Bill Paxton, Actor Known For 'Titanic' And 'Aliens,' Dies At 61

Actor Bill Paxton, known for his roles in movies like "Titanic" and "Aliens," has died following complications with surgery. He was 61.

The news of Paxton's death was first reported by TMZ. A family spokesperson later confirmed the death to various media outlets in a statement.

"It is with heavy hearts we share the news that Bill Paxton has passed away due to complications from surgery. A loving husband and father, Bill began his career in Hollywood working on films in the art department and went on to have an illustrious career spanning four decades as a beloved and prolific actor and filmmaker," a spokesperson said in a statement provided to the Hollywood Reporter. "Bill's passion for the arts was felt by all who knew him, and his warmth and tireless energy were undeniable. We ask to please respect the family's wish for privacy as they mourn the loss of their adored husband and father."

A native of Texas, Paxton starred in the hit movie "Twister" and received three Golden Globe nominations for his lead role in the HBO series "Big Love." He also earned an Emmy nomination for the mini-series "Hatfield and McCoys."

As his obituary in Variety describes, "In most movies, Paxton cut a morally upright figure, the character actor equivalent of a Kevin Costner or Gary Cooper. But he earned the best reviews of his career for roles that upended his persona. He was gripping as a family man trying to hide stolen money in Sam Raimi’s “A Simple Plan” (1998), and similarly effective playing against type as an ethically compromised lawman in Carl Franklin’s “One False Move” (1992)."

He is survived by his wife and two children.

Members of the Hollywood community paid tribute to the late actor.

Patch will update this breaking news story.

Image Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Creative Commons