Gil Birmingham
Encyclopedia
Gil Birmingham is an American actor of Comanche
ancestry, known for his portrayal of Billy Black in the The Twilight Saga
film series.
degree from the University of Southern California
he worked as a petrochemical engineer before becoming an actor.
's 1982 music video for the song "Muscles
".
and Charles Conrad
. He portrayed the character of Conan the Barbarian
in Universal Studios Hollywood
's theme park attraction The Adventures of Conan: A Sword and Sorcery Spectacular
.
. By 2002, he had a recurring role as the character Oz in the medical drama Body & Soul, starring Peter Strauss
. In 2005, he was cast as the older Dogstar in the Steven Spielberg six-part miniseries Into the West
.
He has appeared in a number of television series, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars
, 10 Items or Less, Nip/Tuck
, Castle
, and The Mentalist
. He has also had roles in several television films, such as Gentle Ben
(with Dean Cain
) and Gentle Ben 2: Danger on the Mountain, Dreamkeeper
, The Lone Ranger
, and Love's Long Journey
(with Erin Cottrell
and Irene Bedard
).
, in which he portrayed the character of Manny Deadmarsh.
In 2008, Birmingham was cast as the character Billy Black in The Twilight Saga film series
and has appeared in all four of the films.
The Twilight series has led to roles in other major film roles, including that of Sheriff Johnny Cortez in Love Ranch
(with Joe Pesci
and Helen Mirren
), and Cal Bishnik in Shouting Secrets (with New Moon
castmate Chaske Spencer
). In September 2011, Birmingham appeared in the film Crooked Arrows, cast in the role of Ben Logan.
In addition to his work in front of the camera, Birmingham voiced the character of Wounded Bird in the animated film Rango
(starring Johnny Depp
), and provided voice work for the television series The Wild Thornberrys
and the film Night at the Museum
.
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
ancestry, known for his portrayal of Billy Black in the The Twilight Saga
The Twilight Saga (film series)
The Twilight Saga is a series of supernatural romance fantasy films from Summit Entertainment based on the four Twilight series novels by the American author Stephenie Meyer. The films star Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. The series has grossed over $2 billion in worldwide...
film series.
Personal background
Birmingham was born in San Antonio. His family moved frequently during his childhood, due to his father's career in the military. He learned to play the guitar at an early age and considers music his "first love." After obtaining a bachelor of scienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
he worked as a petrochemical engineer before becoming an actor.
Music videos
In the early 1980s, a talent scout spotted Birmingham at a local gym, where he had been bodybuilding and entering bodybuilding contests. This led to his first acting experience, in Diana RossDiana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
's 1982 music video for the song "Muscles
Muscles (song)
"Muscles" is a 1982 soul single written and produced by Michael Jackson and performed by American R&B/soul singer Diana Ross.The single reached number ten on the pop singles chart and number four on the R&B singles chart upon its release and was the first single from her gold-certified album, Silk...
".
Theme park appearances
After appearing in Ross' music video, Birmingham began to pursue acting as his primary career. He studied acting with Larry MossLarry Moss (Acting Coach)
Larry Moss is a world-renowned actor and acting coach. Now based out of New York, Larry has taught celebrities all over the world including Helen Hunt, Hilary Swank, Michael Clark Duncan, Hank Azaria, Jim Carrey, Toby Maguire, and Leonardo Di Caprio....
and Charles Conrad
Charles E. Conrad
Charles Erich Conrad was an American actor, best known for his work as a film acting coach.-Early years:Born in New York City, the only child of German immigrants, Charles Conrad spent his early years growing up in New York City’s upper east side...
. He portrayed the character of Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
in Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use...
's theme park attraction The Adventures of Conan: A Sword and Sorcery Spectacular
The Adventures of Conan: A Sword and Sorcery Spectacular
The Adventures of Conan: A Sword and Sorcery Spectacular was an attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood that ran from 1983 to 1993. It was a 20-minute live-action stage show, similar to the theme park's other "action spectaculars," that took place in an indoor theater and was loosely based on the...
.
Television roles
In 1986, Birmingham made his television debut on an episode of the series RiptideRiptide (TV series)
Riptide is a TV detective series that ran on NBC from 1983 to 1986, starring Perry King, Joe Penny, and Thom Bray. Riptide was created by Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell, and produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions. The main theme was composed by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter...
. By 2002, he had a recurring role as the character Oz in the medical drama Body & Soul, starring Peter Strauss
Peter Strauss
Peter Strauss is an American television and movie actor, known for his roles in several television miniseries in the 1970s and 1980s.-Personal life:...
. In 2005, he was cast as the older Dogstar in the Steven Spielberg six-part miniseries Into the West
Into the West (TV miniseries)
Into the West is a 2005 miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks, with six two-hour episodes . The series was first broadcast in the U.S. on Turner Network Television on six Fridays starting on June 10, 2005...
.
He has appeared in a number of television series, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
, 10 Items or Less, Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck
Nip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy...
, Castle
Castle (TV series)
Castle is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered on ABC on March 9, 2009. The series is produced by Beacon Pictures and ABC Studios. On January 10, 2011, Castle was renewed for a fourth season...
, and The Mentalist
The Mentalist
The Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...
. He has also had roles in several television films, such as Gentle Ben
Gentle Ben
Gentle Ben is a children's novel by author Walt Morey, first published in 1965. The book concerns the friendship between the title character, a bear, and a young boy named Mark...
(with Dean Cain
Dean Cain
Dean Cain is an American actor. He is most widely known for his role as Clark Kent/Superman in the popular American television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.-Early life:...
) and Gentle Ben 2: Danger on the Mountain, Dreamkeeper
Dreamkeeper
Dreamkeeper is a 2003 film written by John Fusco and directed by Steve Barron. The main plot of the film is the conflict between a Lakota elder and storyteller named Pete Chasing Horse and his Lakota grandson, Shane Chasing Horse...
, The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger (2003 film)
The Lone Ranger was an attempt by The WB to revive the Lone Ranger franchise in a new generation. The film starred Chad Michael Murray as the Lone Ranger and Nathaniel Arcand as Tonto.-Plot:...
, and Love's Long Journey
Love's Long Journey
Love's Long Journey is a 2005 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr...
(with Erin Cottrell
Erin Cottrell
Erin Cottrell is an American actress, who has appeared in the role of Missie Davis-LaHaye in 5 of the 8 films in the Love Comes Softly series. She also played Caroline Ingalls in the 2005 miniseries Little House On The Prairie...
and Irene Bedard
Irene Bedard
Irene Bedard is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Native American characters in a variety of films. Bedard was born in Anchorage, Alaska...
).
Feature films
In 2001, Birmingham appeared in his first feature film, The Doe BoyThe Doe Boy
The Doe Boy is a 2001 independent drama film written and directed by Randy Redroad. It was selected as the United States winner of the Sundance Film Festival/NHK International Filmmakers Award in 2000...
, in which he portrayed the character of Manny Deadmarsh.
In 2008, Birmingham was cast as the character Billy Black in The Twilight Saga film series
The Twilight Saga (film series)
The Twilight Saga is a series of supernatural romance fantasy films from Summit Entertainment based on the four Twilight series novels by the American author Stephenie Meyer. The films star Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner. The series has grossed over $2 billion in worldwide...
and has appeared in all four of the films.
The Twilight series has led to roles in other major film roles, including that of Sheriff Johnny Cortez in Love Ranch
Love Ranch
Love Ranch is a 2010 drama film directed by Taylor Hackford and starring Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci.-Background:The film is based on the lives of Joe and Sally Conforte, a married couple who opened the first legal brothel in the United States, the Mustang Ranch in Storey County, Nevada. Violence...
(with Joe Pesci
Joe Pesci
Joseph Frank "Joe" Pesci is an American actor, comedian, and musician.He is known for playing a variety of different roles, from violent mobsters to comedic leads to quirky sidekicks...
and Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren
Dame Helen Mirren, DBE is an English actor. She has won an Academy Award for Best Actress, four SAG Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards, and two Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awards.-Early life and family:...
), and Cal Bishnik in Shouting Secrets (with New Moon
New Moon (2009 film)
The Twilight Saga: New Moon, commonly referred to as New Moon, is a 2009 American romance fantasy-vampire film based on Stephenie Meyer's 2006 novel New Moon. It is the second film in The Twilight Saga film series and is the sequel to 2008's Twilight. Summit Entertainment greenlit the sequel in...
castmate Chaske Spencer
Chaske Spencer
Chaske Spencer is an American actor of Native American heritage.-Life and career:Spencer was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and grew up in Montana, Kooskia, Lapwai, and Lewiston, Idaho. His heritage includes Lakota, Nez Perce, Cherokee, Creek, French, and Dutch. He has two younger sisters...
). In September 2011, Birmingham appeared in the film Crooked Arrows, cast in the role of Ben Logan.
In addition to his work in front of the camera, Birmingham voiced the character of Wounded Bird in the animated film Rango
Rango (2011 film)
Rango is a 2011 American computer-animated Western Comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Graham King. In the film, a chameleon named Rango accidentally ends up in the town of Dirt, an outpost that is in desperate need of a new sheriff...
(starring Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actor. Depp rose to prominence on the 1980s television series 21 Jump Street, becoming a teen idol...
), and provided voice work for the television series The Wild Thornberrys
The Wild Thornberrys
The Wild Thornberrys is an American animated television series that aired on Nickelodeon. It was rerun in the USA on Nickelodeon and occasionally The N until 2009 and Nicktoons until 2007...
and the film Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum is a 2006 fantasy adventure-comedy film based on the 1993 children's book The Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc. It follows a divorced father trying to settle down, impress his son, and find his destiny...
.
Filmography
| Year | Film or TV program | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Riptide Riptide (TV series) Riptide is a TV detective series that ran on NBC from 1983 to 1986, starring Perry King, Joe Penny, and Thom Bray. Riptide was created by Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell, and produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions. The main theme was composed by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter... |
cop | Episode #3.20 "Chapel of Glass" |
| 1987 | House II: The Second Story House II: The Second Story House II: The Second Story is the 1987 sequel to the 1986 film, House. While it is a sequel, this film ignores the storyline and characters from the first film, in favor of a new supernatural comedy. Also, the film's tone was much lighter than the original film and the other following sequels... |
||
| Falcon Crest Falcon Crest Falcon Crest is an American primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990. A total of 227 episodes were produced.... |
Episode #6.28 "Desperation" | ||
| 1996 | Le Jaguar Le Jaguar Le Jaguar is a 1996 French film directed by Francis Veber starring Jean Reno, Patrick Bruel, Harrisson Lowe, and Patricia Velásquez. A shaman from the South American rain forest visits France for a public relations campaign. In a hotel's elevator in Paris he meets a French good-for-nothing named... |
TV movie | |
| Night Man Night Man Night Man is an American action/adventure/sci-fi series that aired in syndication from September 15, 1997 to May 17, 1999. The series is loosely based on a comic book published by Malibu Comics and was created by Steve Englehart and developed for television by Glen A... |
Vargus | Episode #1.4 "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" | |
| 1997 | Buffy The Vampire Slayer | The Bodygard | Episode #2.4 "Inca Mummy Girl" |
| Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is an American post-Civil War western/drama series created by Beth Sullivan. Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, played by Jane Seymour, left Boston in search of adventure. She goes to Colorado Springs, Colorado where she establishes herself as doctor/adviser.The show ran on CBS... |
Brave #1 | Episode #6.11 "Safe Passage" | |
| Night Man Night Man Night Man is an American action/adventure/sci-fi series that aired in syndication from September 15, 1997 to May 17, 1999. The series is loosely based on a comic book published by Malibu Comics and was created by Steve Englehart and developed for television by Glen A... |
Vargus | Episode #1.4 "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" | |
| 1999 | The Wild Thornberrys The Wild Thornberrys The Wild Thornberrys is an American animated television series that aired on Nickelodeon. It was rerun in the USA on Nickelodeon and occasionally The N until 2009 and Nicktoons until 2007... |
Jim's dad | voice over, Episode #2.10 "Tamper Proof Seal" |
| 2001 | Family Law Family Law (TV series) Family Law is a television drama starring Kathleen Quinlan as divorced lawyer Lynn Holt, who attempted to start her own law firm after her lawyer husband took all their old clients... |
Bernard | Episode #2.21 "Americans" |
| V.I.P. V.I.P. (TV series) V.I.P. is an American action/comedy-drama series starring Pamela Anderson. Created by J. F... |
Roland | Episode #4.7 "Uncle from V.A.L." | |
| The Doe Boy The Doe Boy The Doe Boy is a 2001 independent drama film written and directed by Randy Redroad. It was selected as the United States winner of the Sundance Film Festival/NHK International Filmmakers Award in 2000... |
Manny Deadmarsh | ||
| 2002 | Gentle Ben | Pete | TV movie |
| Skins | Sonny Yellow Lodge | ||
| Body & Soul | Oz | recurring character, 8 episodes | |
| 2003 | Gentle Ben 2: Danger on the Mountain | Pete | TV movie |
| Dreamkeeper Dreamkeeper Dreamkeeper is a 2003 film written by John Fusco and directed by Steve Barron. The main plot of the film is the conflict between a Lakota elder and storyteller named Pete Chasing Horse and his Lakota grandson, Shane Chasing Horse... |
Sam | TV movie | |
| The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger (2003 film) The Lone Ranger was an attempt by The WB to revive the Lone Ranger franchise in a new generation. The film starred Chad Michael Murray as the Lone Ranger and Nathaniel Arcand as Tonto.-Plot:... |
One Horn | TV movie | |
| 2005 | Love's Long Journey Love's Long Journey Love's Long Journey is a 2005 Christian Drama made for TV movie based on a series of books by Janette Oke. It was directed by Michael Landon Jr... |
Sharp Claw | TV movie |
| Into the West Into the West (TV miniseries) Into the West is a 2005 miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks, with six two-hour episodes . The series was first broadcast in the U.S. on Turner Network Television on six Fridays starting on June 10, 2005... |
Dogstar | TV miniseries | |
| Medical Investigation Medical Investigation Medical Investigation was an American medical drama television series that began September 9, 2004, on NBC. It ran for 20 one-hour episodes before being cancelled in 2005... |
Walter Shepard | ||
| End of the Spear End of the Spear End of the Spear is a 2006 docudrama film that recounts the story of Operation Auca, in which five American Christian missionaries attempted to evangelize the Huaorani people of the jungle of Ecuador... |
Moipa | uncredited | |
| 2006 | Night at the Museum Night at the Museum Night at the Museum is a 2006 fantasy adventure-comedy film based on the 1993 children's book The Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc. It follows a divorced father trying to settle down, impress his son, and find his destiny... |
Voice over | |
| Charmed Charmed Charmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M... |
Indian Chief | TV | |
| 2006 | Veronica Mars Veronica Mars Veronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros... |
Leonard Lobo | TV |
| 2007 | Cosmic Radio | Tribal Council leader | |
| 2008 | Turok: Son of Stone | Nashoba | Voice over |
| California Indian | Chi Thomas | ||
| Twilight Twilight (2008 film) Twilight is a 2008 American romantic vampire film based on Stephenie Meyer's popular novel of the same name. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the film stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. It is the first film in The Twilight Saga film series... |
Billy Black | ||
| 2009 | 10 Items or Less | John Greene | "Dances with Groceries" |
| Nip/Tuck Nip/Tuck Nip/Tuck is an American drama series created by Ryan Murphy, which aired on FX in the United States. The series focuses on McNamara/Troy, a plastic surgery practice, and follows its founders, Sean McNamara and Christian Troy... |
Shaman | Episode #5.20 "Budi Sabri" | |
| Love Ranch Love Ranch Love Ranch is a 2010 drama film directed by Taylor Hackford and starring Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci.-Background:The film is based on the lives of Joe and Sally Conforte, a married couple who opened the first legal brothel in the United States, the Mustang Ranch in Storey County, Nevada. Violence... |
Sheriff Johnny Cortez | ||
| The Twilight Saga: New Moon | Billy Black | ||
| 2010 | The Mentalist The Mentalist The Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer... |
Markham Willis | Episode "Aingavite Baa" |
| The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | Billy Black | ||
| Castle Castle (TV series) Castle is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered on ABC on March 9, 2009. The series is produced by Beacon Pictures and ABC Studios. On January 10, 2011, Castle was renewed for a fourth season... |
Cacaw Te | Episode "Wrapped up in Death" | |
| 2011 | Rango Rango (2011 film) Rango is a 2011 American computer-animated Western Comedy film directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Graham King. In the film, a chameleon named Rango accidentally ends up in the town of Dirt, an outpost that is in desperate need of a new sheriff... |
Wounded Bird (a Chihuahuan raven) | |
| Shouting Secrets | Cal Bishnik | In post-production | |
| Crooked Arrows | Ben Logan | In post-production |
Awards
- 2001: The Doe BoyThe Doe BoyThe Doe Boy is a 2001 independent drama film written and directed by Randy Redroad. It was selected as the United States winner of the Sundance Film Festival/NHK International Filmmakers Award in 2000...
(in which Birmingham starred as Manny Deadmarsh) wins the Sundance International Filmmaker's AwardSundance Film FestivalThe Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new... - 2002: First Americans in the ArtsFirst Americans in the ArtsFirst Americans in the Arts is a non-profit organization based in Beverly Hills, California. According to its website, the organization was created "to recognize, honor and promote American Indian participation in the powerful arena of the entertainment industry, incorporating the areas of film,...
(FAITA) award for an Outstanding Performance in a Recurring Role as Oz in Body & Soul - 2005: American Indian LA Film and Television AwardAmerican Indian LA Film and TV AwardsThe American Indian LA Film and TV Awards, first created by Roscoe Pond in 2004, are a collection of film and television awards aimed at Native American actors and productions. The award ceremony is held in Los Angeles...
for Outstanding Supporting Role as Sam in DreamkeeperDreamkeeperDreamkeeper is a 2003 film written by John Fusco and directed by Steve Barron. The main plot of the film is the conflict between a Lakota elder and storyteller named Pete Chasing Horse and his Lakota grandson, Shane Chasing Horse...