Bill Paxton RIP

[vendic]

Died due to complications with surgery.
I really liked Paxton as an actor and apparently he was a great guy too.

[pumpkinpi]

I can vouch for the latter. I met him in 2003, when James Cameron's IMAX film "Ghosts of the Abyss" premiered at my former workplace. He was in it, and he and James Cameron were there, along with a whole host of other stars that were in town shooting a movie.

The film was an exploration of the Titanic on the ocean floor, and Bill got to travel down in a submersible. He said the Titanic had been a passion of his since his father read him "A Night to Remember" when he was 11. We talked (with a few of my coworkers, too) for about 5 minutes. I remember that he was a very friendly, genuine man.

He's been in a couple of my favorite (over the years) movies: Apollo 13, of course. But in my middle school-ish years I LOVED Weird Science. I taped if off the TV and watched it over and over. He was Chet, the bully big brother that got turned into a blob. I say it was his finest role...

[vendic]

I loved him as Chet! lol
Few people remember that though.

[geonuc]

I think he'll also be remembered as being continually confused with Bill Pullman.

[SciFi Chick]

I remember him as the guy who lost his clothes to Arnie in The Terminator. I also really enjoyed him in Twister.

[SciFiFisher]

I guess I should take down my "Rest in Peace Bill Pullman" banner.

[Thumper]

His favorite line of mine from "Aliens" seems in bad taste now. Alot of great roles. Don't forget Tombstone. A Simple Plan. Nightcrawler. U-571.

[Thumper]

Touching tributes coming in from James Cameron, and Tom Hanks among others. From what I've read today, he was indeed a genuine, guy who took care of family and friends. Interesting tribute by storm chasers who, using GPS, drew out his initials across Oklahoma.

[Rommie]

Game over, man, game over.

RIP

[Tarragon]

He didn't just shuffle off this mortal coil. He strolled up to the twister, said "have a drink" and chucked it into the twister. And it never. Hit. The ground.

[Thumper]

I think he'll also be remembered as being continually confused with Bill Pullman.

I thought people mixed up Bill Pullman and Jeff Danniels.

[geonuc]

I think he'll also be remembered as being continually confused with Bill Pullman.

I thought people mixed up Bill Pullman and Jeff Danniels.

Yep, and people confuse Jeff Daniels with Jeff Bridges.

[pumpkinpi]

I think he'll also be remembered as being continually confused with Bill Pullman.

I thought people mixed up Bill Pullman and Jeff Danniels.

Yep, and people confuse Jeff Daniels with Jeff Bridges.

I was gonna say that!

Jeff Daniels is the 2nd of my most intimate celebrity interactions. I didn't talk directly to him, but he was the speaker at my college graduation. Really! He has a small theater in Michigan and had teamed up with our theater department on a course that semester. It was fresh off of his acclaimed performance in Dumb and Dumber. He was presented with an honorary degree, and the first word of his speech was, "Cool!" I can't say I remember anything else he said, but it was an appropriate speech for a college audience.

[Thumper]

I love Jeff Danniels. He's done alot of work for theatre groups, and veterans.

[Thumper]

Oh, and I know people who mix up Jeff Bridges and Kurt Russell.

[pumpkinpi]

Oh, and I know people who mix up Jeff Bridges and Kurt Russell.

Kurt Russell and Martin Sheen.

(Come on, let's keep this going....)

[vendic]

Martin Sheen and Kirk Douglas

[Thumper]

Kirk Douglas and Issur Danielovitch.

[gethen]

Back on topic--am I the only one who saw Bill Paxton in "Frailty?" Very strange, but intriguing movie. Paxton was, as usual, perfect.

[gethen]

Oh, and Mel Ferrer and J.K. Simmons.

[Thumper]

Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling.

[vendic]

Ryan Reynolds and Wesley Snipes

[Thumper]

Blair Underwood and Mario Van Peebles

[Thumper]

Mrs. T had Titanic on last night when I came in as background noise while she folded laundry. We kept it on while we both folded. I cried at the end like I usually do. Paxton didn't have the biggest part of course, but it was the first movie of his I've seen since his passing.

[pumpkinpi]

Ryan Gosling and Neil Armstrong.

No, really. "First Man," another movie I won't be able to watch.