Billy Blanks
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Sep 1, 1955 (age 71)
- Place of birth
- Erie - Pennsylvania - USA
- Credits
- 83
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
Jack and Jill
2011Movie
Billy Blanks
The Last Boy Scout
1991Movie
Billy Cole
Tango & Cash
1989Movie
Prison Thug (uncredited)
Kiss the Girls
1997Movie
Instructor
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
1996TV
Billy Blanks
Lionheart
1990Movie
African Legionnaire
Filmography
American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures
2024Movie
Self (archive footage)
The Last Kumite
2024Movie
Master Loren
The Circuit 4: Faith Fighter
2024Movie
Samson
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
2019Movie
Self
The Clapper
2018Movie
Billy Blanks
Almost Amazing
2017Movie
Mr. Wilson
The Ultimate Goal
2017Movie
Dark Moon Rising
2015Movie
Sheriff Tom
The Real Miyagi
2015Movie
Self
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Platinum Collection
2014Movie
Self
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Body Shape
2014Movie
Self
Billy Blanks Tae Bo Express
2012Movie
Instructor
Jack and Jill
2011Movie
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Insane Abs
2010Movie
Self
Billy Blanks: This Is Tae Bo
2010Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Amped Fat Burn Accelerator
2007Movie
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks: Ultimate Tae Bo
2007Movie
Billy Blanks
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission One - Get Started
2006Movie
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Two - Maximum Power
2006Movie
Billy's BootCamp Elite: Mission Three - Rock Solid Abs
2006Movie
Billy's Bootcamp Elite: Mission Spot Training - Lower Body
2006Movie
Billy's BootCamp Elite: 8 Minute Supercharge Cardio
2006Movie
Billy's BootCamp: Basic Training Bootcamp
2005Movie
Billy Blanks
Billy's BootCamp: Ultimate BootCamp
2005Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Kicks
2005Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Total Body Fat Blaster
2005Movie
Himself
The Tony Danza Show
2004TV
Self
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp Live!
2004Movie
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo: Strength Power
2004Movie
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo Extreme: Push Your Limits
2004Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power POWER
2004Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power STRENGTH
2004Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Cardio
2003Movie
Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Flex
2003Movie
Billy Blanks' TaeBo Believer's Workout: The Strength Within
2003Movie
Himself
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003TV
Self
Billy's Bootcamp 2: Tae Bo
2003Movie
Billy's Bootcamp 1: Tae Bo
2003Movie
The Best of TaeBo: Ultimate Upper Body
2002Movie
Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 1 Workout
2001Movie
Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Advanced 2 Workout
2001Movie
Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - 8-Minute Workout
2001Movie
Himself
TaeBo II: Get Ripped - Basic 1 Workout
2001Movie
The Fairly OddParents
2001TV
Billy Blanks (voice)
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Gold
2000Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Advanced Workout
1999Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Basic Workout
1999Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: Instructional
1999Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks' Tae Bo: 8-Minute Workout
1999Movie
Himself
The Parkers
1999TV
V.I.P.
1998TV
Self
Martial Law
1998TV
Travis King
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes
1998Movie
Self
Assault on Devil's Island
1997Movie
Craegan
Kiss the Girls
1997Movie
Instructor
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
1996TV
Billy Blanks
Balance of Power
1996Movie
Niko
Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities
1995Movie
Self
Expect No Mercy
1995Movie
Justin Vanier
Tough and Deadly
1995Movie
John Portland
The Parent 'Hood
1995TV
ER
1994TV
Tae-Bo Instructor
Back in Action
1994Movie
Billy
Showdown
1993Movie
Billy Grant
TC 2000
1993Movie
Jason Storm
Invincible
1992Movie
Billy
Talons of the Eagle
1992Movie
Tyler Wilson
Melrose Place
1992TV
The Master
1992Movie
Hawks Gang Member
The Last Boy Scout
1991Movie
Billy Cole
Timebomb
1991Movie
Mr. Brown
The King of the Kickboxers
1990Movie
Khan
Lionheart
1990Movie
African Legionnaire
China O'Brien II
1990Movie
Baskin's Fighter #1 (uncredited)
Driving Force
1990Movie
Pool
Tango & Cash
1989Movie
Prison Thug (uncredited)
Bloodfist
1989Movie
Black Rose
Low Blow
1986Movie
Guard
Devotion
Movie
Billy Blanks
Billy Blanks Tae Bo 2004 Capture the Power ENERGY
Movie
Himself
Billy's Bootcamp: Cardio Bootcamp
Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks - Tae Bo - Amped Full Throttle
Movie
Himself
Billy Blanks: Bootcamp Cardio Inferno
Movie
Himself