Michael Biehn
| Michael Biehn | |
|---|---|
 Michael Biehn, 2008 |
|
| Born | Michael Connell Biehn July 31, 1956 Anniston, Alabama, US |
| Other 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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.[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 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, which was released in 2011.
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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.
