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Michael Biehn

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Michael Biehn
Michael Biehn, 2008
Born
Michael Connell Biehn
Other namesMike, Mick(ey)
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present
Spouse(s)Carlene Olsen (1980-1987) (divorced)
Gina Marsh (1988,currently separated)

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, Aliens, and The Abyss. He has also acted in other genres 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.

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.

Biehn has been married twice, first to Carlene Olsen (1980–1987), and then to Gina Marsh (currently separated). He has four sons, including twin boys.

Career

Perhaps Biehn's most memorable role was that of Kyle Reese, a lonely sergeant sent back in time by John Connor to save Sarah Connor in the 1984 movie The Terminator. He has appeared in three other films directed by James Cameron: Aliens (playing a major secondary role as Corporal Hicks), The Abyss (playing a major role 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 movies 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 sci-fi epic movie 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 died or been seriously injured in every James Cameron film he's appeared in, as well as most of his other roles. His character has been killed off in The Abyss, Tombstone, Terminator, The Rock and Grindhouse. Hicks survives the events of Aliens however, only to be killed off immediately at the start of the third movie. Biehn stars in the thriller Bereavement, Psych 9[8] and is set for the lead role in the French Horror film The Divide.[9]

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 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 only
1992 K2 Taylor Brooks
A Taste for Killing Bo Landry Made-for-TV Movie
1993 Strapped Detective Matthew McRae Made-for-TV Movie
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 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 Brown
2010 Psych 9 Det. Marling[10]
Young Americans Policeman
Bereavement Jonathan Miller
The Blood Bond John Tremayne Acting and Directing
2011 The Divide Mickey
Puncture Red

References

  1. ^ http://macons.cc/genealogy/surnames/fam01008.htm
  2. ^ Michael Biehn Biography (1956-)
  3. ^ Michael Biehn–Biography
  4. ^ Junker HQ Image
  5. ^ http://www.michaelbiehn.co.uk/data/articles/aliens/aliens3603.html
  6. ^ Wreckage and Rape: The Making of Alien³ – Development Hell: Concluding The Story (Alien 3 Collector's Edition DVD)
  7. ^ ROTTEN TOMATOES: Michael Biehn Hopin', Wishin' and Waitin'
  8. ^ Trailer Debut: Psych: 9
  9. ^ First Look at Michael Biehn in Xavier Gens' The Divide
  10. ^ Haunted Hospital 'Psych: 9' Gets March UK Release
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