Gil Birmingham

Gil Birmingham Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: July 13, 1953

Age: 71 years old

Birth Place: San Antonio, Texas

Gil Birmingham is an American actor who is best known for portraying Billy Black in the "Twilight" movies. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Birmingham was raised in a buttoned-up military family that enforced rules and discipline. He discovered the guitar when he was a young boy, and quickly learned how to play.

For Birmingham, music was a much-needed escape from the rigors of daily life, and he dreamed of making a living from it one day. When it came time to enroll in college, however, Birmingham chose the University of Southern California, where he studied petrochemical engineering. He eventually earned his Bachelor's of science from the school, thus permanently putting his music dreams on hold to take on a more stable career as an engineer.

It was also around this time that Birmingham became a workout enthusiast. He would spend long hours at a local gym in Los Angeles, and started entering bodybuilding competitions. It was during one of these workout sessions that Birmingham was discovered by a talent scout who suggested he pursue an acting career. Birmingham took the man's advice and started auditioning for film and TV roles.

Soon enough, Birmingham began landing guest spots on shows like "Falcon Crest" (CBS, 1981-1990) and "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (CBS, 1993-98), thus realizing that acting was his passion. Birmingham continued appearing in bit parts on TV throughout the '80s and '90s, before landing his first substantial movie role in the 2001 drama "The Doe Boy." His role in that film put Birmingham in the spotlight for the first time in his acting career, and before long he was landing parts in films like "The Lone Ranger" (2003) and "Cosmic Radio" (2007).

Then in 2008 Birmingham landed his big break when he was cast as Billy Black in "Twilight" (2008). The film was a global hit, spawning four sequels, all of which Birmingham reprised his role in. Birmingham appeared in his final "Twilight" film in 2012, but continued nabbing high-profile film and TV roles, most notably "House of Cards" (Netflix, 2013- ), "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" (Netflix, 2015- ), and the 2016 western "Hell or High Water."

Credits

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn

Actor
Show
2023

The Marsh King's DaughterStream

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Clark
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2023
40%

National Memorial Day Concert 2022

Self
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2022

Under the Banner of HeavenStream

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2022
87%

Pieces of HerStream

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2022
51%

YellowstoneStream

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2018
84%

SirenStream

Guest Star
Sheriff Dale Bishop
Series
2018

Wind RiverStream

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Martin Hanson
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2017
88%

Animal KingdomStream

Guest Star
Pearce
Series
2016

Hell or High WaterStream

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2016
97%

Te Ata

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2016

House of CardsStream

Guest Star
Series
2013
77%

BansheeStream

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90%

Vegas

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Don Simmons
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2012
67%

Crooked Arrows

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Ben Logan
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The Lying GameStream

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Ben Whitehorse
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2011
83%

RangoStream

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Wounded Bird
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2011
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The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1Stream

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2011
25%

Shouting Secrets

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2011

California Indian

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Love Ranch

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NCIS: Los AngelesStream

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CastleStream

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2009
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The MentalistStream

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2008

TwilightStream

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2008
49%

Into the West

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Older Dog Star
Miniseries
2005

Love's Long Journey

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Sharp Claw
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2005

Veronica MarsStream

Guest Star
Series
2004
91%

DreamKeeper: Part 1

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2003

DreamKeeper: Part 2

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DreamKeeper

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Sam
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2003

Nip/TuckStream

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Shaman
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2003
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Gentle Ben 2: Danger on the Mountain

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Pete
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2003

V.I.P.Stream

Guest Star
Series
1998

Buffy the Vampire SlayerStream

Guest Star
Peru Man
Series
1997
85%

News aboutGil Birmingham

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