I hate to hit your Sunday funday with a major bummer, but famed actor Bill Paxton has died at the age of 61 due to complication from heart surgery. Apparently he suffered from a stroke not long after his surgery passed away.
You probably know Bill from such mega hits as Titanic, Aliens, and Twister. Or, if you’re like me, you know him as the evil big brother from Weird Science, a movie that spawned the mediocre 90s television show that I’m pretty sure only I watched starring Vanessa Angel. Yeah, I’m getting a bit off topic here…
I don’t really have a lot to say about Bill Paxton’s death because, as shitty as it is, it kind of sounds like he went peacefully and there was no real drama surrounding his passing and he seems like he lived a good life and had a quality career.
I will say that his directorial debut back in 2001, Frailty, a psychological thriller starring him and Matthew McConaughey hasn’t gotten half the cult classic status it deserves because that movie was awesome and creepy and just all around quality. So if you want to honour Paxton’s work this evening, fuck Titanic and watch Frailty instead!
Also, I’m going to sound like such a raging asshole right now, but as soon as I heard that Bill Paxton died I initially got really upset because I thought he was Bill Pullman and I LOVE Bill Pullman, so I felt some minor relief when I found out it was Bill Paxton instead. And I know that’s fucking AWFUL, but I really truly feel like I’m not the only person who felt that way today. Also, again, I know this might seem insensitive, but the Oscars are tonight, like in just a few hours. Do you think the guys who handle the ‘In Memoriam’ thing will get Bill Paxton’s picture in on time? I really don’t even know how I would feel about him being up there because he died like yesterday, so is it insensitive to throw his pic in last minute? I don’t even know.
Either way, I feel very bad about Bill Paxton, but also very happy that Bill Pullman is alive and well (I assume? What’s he up to lately?)