- Michael Biehn
-
Michael Biehn 
Michael Biehn, 2008Born Michael Connell Biehn
July 31, 1956
Anniston, Alabama, USOther names Mike, Mick(ey) Occupation Actor Years active 1977–present Michael Connell Biehn (born July 31, 1956) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in James Cameron's science fiction action films The Terminator as Kyle Reese, Aliens as Cpl. Dwayne Hicks, and The Abyss as Lt. Coffey. He has also acted in such films as Tombstone, The Rock, and Planet Terror. On television, Biehn appeared in the cast of the Emmy Award-winning 1980s television series Hill Street Blues.
Contents
Personal life
Biehn was born in Anniston, Alabama, the son of Marcia (née Connell) and Don Biehn, a lawyer,[1][2] and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska.[3] He has three siblings: Brooks Ann, Jonathon and Steven. Biehn attended high school in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and was a member of the high school drama club. He then attended the drama program at the University of Arizona (where he joined Sigma Nu Fraternity) for two years before heading to Hollywood.
Career
Michael Biehn got his start with a bit part in the film version of Grease in 1978. In 1981, he played a stalker in The Fan; at the time film was shot, he was in his mid-20s, and love interest, Bacall, more than 30 years his senior. After a few more films, Biehn played Kyle Reese, a sergeant sent back in time by John Connor to save his mother, Sarah Connor, in the 1984 film The Terminator. He has appeared in three other films directed by James Cameron: Aliens (as Corporal Hicks), The Abyss (as Lieutenant Hiram Coffey) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (his briefly reprised role as Reese which was removed from the theatrical release but restored in the special editions and the director's cut). For his role as Lt. Coffey in The Abyss, the studio lobbied hard to get Biehn nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, but to no avail.
A picture of Biehn as Kyle Reese in The Terminator was reproduced as the cover-art of the 1987 video game Metal Gear,[4] which was meant to portray the game's protagonist, Solid Snake.
In an early draft of Alien 3 written by William Gibson, Biehn's character Hicks (who had survived the events of Aliens) was to become the main protagonist, replacing Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver).[5] However, Walter Hill and David Giler penned the final script, which had Hicks killed off in the opening scene. Biehn, 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 role in Aliens.[6]
In the 2000s, Biehn has taken acting roles ranging from big budget films such as The Art of War and Clockstoppers, to video games like Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun, and independent movies, such as Havoc. He also starred in three TV series including the CBS drama The Magnificent Seven (1998–2000), the Tribune Entertainment syndicated TV series Adventure Inc.. (2002–2003), and the NBC TV series Hawaii (2004). All three shows were subsequently cancelled due to low ratings. Biehn was considered for a role in James Cameron's new science fiction epic film Avatar (2009), but Cameron felt his appearance in the film coupled with that of Sigourney Weaver's would remind people too much of Aliens and not of Avatar as an original film of its own.[7]
Michael Biehn has developed a repertoire for performing combative military roles that have particularly involved the portrayal of a special forces soldier. This militaristic string of characters was first established with his role as Cadet John Alexander in The Lords of Discipline, followed shortly after by his most memorable performance as Sergeant Kyle Reese, a resistance movement soldier in the Terminator film series, and also Corporal Dwayne Hicks in Aliens. He has particularly played the role of a US Navy SEAL, which can be seen in his following film credits: Lieutenant Hiram Coffey in The Abyss, Lieutenant James Curran in Navy Seals, and Commander Charles Anderson in The Rock.
Biehn, who said he was encouraged by Robert Rodriguez while on the set of Planet Terror to make his own film, has produced, written, directed and starred in The Victim, a film due out in 2011.
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes 1978 Grease Mike, basketball player Uncredited Coach Jack Ripley 1980 Hog Wild Tim Warner 1981 The Fan Douglas Breen 1983 The Lords of Discipline Cadet Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander 1984 The Terminator Sgt. Kyle Reese The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian Sebastian Made-for-TV Movie 1985 Deadly Intentions Dr. Charles Rayner 1986 Aliens Corporal Dwayne Hicks Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actor 1987 Rampage Anthony Fraser 1988 The Seventh Sign Russell Quinn In a Shallow Grave Garnet Montrose 1989 The Abyss Lieutenant Hiram Coffey 1990 Navy SEALs Lieutenant James Curran 1991 Timebomb Eddie Kay Terminator 2: Judgment Day Kyle Reese Cameo, Special Edition and Director's Cut only K2 Taylor Brooks 1992 A Taste for Killing Bo Landry Made-for-TV Movie 1993 Strapped Detective Matthew McRae Deadfall Joe Dolan Tombstone Johnny Ringo 1994 Deep Red Joe Keyes Made-for-TV Movie 1995 In the Kingdom of the Blind Jackie Ryan Cameo Jade Detective Bob Hargrove Blood of the Hunter Blake Made-for-TV Movie Breach of Trust Casey Woods 1996 Frame by Frame Detective Stash Horvak Made-for-TV Movie Mojave Moon Boyd The Rock Commander Charles Anderson 1997 Asteroid FEMA Director Jack Wallach Made-for-TV Movie Dead Men Can't Dance Robert Hart The Ride Smokey Banks 1998 Susan's Plan Bill American Dragons Det. Tony Luca 1998–2000 The Magnificent Seven Chris Larabee TV Series 1999 Silver Wolf Roy McLean Made-for-TV Movie 2000 Chain of Command Secret Service Agent Craig Thornton Cherry Falls Sheriff Brent Marken The Art of War Robert Bly 2001 Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 President David Alexander 2002 Clockstoppers Henry Gates Borderline Det. Macy Kobacek 2002–2003 Adventure Inc. Judson Cross TV Series 2004 The Legend of Butch & Sundance Mike Cassidy Made-for-TV Movie Hawaii Det. Sean Harrison TV Series 2005 Havoc Stuart Lang Dragon Squad Petros Angelo 2007 The Insatiable Strickland You Are Here Tony Russo Grindhouse Sheriff Hague Segments Planet Terror and Thanksgiving They Wait Blake O'Connell Cameo 2008 Stiletto Lee 2009 Saving Grace Landy Bretthorse Streets of Blood Agent Michael Brown 2010 Psych 9 Det. Marling[8] Take Me Home Tonight Bill Franklin Bereavement Jonathan Miller The Blood Bond John Tremayne Also director 2011 The Divide Mickey Puncture Red References
- ^ http://macons.cc/genealogy/surnames/fam01008.htm
- ^ Michael Biehn Biography (1956–)
- ^ Biography for Michael Biehn at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Junker HQ Image
- ^ "Phoenix – Michael Biehn Archive – Aliens Cinescape Movie Aliens – Bald Ambition Page 3". Michaelbiehn.co.uk. http://www.michaelbiehn.co.uk/data/articles/aliens/aliens3603.html. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ "Wreckage and Rape: The Making of Alien³ – Development Hell: Concluding The Story" (Alien 3 Collector's Edition DVD)
- ^ ROTTEN TOMATOES: Michael Biehn Hopin', Wishin' and Waitin'
- ^ "Haunted Hospital 'Psych: 9' Gets March UK Release". BloodyDisgusting. http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18440.
External links
Categories:- Actors from Arizona
- Actors from Nebraska
- American film actors
- American television actors
- People from Lincoln, Nebraska
- 1956 births
- Living people
- People from Anniston, Alabama
- People from Lake Havasu City, Arizona
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
