The Real Reasons You Don't Hear Much From Billy Zane Anymore

Have you ever wondered what happened to the charming villain from Titanic, Billy Zane? Known for his role as Caledon Hockley, Zane captured the hearts of audiences in the blockbuster film. However, despite his significant impact in the 90s, he seems to have faded from the limelight in recent years. This article explores the various facets of Billy Zane's life and career, shedding light on the reasons behind his reduced visibility in Hollywood.

Once a prominent figure in cinema, Zane now finds himself navigating the complexities of personal and professional life away from the public eye. With over 100 credits to his name since Titanic, he has certainly kept busy, but many of these projects have gone unnoticed. So, what led to this decline in public appearances and recognition? Let’s delve into the intriguing journey of Billy Zane and uncover the real reasons behind his current status.

From artistic pursuits to personal challenges, Zane's journey has been anything but ordinary. As we explore the layers of his career and personal life, we will begin to understand the multifaceted reasons behind his relatively low profile today. Join us as we uncover the reality of Billy Zane's life post-Titanic and the various avenues he has explored beyond acting.

Biography

Table of Contents

• Titanic was a double-edged sword
• He's also a painter
• He is working behind the scenes
• Billy Zane lost his father
• Fatherhood is also keeping him busy
• Billy Zane is now looking for love
• His TV jobs haven't worked out
• Billy Zane stepped into Colonel Sanders' shoes
• He's become a convention regular
• Billy Zane aligned himself with a controversial business
• Waltzing with Brando has been stuck in development hell
• One of his biggest TV shows didn't air in the States
• Billy Zane admits he's made some turkeys
• The Phantom reboot has yet to happen

Titanic was a double-edged sword

Appearing as the boo-hiss villain in the highest-grossing movie of all time undoubtedly had its pros: a hefty paycheck, for one thing. The reveling in all of its Oscars glory, the adulation of cinemagoers across the world, and a guaranteed place in Hollywood history are just a few others. But as Billy Zane told Express in 2022, his performance as Rose's cowardly groom-to-be Caledon Hockley in Titanic also came with its cons.

"There are those who know you're an actor and enjoy the performance, and those who quite simply think I’m a natural b******," Zane said. "But I’m a sheep in wolf’s clothing." The Chicagoan acknowledged that he benefited from the role at the time, adding, "It expanded my sphere of influence and awareness; it’s quite an international calling card. It extended my privileged access to heads of state and captains of industry who perhaps identified with that character."

However, Zane was so convincing as the nefarious steel empire heir that casting directors found it hard to see him as anything other than the baddie. "It’s like wearing a pair of golden handcuffs," he remarked.

He's also a painter

You might not know that Billy Zane has dedicated much of his latter-day career to another art form: painting. Yes, the multi-talented Zane has shown off his skills with a brush at exhibitions across the world including galleries in Los Angeles, London, and Milan. And it’s all thanks to Titanic.

Indeed, in order to pass the time in between shooting the blockbuster, Zane turned to art, an ironic hobby considering his character Caledon Hockley was entirely ignorant about the subject. In a chat with IndieWire, the actor explained that initially, it was all just for fun: "... I turned my garage into a studio and started painting. It was Abstract Expressionism. I did it just for the pleasure of doing it, and I would have cast members over for painting parties."

But that all changed when Zane's work was spotted by a gallerist who encouraged him to display it in public. He remains grateful to the James Cameron film for helping him to discover another passion: "I still use the technique I applied then, which is improvisational and uses pieces that would otherwise have been discarded, like recycled paint and objects I found around Mexico. There was something about the location that unlocked it for me. That was really important."

He is working behind the scenes

There's one way that Billy Zane is trying to overcome the typecasting problem he’s suffered since playing Caledon Hockley in Titanic: developing his own content. And that doesn’t just mean the odd show, either. In a 2016 interview with City AM, the actor revealed that he has plans to launch an entire network: "I want to bring the best of traditional media into the new media space. I like the quick turnaround, I like how low the barriers to entry are and how vast the audience is, how much impact it can have. It’s exciting to try to bring quality into a space that has incredibly low standards. I find myself at the bleeding edge of it and I’m really happy."

Sadly, Billy Zane TV (or whatever the channel would be called) has yet to surface. But speaking to Express in 2023, the star revealed that he’s still very much working behind the scenes, and in another area that you might not necessarily expect: "There’s comedies I’m developing for television and film. That’s my favorite genre. I never do enough."

Billy Zane lost his father

In 2020, Billy Zane took to Instagram to share the sad news that his father William had died. He captioned an accompanying photo, "Rest In Peace Dad. Gentle warrior. Spartan. Chicagoan. Actor. Businessman. Educator. Soldier. Husband. Uncle. Grandfather. Father. Mentor. Man."

Two weeks later, the "Memphis Belle" star told his followers that he’d lost his father, who was also a professional actor, to COVID-19 on the same day both parents were due to celebrate their 67th wedding anniversary. He implored fans to follow the science and stick to government guidelines, particularly the wearing of masks, to help reduce the threat of the virus.

Zane wrote, "Youth, the elderly are at risk and so is society, as thus your stewards are at risk, should we lose all our teachers, our sages, our crones our storytellers our first handers recklessly and lazily. Be wise as they, and learn from every tragedy, and mistake and thrive in comforting knowledge that you acted, that you did your part."

Fatherhood is also keeping him busy

Billy Zane first became a father in 2011 when he and then-girlfriend Candice Neill welcomed daughter Ava Catherine into the world. Three years later, the couple added to their family unit with the birth of Gia. And while "The Phantom" star's relationship is sadly no more, he still has a super-strong connection with his children.

In a piece for Mirror, Zane stated that Gia and Ava are the two most important things in his life. He added, "I hope I can give them an emotional intelligence. There is a Greek word, 'philotimo' meaning 'the love of honor,' it’s about being