ShouldBilly Zanehave had a bigger career? More people ponder that idea than you may think. He co-starred in one of the biggest films of all time,Titanic, and yet he didn’t get to have a career like Leonardo DiCaprio or Kate Winslet. But besides the giant iceberg, it was his snobbish villain role in the movie that made audiences despise him. To bring that kind of emotion out in an audience member is what defines a great actor.
Billy Zane has at times been labeled a character actor, but there is something about his vibe that makes you think he has the makings of a Hollywood legend, and you know what? Maybe he is. Yeah, he’s not sitting at the Golden Globes every year, but when he shows up on either a television show, a big-budget blockbuster from the 1990s, or some straight-to-video sleaze, Zane commands your attention. So, let’s look at the best roles of his career.
10Cleopatra (1999)
Many know the story ofCleopatra, the tale of Egypt’s queen, who births a child out of wedlock to become heir to Julius Caesar and the Roman Empire. She performs the balancing act of ruling Egypt and protecting it from the Romans, all the while raising her son to become an heir to the Roman Empire. This made-for-television movie is a two-parter that aired in 1999 on ABC.
Billy Zane Is Marc Anthony
Zane plays Marc Anthony in the made-for-television film. For those who know the story of Cleopatra, Marc Anthony is a general who serves under Julius Ceaser (Timothy Dalton). Anthony’s character arc was known as someone who was' Celopatras' lover. Zane was perfect in the role as a dashing young man. His prowess and presence oozed like those of some guy who could steal another man’s wife. A fun fact about Zane and his co-star Leonor Varela, who plays Cleopatra. The two began dating and even got engaged, but broke it off in 2001.
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Related:10 Best Movies About Cleopatra, Ranked
9Tombstone (1993)
It was hailed as one of the last good westerns ever to be made.Tombstonefollows Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell), who, with the help of his two brothers, Virgil (Sam Elliot) and Morgan (Bill Paxton), settle down in a town called Tombstone, Arizona. The brothers are not looking for any trouble, but a ruthless gang comes looking for them. Now they must utilize their old gunslinger ways because the town isn’t big enough for both parties to live in harmony there.
An Early Role for Billy Zane
It’s hard to stand out in a cast like Tombstone. Other cast members include Michael Biehn, Billy Bob Thornton, Stephen Lang, Dana Delany,and, of course, Val Kilmer. But Billy Zane shows up in a brief role as a theater actor in the town who goes by the name Mr. Fabian. His screen time is minimal, but his charisma and charm are all there, thus showing you why he became a more popular actor as the decade went on.
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Head Above Wateris a hybrid film that takes a crime thriller and meshes it into a dark comedy. Cameron Diaz plays the much younger wife of a judge (Harvey Keitel), who is on vacation at a beach house with him. Eventually, her ex (Billy Zane) shows up for a surprise to be with her. Spoiler alert, but the following morning, he ends up dead, and the mystery ensues as to what happened to him.
Billy Zane and the Ocean Never Ends Well
The early vehicle for Cameron Diaz may at times attempt to present itself like a neo-noir, but it eventually goes full-on farce. Zane, a year before the release of Titanic, hits gold in the movie as an unlikeable, slick ex-boyfriend who is interrupting his former lover’s new life. In the grand scheme of his career, Zane has played a few roles in this vein, but for the time being, his performance stands out a little more here. Billy Zane and a movie that takes place near the ocean (or on it) never seem to really end well for his character, though.
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7The Believer (2001)
The Believerstars a young Ryan Gosling as the leader of a group of skinheads who take out their frustrations on Jewish American people because they believe in the conspiracies that they are fed and that they are executing a plan for domination of the human race. But behind closed doors, he knows that he is Jewish-born.
Elevating an Impactful Film
Let’s not get it twisted. Zane is in two movies calledThe Believer: this one and a 2021 indie horror film. This 2001 drama is definitely a solid addition to his resume. He plays the supporting role of Curtis Zampf, a leader of a fascist organization in New York City, but he does not condone anti-Semitism, which sets him up for a clash with Ryan Gosling’s character. Gosling owns this film; it’s his breakthrough role, and Zane’s performance is a springboard to help that. Another reason why he is a great and even overlooked actor. He leaves an ego at the door to help improve an impactful project.
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6Sniper (1993)
Sniperwould pair up two of the best actors of the decade, Tom Berenger and Billy Zane. Berenger plays Thomas Beckett, a sniper who loses his partner in combat. He is paired up with someone much more advanced on a mission to take out a Panamanian rebel. Billy Zane plays the highly skilled replacement for Beckett as sharpshooter Richard Miller.
Flawless Chemistry
Zane and Berenger are both headstrong characters who must team up to complete a mission. Their chemistry is off the charts in this time capsule of early 1990s action films. The two are master and student, and their snarky dialogue towards each other carries the film well.Sniperwould spawn many straight-to-video sequels, both bringing back the original stars, but it’s the first one that brings it home for this overlooked franchise.
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Related:10 Best Movies About Military Snipers
5Zoolander (2001)
Zoolanderis a brilliant comedy about the fashion world that only someone like Ben Stiller could star in and direct. The comedy is about Derek Zoolander (Stiller), the most famous model in the world, who is getting some thunder stolen from him by his rival Hansel (Owen Wilson). But more things are now at play as Zoolander uncovers a brainwashing conspiracy in the fashion world.
“Listen to Your Friend Billy Zane.”
We are now at that part of the list where theZoolandercameo comes into play. Ben Stiller is known for getting many actors to cameo or have cool supporting roles in his films. (Case in point,Tropic Thunder). Zane shows up playing himself in a nightclub; he and Zoolander are tight. So when a standoff between him and Hansel happens, Zane is there to assist Zoolander in the showdown, but he also tries to quell tempers. His three minutes of screen time perfectlyencapsulate early 2000s humor. It’s gold!
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4Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995)
Genre film director Ernest Dickerson directed thisfeature film, a spin-off of theTales from the Crypttelevision series,Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight.It’s about a war veteran who holds the key to something that could lock tremendous evil upon this world. A being by the name of The Collector (Billy Zane) wants to obtain the ancient key so he can end the world. The showdown for mankind goes down at a New Mexico boarding house, where The Collector goes toe-to-toe with the residents there to get what he came for.
Zane would continue on to play villainous roles in genre films in years to come. ButTales From the Crypt: Demon Knightis a solid reference to his work in the genre. Zane uses all his slick and somewhat untrustworthy mannerisms he can enhance to make you think he is the devil in human flesh. With this being a horror comedy of sorts, Zane stretches his comedic skills in the role of the bad guy as he strips himself of his cowboy attire and pokes fun at the lifestyle. This is definitely a top-tier performance.
3The Phantom (1996)
The Phantom
The Phantomis a 1996 action adventure film adapted from the world of theLee Falk comic strip. Billy Zane plays Kit Walker, a superhero whose powers come from three ancient skulls. And a new breed of evil now wants to obtain those skulls from Walker’s possession.
Leading Man
The Phantomhad some mixed reviews. It’s a film that taps into the era when the comic strips were produced, the 1930s. Whatever you think about the movie overall is your opinion, but it’s hard to deny that Zane is doing what he can to become Hollywood’s next leading man here. He never looks foolish in the purple suit and bandit-looking mask. He seems to be taking his job quite seriously; it never feels phoned in. It’s a shame we never got a franchise out of this one.
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Dead Calmis about a grieving couple played by Nicole Kidman and Sam Neil. The pair had just lost their child, and to try and get over their loss, they set sail out in the ocean on their yacht. The pair ends up coming across a man lost at sea (Billy Zane), who claims to be the lone survivor of a ship wreck. But there seems to be a lot more to his story.
Zane’s Best Earlier Performance
Why Billy Zane does not move to the forefront of Hollywood after a role like this is unreal. Zane plays a loose cannon who acts like he’s seen some tragedy out at sea, but we don’t know if that’s a fact.Dead Calmis produced by those who made films likeMad MaxandThe Road Warrior, and ends up being more of a hit that shoots Nicole Kidman to stardom, but Zane’s performance is unnerving, and the film moves like some ofyour best Hitchcock thrillers.
1Titanic (1997)
Titanicis a romantic drama that tells the story of the ill-fated ship that set sail in 1912 at the backdrop of it. But it focuses on two passengers who meet and fall for one another.James Cameronhad already directed some memorable films up until that point, but Titanic will go down as one of the greatest films of all time.
A Contributor to a Classic
Titanicis and always will be the standout movie on Zane’s resume. As a matter of fact, his contribution to the film shows the grace he has in his profession and as a human. Zane’s star was rising at the time, and maybe he could have been lumped into playing the role of Jack Dawson, but he took on the film’s villain role of Rose’s fiancée, Caledon Hockley. A snobbish millionaire who survives the shipwreck but doesn’t survive life in the long run. Zane would win many awards for his contribution to a classic. He’d win fun awards like Best Villain at the MTV Movie Awards, and then he also snagged a nomination for a SAG award for the movie. We praise Leo and Kate for being the leads, but let us not forget Zane and the many other supporting characters who shined brightly in the tragic tale.
