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