Michael Biehn

Early life

Biehn was born in Anniston, Alabama, the second of three children of Marcia (née Connell) and Don Biehn, a lawyer. He is partially of German descent. When he was young, he moved with his family to Lincoln, Nebraska, and then to Lake Havasu, Arizona, where he was a member of the high school drama club before graduating. He attended the drama program at the University of Arizona, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity before moving to Hollywood.

Career

Biehn got his start in movies with a bit part in the film version of Grease in 1978. He appears in two scenes, in one which John Travolta's character, Danny, hits Biehn's uncredited character in the stomach while playing basketball. In 1981, he acted out the title role of Douglas Breen, a stalker, in the 1981 film version of Bob Randall's novel The Fan; at the time the film was shot, he was in his mid-20s, whereas the actress chosen as Breen's victim Sally Ross, Lauren Bacall, was more than 30 years his senior. After a few more films, Biehn played Kyle Reese, a sergeant sent back in time by John Connor to save his mother, Sarah Connor, in the 1984 film The Terminator. He starred in two other films directed by James Cameron: Aliens (as Corporal Hicks) and The Abyss (as Lieutenant Hiram Coffey), and had a small role in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (his briefly reprised role as Reese which was removed from the theatrical release but restored in the special editions and the director's cut).

In an early draft of Alien 3 written by William Gibson, Biehn's character Hicks (who had survived the events of Aliens) was to become the protagonist, replacing Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). However, Walter Hill and David Giler penned the final script, which had Hicks killed off in the opening scene. Biehn, upon learning of his character's demise, demanded and received almost as much money for the use of his likeness in one scene as he had been paid for his role in Aliens. Biehn reprised the role of Hicks by voicing the character in Aliens: Colonial Marines. Biehn played the role of Johnny Ringo in Tombstone with the showdown scene with Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday.

In the 2000s, Biehn took acting roles ranging from big budget films such as The Art of War and Clockstoppers, to video games like Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun, and independent movies, such as Havoc. He also starred in three TV series including the CBS drama The Magnificent Seven (1998–2000), the Tribune Entertainment syndicated TV series Adventure Inc. (2002–2003), and the NBC TV series Hawaii (2004). All three shows were subsequently cancelled because of low ratings. Biehn was considered for a role in James Cameron's science fiction epic film Avatar (2009), but Cameron felt his appearance in the film coupled with that of Sigourney Weaver's would remind people too much of Aliens.

Biehn, who said he was encouraged by Robert Rodriguez while on the set of Planet Terror to make his own film, has produced, written, directed and starred in The Victim, which was released in 2011. The year before he was the first director on The Blood Bond.

Personal life

Biehn has been married twice. His first wife was actress Carlene Olson, whom he married on July 11, 1980. They had twin sons, Devon and Taylor (b. 1984) and divorced in 1987. He then married his second wife, Gina Marsh. They had two sons, Caelan Michael (b. April 11, 1992) and Alexander (b. March 19, 2003) and separated in 2008. Biehn is currently with actress Jennifer Blanc. She co-produced and starred alongside him in The Victim. The couple have one son, Dashiell King Biehn, born March 21, 2015.