Bill Paxton

Played a corrupt Miami businessman in "Haven"

Starred in the HBO drama "Big Love" as a Utah man who practices polygamy; earned Golden Globe (2007, 2008) nominations for Best Actor in a Drama Series

Directed "The Greatest Game Ever Played," a golf drama based on the true story of the 1913 US Open

Cast in the comedy "Broken Lizard's Club Dread"

Starred in "Thunderbirds" based on the cult British television show from the 1960s; directed by Jonathan Frakes

Cast in "Spy Kids 2: The Island Of Lost Dreams"

Made feature directorial debut with "Frailty"; also co-starred with McConaughey

Portrayed the captain of an American submarine in the WWII thriller "U-571", co-starring Matthew McConaughey

Co-starred with Billy Bob Thornton in "A Simple Plan"

Portrayed John Paul Vann in the HBO movie "A Bright Shining Lie"

Starred in the ill-fated remake of "Mighty Joe Young"

Appeared in the modern-day wraparound sequences of Cameron's Oscar-winning blockbuster "Titanic"

Feature producing debut, "Traveler"; also starred

Reteamed with Cameron for a role in "True Lies"

First lead role in a feature, "One False Move", co-written by Billy Bob Thornton

Had supporting role in Cameron's "Aliens"

First worked for director James Cameron in a small role in "The Terminator"

Made his TV debut in the unsold CBS pilot, "Great Day"

TV-movie debut, "Deadly Lessons"

Film debut, "Mortuary" (released in 1983)

First released film in Ivan Reitman's "Stripes"

Feature debut as an extra in Jonathan Demme's "Crazy Mama"

Worked as a set decorator for Roger Corman's New World Pictures beginning with "Big Bad Mama"

Directed and starred in the cult short "Fish Heads" for "Saturday Night Live"

Left L.A. to study acting in New York