Born on February 24, 1966 in Chicago, actor and producer Billy Zane came into the international spotlight with his part in the film Titanic. The parents of Vassilis Tzanetakos, Zane’s Greek name, are both of Greek descent. His mother’s Thalia place of birth is located on the island of Chios, while his father George was born and raised at Laconian Mani.

“I have never felt intimidated, I’m proud to be Greek. I’m a patriot, it runs in my DNA. Though I was born in Chicago, my parents come from Sparta and Chios”, he points out in an interview. “It’s unfair to judge a nation by its ruling class. We share the same disappointment and the need for a way out of the crisis. I wish I hadn’t witnessed Greece being sold out to its neighbours. I believe everybody feels the same way, except the buyers.”

Both his parents were amateur actors and Billy inherited their passion for acting. Zane’s first two screen roles were in the films Back to the Future and Critters in 1985. Later on, he starred in many films, like Phantom, where he played the classic comic book hero in 1996, but he gained international recognition with his role of millionaire Caledon Hockley and Kate Winslet’s fiancé in the 1997 blockbuster Titanic.

Zane successfully appeared on Broadway in Chicago and in popular television series, like Samantha Who and Charmed. He is a member of the board of directors at a film and television distribution company and the chairman of the Francesco Fucilla Film production studio.