Wikipedia

Michael Biehn

Not to be confused withMichael BeanorMichael Been.

Michael Biehn(/ˈbiːn/BEENorBean;born July 31, 1956) is an American actor, primarily known for his roles in science fiction films directed byJames Cameron;as Sgt.Kyle ReeseinThe Terminator(1984), Cpl.Dwayne HicksinAliens(1986), and Lt. Coffey inThe Abyss(1989). His other films includeThe Fan(1981),The Seventh Sign(1988),Navy SEALs(1990),Tombstone(1993),The Rock(1996),Mojave Moon(1996),Megiddo: The Omega Code 2(2001),Clockstoppers(2002), andPlanet Terror(2007). On television, he has appeared inHill Street Blues(1984),The Magnificent Seven(1998–2000), andAdventure Inc.(2002–2003). Biehn received aBest ActorSaturn Awardnomination forAliens.

Michael Biehn
Biehn at the 2016San Diego Comic-Con
Born(1956-07-31)July 31, 1956(age 68)[1]
Anniston, Alabama,U.S.
EducationLake Havasu High School
University of Arizona(no degree)
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present
Spouses
Carlene Olson
​
​
(m.1980;div.1987)​
Gina Marsh
​
​
(m.1988;div.2014)​
​
(m.2015)​
Children5

Early life

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Biehn was born inAnniston, Alabama,the second of three boys born to Marcia (née Connell) and Don Biehn, a lawyer.[2][3]His surname is of German origin.[4]

When Biehn was young, he moved with his family toLincoln, Nebraska,[5]and then toLake Havasu City, Arizona,where he was a member of the high school drama club before graduating.[3]He attended the drama program at theUniversity of Arizona,[2]where he was a member of theSigma Nufraternity before moving to Hollywood.[6]

Career

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Biehn got his start in films with a small part inGrease(1978).[7]He appears in two scenes; in one scene,John Travolta's character, Danny, hits Biehn's uncredited character in the stomach while playing basketball. Shortly thereafter, he appeared in the 1978made for television movie,A Fire in the Sky.[8]In 1981, Biehn appeared in the role of Douglas Breen, astalker,in the 1981film versionofBob Randall's novelThe Fan,starringLauren Bacall.[9]On television, Biehn made a guest appearance onHill Street Blues.[10]

In 1984, Biehn played Sgt.Kyle Reese,a soldier sent back in time byJohn Connorto save his mother,Sarah Connor,in the filmThe Terminator.Biehn appeared oppositeArnold SchwarzeneggerandLinda Hamilton;the film was directed byJames Cameron.[11][12]Biehn stated in 2019 that he was initially not enthusiastic about appearing in a Schwarzenegger film, as he had hoped to act alongside the likes ofAl PacinoandRobert De Niro.[13]Biehn went on to have a small role in the sequel,Terminator 2: Judgment Day(1991), briefly reprising his role as Reese in a scene cut from the final film but restored for the Director's Cut version.[14]In 2019, Biehn confirmed in an interview that he would not be reprising the role forTerminator: Dark Fateor any other future installments.[13]

Biehn starred in a second film directed by James Cameron:Aliens(1986), in which he portrayedCorporal Hicks,a corporal in the Colonial Marines. Originally, Hicks was to be portrayed byJames Remar,who was fired fromAliensshortly after production started. Cameron chose Biehn as a last-minute replacement, being familiar with Biehn as they previously worked together onThe Terminator,so Biehn could immediately begin filming without having to go through "boot camp" training as the rest of the cast had done. Due to his late casting, Biehn was unable to customize his character's combat armor as the other actors had done. Biehn rejected the padlock heart motif that he was given, joking that it was like a giant bullseye on his chest.[15]Sigourney Weaver,who portrayed protagonistEllen RipleyinAliens,praised Biehn for bringing "a sensitivity to the role of Hicks, an Alpha male who had no problem following a woman's lead".[15]For his work inAliens,Biehn was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Actor.[16]

In an early draft ofAlien 3written byWilliam Gibson,Biehn's characterHicks,who had survived the events ofAliens,was to become the protagonist, replacingEllen Ripley(Sigourney Weaver).[17]Walter Hilland David Giler wrote the final script, which had Hicks killed off in the opening scene. Biehn, furious upon learning of his character's demise, demanded and received almost as much money for the use of his likeness in one scene as he had been paid for his entire role inAliens.[18]Biehn reprised the role of Hicks by voicing the character in the video gameAliens: Colonial Marinesand again in 2019 for an audio drama adaptation of Gibson's un-filmed script forAlien 3released by Audible.[19][20]

Biehn had his third collaboration with James Cameron inThe Abyss(1989), portraying Lieutenant Hiram Coffey who suffers fromhigh-pressure nervous syndrome.Biehn received strong reviews for his performance, with the studio lobbying unsuccessfully for him to be nominated for anOscar as Best Supporting Actor.[15][21][22]

Biehn played the role ofJohnny RingoinTombstone,including in the showdown scene withVal Kilmeras Doc Holliday.[23]

Biehn portrayed a Navy SEAL for the third time in the action filmThe Rock(1996). WhileThe Rockwas the most successful film of Biehn's career in terms of box office gross, it saw his billing and screen time diminished, and after that he never landed another part in a big-budget Hollywood film.[21]

Later, Biehn took acting roles ranging from low-budget films such asThe Art of WarandClockstoppersto video games likeCommand & Conquer: Tiberian Sunand independent movies, such asHavoc.[8][24]He starred in three TV series including theCBSdramaThe Magnificent Seven(1998–2000),[25]the Tribune Entertainment syndicated TV seriesAdventure Inc.(2002–2003), and the NBC TV seriesHawaii(2004). All three shows were cancelled because of low ratings.[8]Biehn was considered to portray Colonel Miles Quaritch, the main antagonist of James Cameron's science fiction epic filmAvatar(2009), but Cameron felt his appearance in the film coupled with that of Weaver would remind people too much ofAliens.[26]

Biehn directed the 2010 filmThe Blood Bond.[27]In 2011 he wrote, directed and starred inThe Victim.[28][29]In 2020, Biehn was cast as the villain Lang in the second season of theStar Warstelevision seriesThe Mandalorian.[30]In 2022, he portrayed Ian in the eleventh season of the AMC horror seriesThe Walking Dead.[31]

Personal life

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Biehn and his future wife, actressJennifer Blanc,in 2012, promotingThe Victim,which they co-produced, and which Biehn starred in and directed

Coinciding with the decline of his acting career during the 1990s, Biehn suffered from alcoholism until the mid-2000s.[21]Biehn suffered astrokearound 2008 and hadopen heart surgery.[32]When questioned on why he did not attain stardom despite having lead roles in well-regarded hit films likeThe TerminatorandAliens,Biehn told theHollywood Reporter"People always talk about me being an '80s star. I was not an '80s star.Bruce Williswas an '80s star.Tom Cruisewas an '80s star.SchwarzeneggerandStallone.Mel Gibson.Those guys were making $20 million [a picture]. I never even got $1 million. I kind of liked it that way. "[15]

Biehn remains financially comfortable due to hisScreen Actors Guildpension. James Cameron suggested that "what held Michael back was that he didn't like playing the Hollywood game — schmoozing people and all that. For him it was all about the work". Biehn has never hired a publicist and was reportedly never interested in the "fame aspect of the business, even though his agent — and Cameron — both believed he had what it took to be a major star".[15]

Biehn has been married three times and has five sons. In 2019, he stated that he had prioritized his family over his acting career by turning down projects involving long film shoots.[15][21]Biehn's second wife was Gina Marsh.[33]As of 2016, Biehn is married to actressJennifer Blanc,who co-produced and starred alongside him inThe Victim.[34][35][36]The couple has one son, Dashiell King Biehn.[37]

Filmography

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Main article:Michael Biehn filmography

References

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  1. ^Screen World Volume 53.Crown Publishing Group.2002. p. 53.ISBN9781557835987.
  2. ^ab"Michael Biehn: Biography, Latest News & Videos".TV Guide.Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  3. ^ab"Michael Biehn"ArchivedSeptember 27, 2013, at theWayback Machine.Wizard World.Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  4. ^Wygant, Bobbie (July 1986)."Interview with Michael Biehn".KOLN/KGIN-TV(Lincoln, Nebraska), YouTube. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  5. ^Coffey, Kevin (May 1, 2019)."Michael Biehn went from Nebraska kid to star of 'Aliens,' which has a special Omaha screening".Omaha World-Herald.RetrievedMay 1,2019.
  6. ^"About Michael Bean".MTV.Retrieved September 25, 2013.[dead link‍]
  7. ^Dopp, Buck (June 2, 2019)."'Terminator' and 'Aliens' were only the beginning for Havasu native, character actor Michael Biehn ".Havasu News.RetrievedJune 2,2019.
  8. ^abcWales, Andrew (January 5, 2017)."What Happened To Michael Biehn – News & Updates".Gazette Review.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  9. ^Canby, Vincent(May 22, 1981)."FILM: 'FAN,' A LAUREN BACALL THRILLER".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  10. ^Potts, Kimberly (May 2, 2014)."25 Things You Never Knew About 'Hill Street Blues,' One of TV's Most Influential Dramas".yahoo.
  11. ^Hicks, Christopher (November 6, 1984)."An upswing for Biehn's career?".Deseret News.(Salt Lake City, Utah). p. C5.
  12. ^"'The Terminator' surprises the critics; is a top grosser ".Tri City Herald.November 30, 1984.RetrievedSeptember 19,2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^abDavis, Brandon (August 2, 2019)."This Terminator Actor Isn't Interested in Ever Returning for a Cameo".Comicbook.RetrievedAugust 3,2019.
  14. ^Bennett, Tara (May 12, 2019)."The Terminator at 35: Michael Biehn talks James Cameron and our Smartphone Overlords".Syfy Wire.Archived fromthe originalon May 12, 2019.RetrievedMay 12,2019.
  15. ^abcdefCouch, Aaron (August 2, 2019).""Everything Had to Go Right": What Happened to 'Terminator' Star Michael Biehn ".The Hollywood Reporter.
  16. ^Trench, Mikael (February 3, 2023)."The Terminator's Michael Biehn Thought He'd Have A Guaranteed Role In The First Avatar".looper.
  17. ^"Phoenix – Michael Biehn Archive – Aliens Cinescape Movie Aliens – Bald Ambition Page 3".Michaelbiehn.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon February 19, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 1,2010.
  18. ^"Wreckage and Rape: The Making ofAlien3– Development Hell: Concluding The Story "(Alien 3 Collector's Edition DVD).
  19. ^Turi, Tim (July 26, 2013)."The '80s Strike Back: The Complete Story Behind Blood Dragon".Game Informer.Archived fromthe originalon July 29, 2013.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  20. ^Phipps, Keith (June 24, 2019)."How William Gibson's long-lost Alien 3 script became 2019's most intriguing audio drama".The Verge.RetrievedJune 24,2019.
  21. ^abcd"What Happened To Michael Biehn:" I Am An Alcoholic "".EightiesKids.
  22. ^Harmetz, Aljean(August 6, 1989)."FILM; 'The Abyss': A Foray Into Deep Waters".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  23. ^Rainer, Peter (December 25, 1993)."MOVIE REVIEW: 'Tombstone' Latest in a New Line of Designer Westerns: A few shoot-'em-up scenes are stirring, but there's not much else to relieve a script loaded with cliches".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  24. ^Strike, John (January 8, 2018)."Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun was a pivotal moment for Westwood's RTS series".PC Gamer.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  25. ^Fretts, Bruce (July 24, 1998)."Save" The Magnificent Seven "and" The Sentinel "".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  26. ^"Michael Biehn Hopin', Wishin' and Waitin'".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedMay 31,2012.
  27. ^Brown, Todd (July 11, 2011)."Michael Biehn Talks Losing Control Of THE BLOOD BOND".Screen Anarchy.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  28. ^Catsoulis, Jeannette (August 23, 2012)."'The Victim,' Grind House Film Directed by Michael Biehn ".The New York Times.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  29. ^Harris, Will (October 2, 2012)."Michael Biehn on The Victim, William Friedkin, and his favorite antagonist role".The A.V. Club.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  30. ^Couch, Aaron (March 24, 2020)."'The Mandalorian' Casts 'Terminator' Star Michael Biehn ".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedMarch 24,2020.
  31. ^Koutsounia, Anastasia (March 21, 2022)."The Walking Dead's Michael Biehn breaks silence on secret season 11 role".digitalspy.
  32. ^MICHAEL BIEHN Shares Memories With the Late Great BILL PAXTONInside Of You Clips, April 4, 2023.
  33. ^"Biehn & gone".South China Morning Post.November 10, 2005.
  34. ^Thompson, Simon."Michael Biehn Talks 'Aliens' 30th Anniversary, His Production Company And His 'Alien' Future".Forbes.
  35. ^Whitney, Serena (July 24, 2012)."Fantasia 2012: Michael Biehn and Jennifer Blanc-Biehn Talk The Victim and More!"ArchivedSeptember 27, 2013, at theWayback Machine.Dread Central.
  36. ^"Fantasia 2012: Michael Biehn and Jennifer Blanc say waddup in this photoshoot!"Arrow in the Head. July 31, 2012.
  37. ^"Welcome Dashiell King Biehn"ArchivedSeptember 18, 2015, at theWayback MachineTopanga Messenger. May 7, 2015.
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