He was the everyman hero who made us believe a regular guy could survive aliens, hurricanes, and the sinking Titanic. Bill Paxton died at age 61 on February 25, 2017, but in 2025—thanks to the blockbuster Twisters and his son James’s touching cameo—his spirit is riding the wind stronger than ever.
Quick Facts: Bill Paxton at a Glance
Height: 6 ft (1.83 m) • Weight in his prime: 183 lbs (83 kg) • Net worth at death: $25–40 million • Married: Twice (Louise Newbury 1987–2017) • Children: James Paxton & Lydia Paxton
Early Life: A Texas Boy Who Saw History Up Close
Born William Paxton on May 17, 1955, in Fort Worth, Texas, Bill grew up in a Catholic family with a businessman father and a warm, artistic mother. At just age 8 he was lifted onto someone’s shoulders outside the Hotel Texas on November 22, 1963—the very morning JFK would be assassinated hours later. That moment, captured in famous photographs, sparked a lifelong fascination with stories bigger than himself.
Teenage rheumatic fever damaged his heart valves, a quiet condition that would tragically resurface decades later. After high school he studied acting in New York under Stella Adler, then headed to Los Angeles at 18, ready to chase the dream.
Height, Weight, and Why His “Average Guy” Look Made Him Special
Standing 6 feet tall and weighing around 183 pounds in his prime, Bill never had the superhero physique. That was exactly the point. Whether panicking as Private Hudson in Aliens or leading storm chasers in Twister, audiences saw themselves in him—warm blue eyes, easy smile, and a Texas drawl that felt like home.
Dating History and Married Life: 30 Years of Real Love
Bill kept romance private and drama-free. His first marriage to Kelly Rowan lasted only from 1979 to 1980. The real love story began on a London bus in the early ’80s when he spotted book publicist Louise Newbury. They married in 1987 and stayed happily together until his death—a rare 30-year Hollywood marriage.
The couple raised two children in peaceful Ojai, California: son James Paxton (born 1994, now an actor) and daughter Lydia Paxton (born 1997). Bill often said Louise and the kids kept him grounded. “Family is the only thing that matters when the cameras stop,” he told friends.
Net Worth and Salary: How Blockbusters Built the Fortune
By 2017 Bill Paxton’s net worth sat comfortably between $25 and $40 million. Hits like Twister (worldwide gross $494M) and Titanic ($2.3B) brought massive paydays plus backend profits. His five-season run on HBO’s Big Love reportedly paid over $100,000 per episode. Smart real-estate moves, including the beloved Ojai ranch still owned by the family, added millions more.
Career Highlights: From Punk to Icon
James Cameron launched him: a blue-haired punk in The Terminator (1984), terrified Marine Hudson in Aliens (1986), sleazy car salesman in True Lies (1994), and treasure hunter Brock Lovett in Titanic (1997). He was astronaut Fred Haise in Apollo 13, storm-chaser Bill Harding in Twister, and earned three Golden Globe nominations as polygamist Bill Henrickson in Big Love.
Behind the camera he directed the chilling thriller Frailty (2001) and the uplifting golf drama The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005). Fun fact: Bill is the only actor ever killed on screen by a Terminator, an Alien, and a Predator.
| Biography Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William “Bill” Paxton |
| Date of Birth | May 17, 1955 |
| Date of Death | February 25, 2017 (aged 61) |
| Height | 6 ft (1.83 m) |
| Weight (prime) | 183 lbs (83 kg) |
| Net Worth at Death | $25–40 million |
| Spouse | Louise Newbury (m. 1987–2017) |
| Children | James Paxton, Lydia Paxton |
| Breakout Role | Private Hudson – Aliens (1986) |
| Biggest Box Office | Titanic (1997) |
| Directorial Debut | Frailty (2001) |
| Final TV Role | Detective Frank Rourke – Training Day (2017) |
| Unique Trivia | Only actor killed by Terminator, Alien, and Predator |
Cause of Death and the Heart Condition Nobody Saw Coming
Eleven days after surgery to replace a damaged aortic valve and repair an aneurysm—complications from childhood rheumatic fever—Bill suffered a fatal stroke at age 61. His family later settled wrongful-death claims in 2022, bringing attention to the risks of bicuspid aortic valves (affecting 1–2% of people). Cardiologists now cite his case when urging earlier screening.
2025 Legacy: Twisters, Tributes, and a Son Carrying the Torch
When Twisters stormed theaters in 2024, Glen Powell and director Lee Isaac Chung paid loving homage to the original. Most moving of all: Bill’s son James made a cameo as a storm-chasing hotel guest, a full-circle moment that left audiences in tears. Storm chasers still spell “BP” on radar maps during tornado season as a quiet salute.
In an age of CGI supermen, Bill Paxton reminded us that ordinary guys—with heart, humor, and courage—are the real heroes.
More about Bill Paxton:
Bill Paxton on Wikipedia
Bill Paxton on IMDb
James Paxton on Instagram (frequent tributes to his dad)
