Bill Paxton, Star of 'Aliens,' Dies at 61
by EG
He may have first come to the attention of moviegoers as the pessimistic Marine in Aliens, but Bill Paxton went on to a prolific film and TV career as both a supporting actor and a leading man. His resume included high-profile turns in movies such as Titanic, Twister, The Terminator, Apollo 13 and A Simple Plan, as well as roles in TV series such as HBO's Big Love and ABC's Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Paxton's solid handsomness, affable Texas accent, sometimes explosive sense of humor and infectious charisma made him well-suited to a wide range of roles, from the wise-cracking wingman to the dependable lead in tense dramas.
His hysterical "Game over, man!" appraisal of a bad situation in Aliens provided one of the iconic lines of 80s cinema, while his quiet-yet-doomed fight for ethical ideals in A Simple Plan showed that he could deliver a serious performance, too. It was his leading role in the 1996 blockbuster Twister that showed that he was also capable of handling the top spot in an action film.
Paxton died on Saturday from complications following surgery. His family released no other details at the time. He was 61 years old.