, too.
posted by jonmc at 8:45 AM on February 26, 2017 [4 favorites]


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posted by mctsonic at 8:47 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by brevator at 8:48 AM on February 26, 2017


Well fuck.


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posted by evilDoug at 8:51 AM on February 26, 2017


I always loved scene chewing Bill Paxton when he played a greasy jerk. He did a good job as the everyman stand-in, but when he got a role like in True Lies is when he really stood out for me
posted by thecjm at 8:54 AM on February 26, 2017 [6 favorites]


Dude, what? Oh my gosh!



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posted by droplet at 8:54 AM on February 26, 2017


Sad news. I've always had a fondness for him too.

I'll just highlight a Simple Plan as a great movie that he's great in.
posted by Alex404 at 8:56 AM on February 26, 2017 [12 favorites]


This one hurts a lot.

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posted by gatorae at 9:06 AM on February 26, 2017


It's damned funny. You never realized his, well, ubiquity until you stop and realize he won't be there any more. We just got our asses kicked.

FUCK YOU 2017!

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posted by Samizdata at 9:06 AM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


Oh god. I grew up on Bill Paxton movies. He was great in Big Love. This is a blow.

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posted by phunniemee at 9:07 AM on February 26, 2017 [5 favorites]


I know a lot of folks don't watch Agents of Shield, but Bill Paxton had a great turn there as John Garrett. Just scene chewing joy all the way through.
posted by leotrotsky at 9:07 AM on February 26, 2017 [17 favorites]


this game is over far too soon

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posted by supermedusa at 9:09 AM on February 26, 2017


He was so sort of omnipresent for so long... My condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed.

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posted by hippybear at 9:11 AM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


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posted by coolxcool=rad at 9:12 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by drezdn at 9:13 AM on February 26, 2017


Aw man, way too young. Always a pleasure to watch.

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posted by lovecrafty at 9:18 AM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


Halloween Jack: "Also directed and starred in the Dr. Demento-featured video "Fish Heads.""

Woah. I had no idea but that makes so much sense.
posted by octothorpe at 9:19 AM on February 26, 2017 [9 favorites]


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posted by aerotive at 9:19 AM on February 26, 2017


Bummer.
posted by valkane at 9:20 AM on February 26, 2017


One of those actors who was always a joy to watch wherever he popped up, no matter how big or small the role.

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posted by tobascodagama at 9:20 AM on February 26, 2017 [3 favorites]


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posted by killy willy at 9:20 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by Faintdreams at 9:25 AM on February 26, 2017


Dang! Me and my friends were big fans starting with Weird Science, then to Terminator , Aliens and beyond. Always liked seeing him turn up in a movie.
posted by Liquidwolf at 9:26 AM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


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posted by zakur at 9:28 AM on February 26, 2017



posted by bz at 9:29 AM on February 26, 2017


Awful. He definitely occupied some magical space in my head along the lines of 'Well, Bill Paxton obviously deserves to live to a ripe, happy old age for just being awesome.'
posted by mrdaneri at 9:30 AM on February 26, 2017 [4 favorites]


I was strangely delighted when I found out that he played the young punk who gets his heart ripped out in Terminator (give me your clothes) like one of his earliest roles!
posted by supermedusa at 9:32 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by sammyo at 9:40 AM on February 26, 2017


"I'd like to butter her muffin."

Indeed.

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posted by Sphinx at 9:40 AM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]


Another gem from Martini Ranch - "Hot Dog" (and yes, that is Cindy Wilson from the B-52s there.)

Gonna miss you, Bill.

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posted by Guy Smiley at 9:47 AM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]


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posted by Room 641-A at 9:50 AM on February 26, 2017


Although mainly known for supporting roles, he was the leading man in Twister. That film is perfect.

No. No, it was not. He was perfect in it, of course.

Apollo 13, now that movie was perfect. The constellation Urion!

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posted by Melismata at 9:54 AM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]


I think I'll just quote my MetaFilter profile status, because it encapsulates how this news makes me feel.

"We're on an express elevator to hell; going down!"

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posted by radwolf76 at 9:56 AM on February 26, 2017 [7 favorites]


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posted by Gelatin at 9:58 AM on February 26, 2017




If you didn't like Bill Paxton, you didn't like movies.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:03 AM on February 26, 2017 [9 favorites]


Fizz: "Also, from Twitter (@_thegeoff): “The only actor to have been killed by an Alien, a Predator, AND a Terminator.”"

Expanded: Paxton: only actor to fight all 7 classic movie monsters: an alien, a predator, a terminator, a vampire, a twister, a titanic, Willem Dafoe.
posted by octothorpe at 10:04 AM on February 26, 2017 [55 favorites]


My experience with Twister involved about 300mg of dextromethorphan, and while I can say I had a great experience watching the movie, I can't make any statements as to its quality as a film.
posted by hippybear at 10:04 AM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


This is horrible. He was so young.

Damn.
posted by emmet at 10:07 AM on February 26, 2017


I always liked his sneaky/greasy/untrustworthy characters.

I wonder what "complications" means/meant? I imagine all kinds of terminator type stuff....

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posted by CrowGoat at 10:10 AM on February 26, 2017


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Bill Paxton ruled the movies, but my heart belonged to him as gleefully deranged John Garrett on Agents of SHIELD. Hail HYDRA. 😢
posted by nicebookrack at 10:13 AM on February 26, 2017 [9 favorites]


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posted by Hiding From Goro at 10:14 AM on February 26, 2017


What's interesting about Paxton's performance in Aliens is that his part wasn't actually that big. It was a large ensemble cast, and he was just one of the supporting actors, but his character had the best lines in the film, so we remember him more than the other actors. Youtube used to have a clip showing every line Paxton spoke in the movie, and it's actually quite short.
posted by Beholder at 10:21 AM on February 26, 2017 [6 favorites]


Paxton speaks for the audience in a lot of Aliens. He expresses the excitement and fear and the rest of the cast is there to do their marine jobs. That's why he's so memorable.
posted by hippybear at 10:23 AM on February 26, 2017 [9 favorites]


His direction of the creepyweird horror movie, Frailty, always stood out to me as pretty nuanced. I wanted him to direct more things more often. RIP, Mr. Paxton.
posted by xyzzy at 10:24 AM on February 26, 2017 [8 favorites]


One thing that excited me about his interview with Marc Maron was his trying to get a movie version of The Bottoms off the ground with him directing. He would have been perfect for Lansdale's type of Texas Gothic.

Damn.

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posted by beowulf573 at 10:27 AM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


Well, we still have Bill Pullman.
posted by Belle O'Cosity at 10:28 AM on February 26, 2017 [12 favorites]


Another shout out for Near Dark, which is nowhere as well known as it should be. Paxton was great in it, but then again, he was great in pretty much everything he ever appeared in.

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posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 10:33 AM on February 26, 2017 [5 favorites]


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posted by Ink-stained wretch at 10:40 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by the sobsister at 10:41 AM on February 26, 2017


Oh hell no.

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posted by Splunge at 10:42 AM on February 26, 2017


Aliens would have been a much different film without his Hudson. I can imagine Paxton playing Michael Biehn's character, for example, but not Biehn playing Hudson .

I work variations of Hudson's lines into conversations all the time and just love it when a fellow traveler picks up on the signals. I especially like using "Yeah man, Bishop should go. Good idea."

He was also the target of the movie's now-dated-still-best burn, courtesy of Vasquez.

Huge bummer.

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posted by Caxton1476 at 10:45 AM on February 26, 2017 [10 favorites]


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posted by cazoo at 10:56 AM on February 26, 2017


Such a bummer. Top three great, great, great underwatched Paxton films: Frailty, A Simple Plan, One False Move.
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:58 AM on February 26, 2017 [4 favorites]


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posted by Mouse Army at 11:04 AM on February 26, 2017


"Chet in (the, yes, problematic) Weird Science"

Wait - problematic?
posted by davidmsc at 11:07 AM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


I'm going to miss him so much, but I just can't keep from thinking how awesome it will be to have a pic of Bill Pullman in all the In Memoriam montages.
posted by Etrigan at 11:07 AM on February 26, 2017 [4 favorites]


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posted by kinnakeet at 11:08 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by gauche at 11:14 AM on February 26, 2017


Frailty and A Simple Plan were terrific.

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posted by doctornemo at 11:23 AM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


Aww, this sucks.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:25 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by Become A Silhouette at 11:28 AM on February 26, 2017


Vertical Limit is a cheesy attempt at a mountaineering action movie. I'm pretty sure it was in theaters for less time than it takes someone to summit K2. I will drop what I'm doing to watch it every time I find it on basic cable.

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posted by cmfletcher at 11:30 AM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]


Man, I've made it no secret here that I really despise Aliens as a film, but Bill Paxton is great – not only in that movie but in a whole lot of others. As others have mentioned, Near Dark is a great little movie, and he's a huge part of its greatness. This is a big loss.
posted by koeselitz at 11:34 AM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


He was the guy you needed when you needed a guy.

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posted by tommasz at 11:45 AM on February 26, 2017 [21 favorites]


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posted by eclectist at 11:52 AM on February 26, 2017


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posted by mikelieman at 11:56 AM on February 26, 2017


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The conviction he uses to to sell the line "He's in it for the money not the science!" from Twister is nothing short of heroic.
posted by zinc saucier at 11:57 AM on February 26, 2017 [8 favorites]


RIP from someone who has spent a couple decades quoting his lines from Aliens and several other films. As others have noted, Frailty and Near Dark are gems.
posted by Ber at 11:57 AM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


Streets of Fire too
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 12:10 PM on February 26, 2017 [4 favorites]


Stormwatchers ping in their tribute to the star of "Twister".
posted by Rumple at 12:32 PM on February 26, 2017 [27 favorites]


Yeah, I'm gonna dig out Frailty and watch it (for probably the fifth or seventh time) today or tomorrow. It's been years since I last saw it, but the mere idea is already scaring the piss out of me all over again. It's like all the darkest, most disturbing elements of every Flannery O'Connor story (and if you're like me, the worst bits of your childhood) brought to life. Paxton's performance -- and the sheer guts of casting himself in that seriously messed-up role -- is mind-blowing.
posted by FelliniBlank at 12:33 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


I've always loved, loved, loved Bill Paxton; he was always so damn watchable. Like a lot of you here, I followed his career since the eighties. One of my guilty favorites is Pass The Ammo. It's not really a good movie, kind of all over the map, really, but Paxton is the somewhat-unhinged robber versus Tim Curry's televangelist. Good times.

Paxton was once in consideration for the lead in The Rocketeer. I always wondered how that would have turned out.

I've got that Martini Ranch CD around here somewhere...
posted by Eikonaut at 12:35 PM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]


My first thought when seeing Edge of Tomorrow was, I miss this guy in these types of movies, little did we know.
RIP

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posted by OHenryPacey at 12:46 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by Thorzdad at 12:47 PM on February 26, 2017


👾no way, man.
posted by sexyrobot at 12:53 PM on February 26, 2017


:(

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posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 12:58 PM on February 26, 2017




His imdb page is just amazing - so many cool movies, and that WTF interview is a gem, sounds like such a mensch. 61 is way too young. RIP

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posted by dbiedny at 1:18 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


Dammit. As others have said, even when he only had a bit part, he made everything he was in better. Up thread, someone pointed out how Hudson is the point of view/reaction character for the audience. Compare his acting, which could have been utterly overblown, but wasn't, with, say, the cop riding shotgun during the chase seen in Dark Knight. It's awful, and pulls me out of the film every time. Paxton would have made that small part shine, not so much it overwhelmed the film, but so well it would be remembered and quoted.

Dammit. Too fucking young, and too many memorable characters we'll never see.
posted by Ghidorah at 1:21 PM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]


Among my most real and persistent circle of friends, which dates 30+ years now, Chet from Weird Science was our first collective movie-quote source. RIP.

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posted by rhizome at 1:28 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


Also he was Clyde the Bartender in the underrated Walter Hill film Streets of Fire. Paxton really brought a wonderful energy to every role he was in.
posted by Guy Smiley at 1:36 PM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]


/me reads new mention of Bill Paxton : check
/me checks the Blue to see if there is already a post: check
/me checks to see if someone has already written, "Game over, man." : check

I like a lot of his work, but I think his minor role in Aliens captures the audience's understanding of what's going on perfectly:

Private Hudson: Nine meters. Seven. Six.
Ripley: That can't be; that's inside the room.
Private Hudson: It's reading right man, look!
Corporal Hicks: Then you're not reading *it* right.
Private Hudson: Five meters, man. Four. What the hell?

I can still call a friend who has long since moved away, and even if I didn't say "hello" and launched into that first line I am guaranteed he'll come back with Paxton's dialogue.

[ what Ghidorah said ].
posted by grimjeer at 1:49 PM on February 26, 2017 [7 favorites]


Yes, we're pretty sure it's not actually Bill Pullman, then?
posted by allthinky at 1:55 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


My first thought was "oh no! The president from independence day!"
I suppose I'll never make that mistake again.
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posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:55 PM on February 26, 2017 [2 favorites]


Ugh, so young. My husband and I just watched Apollo 13 last night, too; he was just as shocked as I was when I broke the news to him this afternoon, but also gave me the perfect opportunity for a joke. (Ridiculous though it may be, I could watch Twister any day of the week. Such fun.)

cellar door: Oh shit—Bill Paxton's dead.
mr. door: What? [beat] Why?!
cellar door: Things go wrong. You can't explain it. You can't predict it.
mr. door: ...goddamn it.

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posted by cellar door at 2:05 PM on February 26, 2017 [9 favorites]


I loved him for each and every character he played, and I think he's one of the few remaining actors that when I saw he was in something, I wanted to check it out. He seemed to enjoy each gig, and every character he played for the same reason we enjoyed that character. However, beyond all that, I got this sense that he was a good guy. I've seen nothing today to tell me otherwise. In fact, People quoted him saying this:

“I loved watching Stranger Things with my daughter,” he said. “But I had surgery last spring and binge-watched all of Downton Abbey while I was recuperating. I got so engrossed in it, I was devastated when I got to the end.”

He was one of us. RIP Bill.
posted by Muddler at 2:53 PM on February 26, 2017 [7 favorites]


Finally got out of this chickenshit outfit.

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posted by chmmr at 2:58 PM on February 26, 2017 [8 favorites]


Rest in peace. Such a dependable actor.

Pardons if I missed this in the thread above, but Paxton isn't the only person to face off vs Alien, Terminator, & Predator. Lance Henriksen did as well.
posted by shortfuse at 3:25 PM on February 26, 2017 [3 favorites]


Goddamnit.

Twister has been one of my favorite movies for years, and Paxton one of my favorite That Guy actors (though he was much more, too). Terrible that he's died so young.

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posted by rtha at 3:28 PM on February 26, 2017


Chet in Aliens blew my mind at the time. Suspension of disbelief and all.

R.I.P.
posted by filtergik at 3:51 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


Thank you shortfuse, I was scrolling down to add that. Bill Paxton did act in and direct Fish Heads if anybody needs Paxton trivia.

Also. .
posted by Molesome at 3:58 PM on February 26, 2017


Complications from surgery. How common is this? (And I also wonder, does everyone who posts on Metafilter do so in good faith, but that's not for asking here.)
posted by Baeria at 4:09 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:10 PM on February 26, 2017


Oh god, Pass the Ammo. Yes, I'd forgotten all about that but enjoyed it all the time.
posted by crush-onastick at 4:14 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by monopas at 4:16 PM on February 26, 2017


Not nearly enough love for Tombstone. He's such a good counterweight to Russell and Elliott. Morgan Earp is moony and idealistic and has none of the bitter edge of his brothers. In less skilled hands he would have been annoying and trite. But Paxton's skillful essaying of the part makes Morgan's demise all the more tragic.
posted by aureliobuendia at 4:20 PM on February 26, 2017 [4 favorites]


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A shocker, and I enjoyed his turn on the Titanic documentary, too.
posted by jadepearl at 4:33 PM on February 26, 2017


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Baeria: "Complications from surgery. How common is this?"

Pretty common; especially for people who are ill IE: not elective surgeries or stuff like hip/knee replacement.
The largest and most recent study of postoperative mortality was published in 2010. In this review of 3.7 million surgical procedures at 102 hospitals in the Netherlands during 1991 – 2005, postoperative mortality from all causes was observed in 67,879 patients, for an overall rate of 1.85%
And every time they knock you out there is a non-zero chance (0.01-0.016%) you'll never wake up.
posted by Mitheral at 4:36 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


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posted by zrail at 4:40 PM on February 26, 2017


He timed it perfectly to be a raw, last-minute addition to the Oscars memorial reel, the perfect finish to a career of absolutely stealing everything he appeared in.

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posted by Soulfather at 4:50 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]


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Much too young. : (
posted by SisterHavana at 4:57 PM on February 26, 2017


He also had an uncredited role in this hilarious New Order video.
posted by readyfreddy at 4:59 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by pt68 at 5:02 PM on February 26, 2017


James Cameron's tribute is very moving.
posted by mogget at 5:12 PM on February 26, 2017 [1 favorite]




No mention of the Dark Backward? Paxton at his greasiest, scene-chewingest self.

He's played many, many roles I enjoyed - but he'll always be Gus to me. RIP.
posted by davelog at 5:25 PM on February 26, 2017 [3 favorites]


Another shout out for his work in Big Love.
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posted by dannyboybell at 5:48 PM on February 26, 2017 [3 favorites]


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posted by Joey Michaels at 5:52 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by humanfont at 5:54 PM on February 26, 2017


I always liked that guy.

It's too late for the Oscars reel, right?
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:12 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by Mister Moofoo at 6:31 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by haiku warrior at 6:45 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by Nat "King" Cole Porter Wagoner at 6:50 PM on February 26, 2017


Came in to make sure his work with Barnes and Barnes including "Fish Heads" had been noted and was not disappointed.

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posted by rmd1023 at 7:03 PM on February 26, 2017


Man Near Dark changed my life

Sleep soundly in the heavens, oh you truest son of Texas.

After I saw that movie, I went and wrote a short story about a girl in Tyler being turned at a Dairy Queen and making herself a bloody dip cone.

Bill, you will be very missed in our household :(
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 7:11 PM on February 26, 2017 [6 favorites]


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posted by detachd at 7:16 PM on February 26, 2017


Too soon. I'm so sad about this.

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posted by but no cigar at 7:29 PM on February 26, 2017


I saw a few crappy movies with Paxton in them. I never saw a bad performance from him.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:59 PM on February 26, 2017


I'll try to remember to watch for him in Stripes. Wow, long busy career!
posted by Twang at 8:06 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by Jilder at 8:26 PM on February 26, 2017


I grew up in Fort Worth Texas and went to the same high school as Bill Paxton did. I always had a weird love for the guy. My dad told me earlier "Of all his performances, I can't help but remember the sleezy car salesman he played in True Lies. He one upped Arnold in that film as far as I'm concerned."I couldn't agree more.
I still watch Twister unashamedly in spring storms here (It's like the "Jaws" for tornados). I also nearly peed my pants in Club Dread and was glad to see him back in action being his perfect self in Edge of Tomorrow.
There are very few folks out there from my home town I am proud of (Elizabeth Warren another hero)... Bill Paxton always a constant in my life. This is going to be a little hard. You'll never hear that unique Fort Worth accent shamelessly used in every role.
posted by hillabeans at 8:47 PM on February 26, 2017 [9 favorites]


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posted by bryon at 9:46 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by lapolla at 10:13 PM on February 26, 2017


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posted by mr_roboto at 10:16 PM on February 26, 2017


Years ago I dated a woman - more still girl at our ages - who was a second niece or cousin. She told me fondly of a party he threw for his extended family to celebrate his first on-screen role where he did not die. She said it was hilarious.
posted by MarvinTheCat at 10:44 PM on February 26, 2017 [8 favorites]


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posted by esto-again at 11:03 PM on February 26, 2017


MarvinTheCat, Commando?
posted by Molesome at 1:22 AM on February 27, 2017


Fizz: "Also, from Twitter (@_thegeoff): “The only actor to have been killed by an Alien, a Predator, AND a Terminator.”"

Octothorpe: "Expanded: Paxton: only actor to fight all 7 classic movie monsters: an alien, a predator, a terminator, a vampire, a twister, a titanic, Willem Dafoe."

While I can't argue the expanded version, Lance Henrikson was also killed by a Predator, a Terminator and an Alien.

Doesn't make it any less sad that we've lost Bill.


chmmr: "Finally got out of this chicken shit outfit"

Secure that shit, chmmr! *cigar chomp*
posted by trif at 2:35 AM on February 27, 2017 [1 favorite]


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posted by mfoight at 2:52 AM on February 27, 2017


THIS GUY I LOVE THIS GUY

(Seriously, I really loved this guy. He was like one of my all-time biggest movie actor crushes. Wow. Damn. What an actor. Jeez. Damn.)


*
posted by Mike Mongo at 5:44 AM on February 27, 2017 [1 favorite]


He also had an uncredited role in this hilarious New Order video.

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and also featuring Rae Dawn Chong.
posted by shortfuse at 5:46 AM on February 27, 2017 [1 favorite]


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posted by dlugoczaj at 6:38 AM on February 27, 2017


Aw, I'm really sad about this. I love Bill Paxton. Aliens is in my top 5 favorite movies of all time, so is The Terminator. Twister is a total poppy field movie for me, as is Titanic. And I was blown away by Frailty.

Just a really funny, solid actor. Always gave a good performance. Between him and Miguel Ferrar, I'm losing all my favorite character actors. THIS SUCKS.
posted by Aquifer at 7:17 AM on February 27, 2017


I saw a few crappy movies with Paxton in them. I never saw a bad performance from him.

Just watched The Colony last night in his honor. TBH, that was a pretty fun B-movie.
posted by Existential Dread at 8:43 AM on February 27, 2017 [1 favorite]


This can't be happening, man! This isn't happening!

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posted by ikahime at 9:17 AM on February 27, 2017 [2 favorites]


Obviously Pvt. Hudson is an all-time great, but his performance as Severen is what put him into *my* pantheon. Such a savage, remorseless monster. Such a savage, remorseless, bloodthirsty, charismatic, sexy monster.
posted by whuppy at 11:03 AM on February 27, 2017 [2 favorites]


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posted by dogstoevski at 11:04 AM on February 27, 2017


(warning: angelfire, remember that shit?)

Many years ago, in college, my friend created The Paxtonometer, to illustrate for all future would-be thespians the potential of their craft, as achieved by one of its greatest exponents. The mouseovers don't work anymore, but the alt text is still there for those with the courage to seek true understanding.

Hail and farewell, sir.
posted by Errant at 11:27 AM on February 27, 2017 [3 favorites]


Such a pity, he had a lot more to contribute to screens small and large.

I am glad that my fellow mefites have already extolled Big Love as well as Near Dark. Gonna also have to plug the History Channel miniseries Hatfields & McCoys, opposite Costner.

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posted by porpoise at 3:46 PM on February 27, 2017


Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescat in pace.
posted by ob1quixote at 9:16 PM on February 27, 2017


Fish heads is a huge memory for me. I saw it on a late night video show on local cable when visiting a friend in Vancouver, and I always remembered it as integral to my brief visits to the 80s teen punk scene there (mostly vicariously experienced through my friend). Been singing it ever since, and a few years ago I looked up the video to try to explain to my teenaged son why I occasionally burst into squeaky song about how it doesn't cost anything to take a fish head to the movies.
posted by chapps at 12:29 AM on February 28, 2017 [1 favorite]


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posted by cass at 10:58 AM on February 28, 2017


Going to bed tonight, I found myself thinking of A Simple Plan, which I think was my first glimpse of the fact that Bill had a lot of range and that he didn't necessarily die in each movie he was in.
posted by nubs at 1:09 AM on March 1, 2017


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