Billy Blanks Bio | Wiki
Billy Blanks is an American fitness personality, martial artist, and actor. He is the creator of the Tae Bo exercise program, derived from his extensive martial arts training. Despite growing up in hardships and suffering dyslexia and tendon problems, Billy didn’t stop from starting his martial arts training at age 14.
He eventually achieved black belts in tae kwon do & several other arts, and won numerous US martial arts tournaments. He 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 Lionheart (1990).
Billy Blanks Age
Billy was born on September 1, 1955, in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. He is 67 years old.
Billy Blanks Height
He is a man of tall stature and stands at a height of 6 ft (Approx. 1.83 m).
Billy Blanks Family
He was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania by his parents Isaac Blanks and Mabeline Blanks. Billy grew up in a humble background alongside his 14 siblings Michael and Irene. He battled dyslexia and tendon problems that impaired his movement.
The resulting clumsiness aroused taunts from Billy’s siblings and led his instructors to believe that he would never accomplish much. He found the answer to these challenges in karate. When he saw Bruce Lee on TV, he decided he wanted to be a world martial arts champion
Billy Blanks Wife
Billy is married to his beautiful wife Tomoko Sato. The couple met in 2007 when Sato worked as his Japanese interpreter. Their marriage was formally registered in January 2009 and their wedding ceremony was held on June 20, 2009. They welcomed their daughter Angelika in November 2008. Billy relocated to Japan in 2009.
Previously, Billy was married to Gayle H. Godfrey, 1974 whom he met in karate class. He adopted Gayle’s daughter, Shellie, who was born in 1973. They had a son Billy Blanks Jr. Blanks and Godfrey divorced in 2008 after 33 years of marriage. Godfrey filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
Billy Blanks Children
Billy adopted his first wife’s daughter Shellie, who was born in 1973. She is a martial artist and is prominently featured in many Tae Bo videos. Shellie has also produced her own video called Tae Bo Postnatal Power, as well as hosted her father’s new infomercial Tae Bo T3.
His son Billy Jr. works as a fitness instructor. He produced several best-selling DVDs, including Cardioke and Fat Burning Hip Hop Mix. He has also starred in a touring production of the musical Fame, and has worked as a dancer in music videos with Madonna, Quincy Jones and Paula Abdul.
Billy Blanks Tae Bo | Workout
In the late 1980s, Billy developed the Tae Bo workout, while running a karate studio in Quincy, Massachusetts. He used components of his martial arts and boxing training. The name is a portmanteau of tae as in taekwondo and bo as in boxing. Billy opened a fitness center in Los Angeles to teach his new workout.
He later attracted celebrity clients such as Paula Abdul, and the popularity of the workout quickly grew, becoming a pop culture phenomenon after he began releasing mass-marketed videos. He sold over 1.5 million VHS tapes in his first year, and is reported to have grossed between $80 million and $130 million in sales.
Billy Blanks Movies
He was hired as a bodyguard for lead actress Catherine Bach during the filming of 1988’s Driving Force, which was filmed in Manila during a time of political unrest. Billy impressed the producers and was written into the script in a supporting role.
This led to his work in several martial arts films, including King of the Kickboxers and Bloodfist. Blanks also appeared in the opening scene of Tony Scott’s The Last Boy Scout, where he plays a doomed pro-football player. Billy played Ashley Judd’s kickboxing instructor in Kiss the Girls (1997).
Billy Blanks Showdown
In 1993, he played Billy Grant in the film Showdown, a 1993 action/martial arts film directed by Robert Radler. The film stars Billy, Kenn Scott, Christine Taylor, Ken McLeod, Patrick Kilpatrick, and Brion James. The movie is reminiscent of 1984’s The Karate Kid.
Billy Blanks Net Worth
He earns his wealth from his career, therefore, he has amassed a fortune over the years. Billy’s estimated net worth is $20 million.
What Happened To Billy Blanks
Now he is in Orange County, the birthplace of Richard Nixon and The Offspring. After years teaching at a Gold’s Gym in Rancho Santa Margarita, he hung out his own shingle—er, vinyl banner—on Route 1 in Dana Point. And he is not done.