Billy Blanks
Acting • Born 1955-09-01
Biography
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.
Filmography
74 credits
The Master
Movie • 1992
Hawks Gang Member
Back in Action
Movie • 1994
Billy
The Last Boy Scout
Movie • 1991
Billy Cole
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Two - Maximum Power
Movie • 2006
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission One - Get Started
Movie • 2006
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Three - Rock Solid Abs
Movie • 2006
Billy's Bootcamp Elite: Mission Spot Training - Lower Body
Movie • 2006
Billy's BootCamp Elite: 8 Minute Supercharge Cardio
Movie • 2006
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp Live!
Movie • 2004
Billy's Bootcamp 1: Tae Bo
Movie • 2003
Billy's Bootcamp 2: Tae Bo
Movie • 2003
Bloodfist
Movie • 1989
Black Rose
The King of the Kickboxers
Movie • 1990
Khan
Tough and Deadly
Movie • 1995
John Portland
Talons of the Eagle
Movie • 1992
Tyler Wilson
Assault on Devil's Island
Movie • 1997
Craegan
TC 2000
Movie • 1993
Jason Storm
Showdown
Movie • 1993
Billy Grant
Expect No Mercy
Movie • 1995
Justin Vanier
Driving Force
Movie • 1990
Pool
Devotion
Movie
Billy Blanks
The Ultimate Goal
Movie • 2017
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
Movie • 1995
Self
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Platinum Collection
Movie • 2014
Self
Balance of Power
Movie • 1996
Niko
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Cardio
Movie • 2003
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo: Strength Power
Movie • 2004
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Flex
Movie • 2003
The Real Miyagi
Movie • 2015
Self
Dark Moon Rising
Movie • 2015
Sheriff Tom
The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter
Movie • 2024
Samson
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
Movie • 1998
Self
Low Blow
Movie • 1986
Guard
Invincible
Movie • 1992
Billy
Billy Blanks TaeBo Express
Movie • 2012
Instructor
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 1 Workout
Movie • 2001
Himself
The Last Kumite
Movie • 2024
Master Loren
The Clapper
Movie • 2018
Billy Blanks
American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures
Movie • 2024
Self (archive footage)
China O'Brien II
Movie • 1990
Baskin's Fighter #1 (uncredited)
Lionheart
Movie • 1990
African Legionnaire
Billy's BootCamp: Basic Training Bootcamp
Movie • 2005
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Basic Workout
Movie • 1999
Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 2 Workout
Movie • 2001
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Instructional
Movie • 1999
Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - 8-Minute Workout
Movie • 2001
Himself
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Kicks
Movie • 2005
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: 8-Minute Workout
Movie • 1999
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Total Body Fat Blaster
Movie • 2005
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Advanced Workout
Movie • 1999
Himself
Billy's BootCamp: Ultimate BootCamp
Movie • 2005
Himself
Billy Blanks' TaeBo Believer's Workout: The Strength Within
Movie • 2003
Himself
The Best of TaeBo: Ultimate Upper Body
Movie • 2002
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Gold
Movie • 2000
Himself
Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo
Movie • 2010
Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Basic 1 Workout
Movie • 2001
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Movie • 2019
Self
Timebomb
Movie • 1991
Mr. Brown
Almost Amazing
Movie • 2017
Mr. Wilson
Kiss the Girls
Movie • 1997
Instructor
Tango & Cash
Movie • 1989
Prison Thug (uncredited)
Jack and Jill
Movie • 2011
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks: Ultimate Tae Bo
Movie • 2007
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Amped Fat Burn Accelerator
Movie • 2007
Billy Blanks
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV • 2003
Self
The Tony Danza Show
TV • 2004
Self
The Parent 'Hood
TV • 1995
The Parkers
TV • 1999
Melrose Place
TV • 1992
ER
TV • 1994
Tae-Bo Instructor
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
TV • 1996
Billy Blanks
V.I.P.
TV • 1998
Self
The Fairly OddParents
TV • 2001
Billy Blanks (voice)
Martial Law
TV • 1998
Travis King