Actor Bill Paxton has passed away due to complications from surgery. He was 61 years old. A family representative issued the following statement:
“It is with heavy hearts we share the news that Bill Paxton has passed away due to complications from surgery,” a family representative said in a statement. “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.”
Paxton is survived by his wife of three decades, Louise, and two children, daughter Lydia and son James who recently guest starred in Paxton’s current TV show Training Day.
Paxton was born in Fort Worth, Texas. When he was eight years old, he was among the crowd that greeted President John F. Kennedy as he emerged from Hotel Texas directly before his fateful ride through Dallas. The photo of Paxton being lifted up to see the president is on display in Dallas’ Sixth Floor Museum.
Paxton was known for movie roles such as Apollo 13, Tombstone, Terminator, Spy Kids, Aliens and Titanic and TV roles Big Love and Hatfields & McCoys, for which he was nominated for multiple Golden Globes (Big Love), an Emmy and a SAG Award (Hatfield & McCoy). I bet that those of you reading came up with a list of his credits just as long as the one I gave. The first memory I have of Paxton was his role as the obnoxious Chet in Weird Science, but that’s just because I didn’t know who he was when I saw Stripes. The Mister and I started listing his roles after we’d heard of his passing and ran out of breath before we could cite them all. That’s the thing that stands out for me about Paxton: it wasn’t that he appeared in so many things but I always remembered him. No matter how small or supporting his role was, he owned it in a way that stood out.
The outpouring over Paxton’s death has been huge. Many are touting his prowess as an actor, of course, but even more than his acting, people are lauding what a genuinely kind soul he was and the impact he made on them. Obviously 61 is far too young to die and I’m sure we will receive more information surrounding his surgery and the complications in time but for now, let’s remember the actor and celebrate the warm human being along with those who knew him.
Bill Paxton was, simply, a wonderful man. A wonderful man… Hanx.
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) February 26, 2017
He made this movie great–he acted his heart out. What a talented man. My thoughts are with his family. pic.twitter.com/rUcmmYME3h
— Helen Hunt (@HelenHunt) February 26, 2017
Some of my favorite memories are of floating around in a tiny vessel with big hearted,hilarious,brilliant Bill Paxton. Sad day.
— Kevin Bacon (@kevinbacon) February 26, 2017
My fave thing about Bill Paxton was he saw his wife Louise on a London bus 30 yrs ago & never let her go. Everyone loved Bill. 💔 pic.twitter.com/xJESxj6OpX
— Dana Delany (@DanaDelany) February 26, 2017
My first day on Spy Kids 2 was with Bill Paxton. He came to my trailer & said hello and I told him I loved Titanic. Nicest guy in the world.
— Emily Osment (@EmilyOsment) February 26, 2017
Can't believe he's gone. RIP, Bill Paxton.😪😪😪My heart and prayers go out to his family & loved ones. 🙏🙏I'm gonna miss you, buddy! 💔 pic.twitter.com/k5bHKRbrap
— Ming-Na Wen (@MingNa) February 26, 2017
You were a great friend to me, Bill. AND one of the finest actors to share a set with. Sending so much love to Bill Paxton's family.
— Charlize Theron (@CharlizeAfrica) February 26, 2017
Nooooo. Bill Paxton is gone. Such a funny, talented, loving human. Louise & the children & family my ❤& support 2 u. #truelies pic.twitter.com/d4zleWdOrR
— Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis) February 26, 2017
Just heard the so so sad news about my pal #BillPaxton. So talented, special and the sweetest guy you'd ever want to meet. RIP my friend.
— Paul Reiser (@PaulReiser) February 26, 2017
Devastated by the sudden loss of my close friend and one of the finest actors in the business, Bill Paxton. Renaissance man, raconteur and
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) February 26, 2017
Crushing. #RIPBillPaxton A gr8 talent & spirit. His passion contributed so much 2 #Apollo13 & all his wrk. We'll miss the hell out of U Bill https://t.co/j2Khv6fmCP
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) February 26, 2017
photos credit: Twitter, WENN.com, FameFlynet and Getty
Nooooo 😢
RIP, Bill!
2017 needs to stop. I just… can’t.
What a sad loss.
🙁
This is so sad, he was wonderful.
Yes, it shone out of him. I’m so sad to hear this. RIP, dear soul.
I adored him in Big Love. I read he had heart surgery and then suffered a massive stroke post-op. So young to leave this earth.
I came on to say the same, Jayna. I don’t know his movie work, as I don’t watch movies, but his talent shone through in Big Love – he was simply wonderful. RIP Mr Paxton.
I never missed Big Love. He was so great in projecting and perfecting a kind of patriarchal cluelessness.
Loved Big Love too! He always stood out in his shows/movies, no matter what part he was playing. Twister, Apollo 13, A Simple Plan, Alien… He also seemed like a real stand-up guy.
2017… GAME OVER, man. Game over. Let’s all just pack it in for the rest of the year, because this year is clearly doomed.
Such a shock! Always an interesting actor.
Oh, no! RIP Bill 😢
So sad 🙁
So sad.
I LOVED him in Weird Science.
He was so young. So sad.
Apollo 13 was on the other night while I was making dinner, and there I sat with my unpeeled potato in hand, couldn’t walk away from the film. It sounds as if he was one of the good guys. Watch Weird Science and he will floor you, so funny. Good guy dies at 61, and you know who will live to be 100. Live each day as though it’s your last, it very well could be. RIP
I loved him in, well everything! He was in Weird Science, Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, some of my favorite movies. He always gave a great performance.
My brothers still say, “Game over man, Game over” whenever they compete against each other.
Really sad day, he was such a part of my viewing life, RIP.
How many male actors in Hollywood are married to a non-model or non-actress normal person for three decades without a touch of scandal? To me that personifies what everyone thought and is saying about him in remembrance. I enjoyed Big Love and watched every episode of that series. He was a fine actor and probably should have gotten more recognition than he did. RIP
Just about to say that… the only thing I know Bill Paxton for is his work… not scandals, gossip, or news. So sad for his family.
Ditto. Hardly any individuals in Hollywood we can say that about today. Sad. Loved him in Twister growing up. RIP
So sad. 61 is too young. He was a really talented actor, and I always enjoyed watching him!
Loved him In A Simple Plan.
RIP Bill.
I have a very close friend who met him while he was filming Twister. She hung out w/him for a weekend ( platonic as she’s gay) he loved music so she showed him some Iive music places. She marveled at how down to earth and easy going he was. Everywhere they went they attracted a crowd and she said he was super friendly and engaging. She’s a beautiful girl and mentioned she was hoping he wouldn’t ruin their fun by hitting on her and he never did. About a week later she got a call from him to tell her the movie was wrapping and he was leaving but wanted to thank her for the good times. RIP Bill! You made quite an impact!
What a nice story! Thank you.
Loved him in True Lies. He was one of those prolific actors who was great no matter where he was put.
His part in True Lies could have been so smarmy, but he made it hilarious.
Game over, man. Game over.
I was thinking that exact same line…..Nobody could say it like him.
Sad about this, far too young.
Great actor & seemed like a really decent guy.
He narrated a very good JFK documentary that traced JFK’s last hours in Texas. Bill shared his own vivid memories of that morning (as a young boy attending), which made it all the more interesting.
Seems he was a class act, and often those go far too soon.
Gutted.
He was such a good actor, lead or supporting, Bill owned it.
Sympathy for his loved ones.
Loved him in every role he played. He was far too young to die. So very sorry to hear this.
Sad news 61 is far too young my heart goes out to his family. Talented guy.
I have always liked him. RIP.
Loved him in Big Love. So sad.
Rest In Peace. Wonderful actor and human being.
This is such a loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
If you haven’t seen it, watch A Simple Plan, a small, brilliant film.
Love that film. He and Billy Bob were amazing. I was amazed that the film didn’t get more attention.
Heartbreaking. Life is short, way too short for some. RIP.
I absolutely loved him in everything he was in.
This death shocked me, I think of him as being so youthful.
Gosh, he was so darn funny in Weird Science. So true that he blended into whatever role, but also managed to stand out. RIP and hope his loved ones and friends find comfort in the days to come.
RIP Bill Paxton. Loved all his work especially Twister, Tombstone and the hilarious bit he did at the beginning of The Terminator movie where he laughs at a naked Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Condolences to his family. He’s gone too soon but I hope they are comforted by the outpouring of love from all his friends, fellow actors and fans.
Game over, man.
Game over.
– Bill Paxton
Aliens
Far too young to die, didn’t even look his age. Lots of people are sad over this, so I imagine he was a great guy. May he rest in peace.
I was shocked to read this first thing this morning. I don’t know but it seems to me that a lot of people die in their 60’s which I still consider not that old. Condolences to friend and families.
Lots of people have strokes and heart attacks and start getting the more age-related cancers in their 50’s and 60’s. Many will survive that, but for lots of people quality of life takes a real dive around that age.
People are living longer, but many of those people have been dealing with illness and disease for decades.
Nooooooo! I loved him 🙁 rest in peace.
Loved this man, Aliens, Apollo 13, Twister. My sympathies to his family.
Damn it. Please don’t start 2017!
He sounded like a genuinely good guy. RIP
Talented guy, this is a freaking nightmare for his family and friends. Prayers to them. RIP Bill.
Jesus, just 61. A Simple Plan was his best movie but my favorite role of his was the fake terrorist fighting CIA agent in True Lies. And also the reporter in NightCrawler.
Bill wasn’t a flashy Hollywood actor but you will always remember him in all the movies he was in. I am a bit pissed that people still make that Bill Pullman-Paxton jokes on twitter like “RIP, Independence Day guy”.
RIP, Bill. I guess, Game Over Man. You will be missed.
Awesome actor. His movies are among my all time favorites. Thoughts and prayers to his family that they may have peace and know he truly is among the stars tonight.
I loved him in Frailty and One False Move and of course Big Love. Such sad news 🙁
Wonderful write-up. It’s obvious everyone loves him as much as I do! I’ve always thought he was special. Very memorable as you said. Sad day indeed.
Sort of speechless…. death plays no favorites I guess.
I’m really gutted about this 🙁
Dammit. I’ve been a huge fan of his for so many years, and this one really hurts. So much love and so many good vibes to his family. Game over, man.
So incredibly sad. RIP Mr. Paxton, you will be deeply missed. 💔
Sad. Almost no one has mentioned The Evening Star. I guess I’ve seen it a dozen times.
“Somewhere beyond the sea!! Someone’s waiting for me!” If I could FLY like birds on high! – Bill Paxton singing in The Evening Star
See you later Bill.
He definitely owned the part. Who can forget Chet in Weird Science and “Game Over Man, Game Over!” in Aliens? Thank you Mr. Paxton.
This one hurts. Loved him in Twister and Titanic. He’s one of those actors who appear in a lot of movies but who always leaves an impression.
2017 you are starting to suck like your predecessor.
I was stunned and “gutted” like so many others when I read this news yesterday. Bill Paxton has always been one of my favorite actors from my generation. He was a scene stealer like in “Aliens” or the handsome, every man like in “Twister” or “Tombstone.” But I think his authenticity always shined through. That is what always spoke to me. He could be scary or smarmy like in “Near Dark,” “True Lies” or “Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” One role he did not get much recognition for was in “Frailty.” He was phenomenal in everything and will truly be missed! My prayers go out to his family.
What?? Noooooooo!!
Man that’s way too young! 🙁
Loved him ever since aliens when I was a kid! Must be horrible for the family to lose someone that loved that young. Seemed like he had a really big personality and a really big heart. RIP 🌸
Late to the game, but I also have a great Bill Paxton story to share:
My husband is in advertising, and years back he worked on a United Airlines campaign for which Bill did the voice overs. My boss at the time LOVED Bill, and my husband said if we wrote up a short script he’d size up the situation to see if Bill would be amenable to recording it for her. My colleagues and I wrote this totally nonsensical, esoteric script, that Bill happily recorded for us. Not only did he say the words, he truly emoted. It was awesome.
And my husband’s opinion of him was like all the rest – said he was a truly nice guy, very complimentary and a total class act. So sad that he’s gone.