Billy Blanks, a muscular African American sports star, actor, media personality, and inventor of the phenomenally popular "Tae Bo" fitness system, derived from his extensive martial arts training.
Born in 1955 in Erie, Pennsylvania, among humble backgrounds, Blanks grew up as one of 15 children, battling dyslexia and tendon problems. Despite these challenges, he began his martial arts training at the age of 14 and eventually achieved black belts in tae kwon do and several other arts, winning numerous US martial arts tournaments.
Blanks' early career in film began in the mid-1980s, where he appeared in tough guy parts, utilizing his athletic background and grim-faced looks. His film roles included Tango & Cash (1989),Driving Force (1989),and Lionheart (1990).
In 1991, Blanks scored the minor role of drug-addicted running back "Billy Cole" in the explosive The Last Boy Scout (1991),marking a turning point in his career. He continued to work in the film industry, often sharing lead billing in low-budget, high-action fare such as Talons of the Eagle (1992),TC 2000 (1993),and Expect No Mercy (1995).
In the late 1990s, Billy's innovative and exciting "Tae Bo" workout routine swept around the world like wildfire, propelling him into the position of one of the world's most recognizable and biggest-selling fitness trainers. Today, Blanks continues to refine and promote his unique "Tae Bo" fitness system, operating the Billy Blanks World Training Center in Sherman Oaks, California.
