Michael Biehn

Michael Connell Biehn (/ˈbiːn/ BEEN; born July 31, 1956) is an American actor, primarily known for his roles in science fiction films directed by James Cameron; as Sgt. Kyle Reese in The Terminator (1984), Cpl. Dwayne Hicks in Aliens (1986), and Lt. Coffey in The Abyss (1989). His other films include The Fan (1981), Navy SEALs (1990), Tombstone (1993), The Rock (1996), Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001), and Planet Terror (2007). On television, he has appeared in Hill Street Blues (1984), The Magnificent Seven (1998–2000), and Adventure Inc. (2002–2003). Biehn received a Best Actor Saturn Award nomination for Aliens.

Michael Biehn
Biehn at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Michael Connell Biehn

(1956-07-31) July 31, 1956[1]
Anniston, Alabama, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present
Spouses
    Carlene Olson
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1980; div. 1987)​
      Gina Marsh
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1988; div. 2014)​
        Jennifer Blanc
        ​
        (m. 2015)​

        Early life

        Biehn was born in Anniston, Alabama, the second of three boys born to Marcia (née Connell) and Don Biehn, a lawyer.[2][3] He is of German descent on his father's side and Irish on his mother's side.[4] When he was young, he moved with his family to Lincoln, Nebraska,[5] and then to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where he was a member of the high school drama club before graduating.[3] He attended the drama program at the University of Arizona,[2] where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity before moving to Hollywood.[6]

        Career

        Biehn got his start in movies with a bit part in the film version of Grease in 1978.[7] He appears in two scenes, one in which John Travolta's character, Danny, hits Biehn's uncredited character in the stomach while playing basketball.[8]

        In 1981, he appeared in the role of Douglas Breen, a stalker, in the 1981 film version of Bob Randall's novel The Fan, starring Lauren Bacall.[9] In 1984, Biehn played Sgt. Kyle Reese, a soldier sent back in time by John Connor to save his mother, Sarah Connor, in the film The Terminator opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton.[10][11] He starred in two other films directed by James Cameron: Aliens (as Corporal Hicks) and The Abyss (as Lieutenant Hiram Coffey),[12] and had a small role in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, briefly reprising his role as Reese in a scene cut from the final film but restored for the Director's Cut version.[13] He was considered to portray the film's antagonist, the T-1000, but the role went to Robert Patrick. In 2019, Biehn confirmed in an interview that he would not be reprising the role for Terminator: Dark Fate or any other future installments. In the same interview, Biehn claimed that he was initially not enthusiastic about appearing in a Schwarzenegger film, as he had hoped to act alongside the likes of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.[14]

        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 protagonist, replacing Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver).[15] Walter Hill and David Giler wrote 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.[16] Biehn reprised the role of Hicks by voicing the character in the video game Aliens: Colonial Marines and again in 2019 for an audio drama adaptation of Gibson's un-filmed script for Alien 3 released by Audible.[17][18] Biehn played the role of Johnny Ringo in Tombstone with the showdown scene with Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday.[19]

        In the 2000s, Biehn took 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.[8][20] He also starred in three TV series including the CBS drama The Magnificent Seven (1998–2000),[21] the Tribune Entertainment syndicated TV series Adventure Inc. (2002–2003), and the NBC TV series Hawaii (2004). All three shows were subsequently cancelled because of low ratings.[8] Biehn was considered to portray Colonel Miles Quaritch, the main antagonist of James Cameron's science fiction epic film Avatar (2009), but Cameron felt his appearance in the film coupled with that of Sigourney Weaver would remind people too much of Aliens.[22]

        Biehn directed the 2010 film The Blood Bond.[23] In 2011 he wrote, directed and starred in The Victim.[24][25] In 2020, Biehn was cast as the villain Lang in the second season of the Star Wars television series The Mandalorian.[26] In 2022, he portrayed Ian in the eleventh season of the AMC horror series The Walking Dead.

        Personal life
        Biehn and his girlfriend, actress Jennifer Blanc, in 2012, promoting The Victim, which they co-produced, and which Biehn starred in and directed

        Biehn has been married three times. His first wife was actress Carlene Olson, whom he married on July 11, 1980. They had twin sons, Devon and Taylor (b. 1984) before divorcing in 1987. He then married his second wife, Gina Marsh. They had two sons, Caelan Michael (b. April 11, 1992) and Alexander (b. March 19, 2003) before separating in 2008. Biehn is now married to actress Jennifer Blanc, who co-produced and starred alongside him in The Victim.[27][28] The couple have one son, Dashiell King Biehn, born March 21, 2015.[29]

        References
        1. Screen World Volume 53. Crown Publishing Group. p. 53.
        2. "Michael Biehn: Biography, Latest News & Videos". TV Guide. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
        3. "Michael Biehn" Archived September 27, 2013, at the Wayback 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. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
        6. " About Michael Bean". MTV. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
        7. Dopp, Buck (June 2, 2019). "'Terminator' and 'Aliens' were only the beginning for Havasu native, character actor Michael Biehn". Havasu News. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
        8. Wales, Andrew (January 5, 2017). "What Happened To Michael Biehn – News & Updates". Gazette Review. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
        9. Canby, Vincent (May 22, 1981). "FILM: 'FAN,' A LAUREN BACALL THRILLER". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
        10. Hicks, Christopher (November 6, 1984). "An upswing for Biehn's career?". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. C5.
        11. "'The Terminator' surprises the critics; is a top grosser". Tri City Herald. November 30, 1984. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
        12. Harmetz, Aljean (August 6, 1989). "FILM; 'The Abyss': A Foray Into Deep Waters". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
        13. Bennett, Tara (May 12, 2019). "The Terminator at 35: Michael Biehn talks James Cameron and our Smartphone Overlords". Syfy Wire. Retrieved May 12, 2019.
        14. Davis, Brandon (August 2, 2019). "This Terminator Actor Isn't Interested in Ever Returning for a Cameo". Comicbook. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
        15. "Phoenix – Michael Biehn Archive – Aliens Cinescape Movie Aliens – Bald Ambition Page 3". Michaelbiehn.co.uk. Retrieved September 1, 2010.
        16. "Wreckage and Rape: The Making of Alien³ – Development Hell: Concluding The Story" (Alien 3 Collector's Edition DVD).
        17. Turi, Tim (July 26, 2013). "The '80s Strike Back: The Complete Story Behind Blood Dragon". Game Informer. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
        18. Phipps, Keith (June 24, 2019). "How William Gibson's long-lost Alien 3 script became 2019's most intriguing audio drama". The Verge. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
        19. 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. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
        20. Strike, John (January 8, 2018). "Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun was a pivotal moment for Westwood's RTS series". PC Gamer. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
        21. Fretts, Bruce (July 24, 1998). "Save "The Magnificent Seven" and "The Sentinel"". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
        22. "Michael Biehn Hopin', Wishin' and Waitin'". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
        23. Brown, Todd (July 11, 2011). "Michael Biehn Talks Losing Control Of THE BLOOD BOND". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
        24. Catsoulis, Jeannette (August 23, 2012). "'The Victim,' Grind House Film Directed by Michael Biehn". The New York Times. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
        25. Harris, Will (October 2, 2012). "Michael Biehn on The Victim, William Friedkin, and his favorite antagonist role". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
        26. Couch, Aaron (March 24, 2020). "'The Mandalorian' Casts 'Terminator' Star Michael Biehn". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
        27. Whtiney, Serena (July 24, 2012). "Fantasia 2012: Michael Biehn and Jennifer Blanc-Biehn Talk The Victim and More!". Dread Central.
        28. "Fantasia 2012: Michael Biehn and Jennifer Blanc say waddup in this photoshoot!" Arrow in the Head. July 31, 2012.
        29. "Welcome Dashiell King Biehn" Topanga Messenger. May 7, 2015.
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