William "Bill" Paxton (1955-2017) was an American actor and director, known for his versatility and his frequent collaborations with director James Cameron. His prolific career includes iconic roles such as soldier Hudson in *Aliens* (1986), treasure hunter Brock Lovett in *Titanic* (1997), and car salesman Simon in *True Lies* (1994). His other significant performances can be found in highly successful films such as *Apollo 13* (1995), in the role of astronaut Fred Haise, and *Twister* (1996), where he played the lead. On television, he earned critical acclaim for his role as the polygamist patriarch Bill Henrickson in the HBO series *Big Love*, which garnered him three Golden Globe nominations. As a director, he helmed the acclaimed psychological thriller *Frailty* (2001). Throughout his career, Paxton also received an Emmy Award nomination and won a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the ensemble cast of *Apollo 13*.