Bill Paxton's 9 Most Memorable Roles

This week, the entertainment industry lost another shining star when we learned that Bill Paxton died at the age of 61. Paxton was a well-known actor who played big and small roles for the last few decades, but no matter the size of the role, his presence was indelibly memorable. From roles in huge movies like Titanic to leading shows like HBO's Big Love, Paxton starred in so many things that you loved and that made him one of those recognizable film faces. And, tragically, he was nowhere near slowing down — he was one of the stars of CBS's new midseason drama Training Day, and he has a 2017 film coming up, The Circle, that has yet to be released. But for now, we're looking back at the past roles we'll never forget.

01
Weird Science (1985)
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Weird Science (1985)

Paxton plays an iconic bully character as Chet, the buzz-cut-wearing, gun-toting older brother who cannot believe it when his sibling and his friend suddenly enjoy the attention of a gorgeous woman.

02
Aliens (1986)
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Aliens (1986)

Paxton began a relationship working with director James Cameron a couple years before in a bit role in The Terminator, but he got a more substantial role later in Aliens, the sequel to the '80s horror megahit Alien.

03
Tombstone (1993)
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Tombstone (1993)

Paxton stars as Morgan Earp, the ill-fated brother to Kurt Russell's Wyatt Earp in this iconic Western from the '90s.

04
True Lies (1994)
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True Lies (1994)

James Cameron cast collaborator Paxton in another of his biggest hits of the '90s, True Lies. He plays a smarmy used car salesman who puts the moves on Jamie Lee Curtis as the wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger's character.

05
Apollo 13 (1995)
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Apollo 13 (1995)

Paxton got his meatiest role yet in this historical drama based on the plagued Apollo 13 launch in 1970. Alongside Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon, he played Fred Haise, one of the three astronauts sent to the moon before the phrase "Houston, we have a problem" is unforgettably uttered.

06
Twister (1996)
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Twister (1996)

This classic disaster film put Paxton and Helen Hunt in the eye of a storm — literally — and the high-grossing movie led to Paxton's star rising even higher.

07
Titanic (1997)
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Titanic (1997)

Of course, director James Cameron didn't forget his buddy when he cast his biggest movie of the decade — here, Paxton plays one of the few present-day roles as Brock Lovett, the man who brings Old Rose back to the boat to find her necklace.

08
Big Love (2006-2011)
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Big Love (2006-2011)

Perhaps Paxton's "biggest" role is actually his TV one. As Bill Henrickson, the patriarch of a fundamental Mormon family, he juggles three wives (Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, and Ginnifer Goodwin) and a lot of drama.

09
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
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Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

In a more recent big budget movie, Paxton plays the sergeant in command of Tom Cruise's soldier character who keeps dying and waking back up until he successfully finishes his mission.

Finally, Paxton's last film, The Circle, will be released on April 28, and could be yet another of his most memorable roles. He plays the father of the main character, played by Emma Watson.