What happened to Bill Paxton? Cause of death explored as fans remember actor on his birthday

Iconic Hollywood actor Bill Paxton, who is known for his roles in hits like Apollo 13, Twister and Titanic, died on February 25, 2017, at the age of 61. Paxton would have turned 70 on May 17, 2025.

Many fan pages and movie lovers have been honoring the late actor by celebrating his contributions to the entertainment industry on social media.

As per the official document made public by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the actor’s cause of death was a stroke and his sudden death happened 11 days after a heart surgery at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

The operation on Februaury 14 involved replacing his aortic valve and repairing an aortic aneurysm. These were potentially lifesaving and high-risk operations.

Bill Paxton’s death was initially reported as an outcome of surgery complications. However, it was later explained that he died due to a stroke, a risk associated with heart surgeries. His family sued Cedars Sinai Medical Center and the surgeon who operated on him, Dr. Ali Khoynezhad. According to The Guardian, the lawsuit claimed that the procedure was unnecessary and the surgeon was inexperienced.

The family also alleged that the risks were minimized and that the actor faced severe complications, such as severe bleeding and cardiac shock, which caused his death.

With legal proceedings dragging on for years, a settlement was reached in 2022, just before a trial was set to begin. Although the details of the settlement were not disclosed publicly, Bill Paxton's family said they were happy with the resolution.

More facts and achievements of Bill Paxton in his career

Bill Paxton, born May 17, 1955, in Fort Worth, Texas, worked his way up in the film industry, starting in the art department of Roger Corman movies.

According to Britannica, he was a student of the well-known acting coach Stella Adler in New York, and he later came back to Los Angeles, where he became close with renowned filmmaker James Cameron.

Paxton initially earned credits for cult classics such as Weird Science, Aliens, and Near Dark and then went on to become popular with roles in Apollo 13, Twister, Titanic, and HBO's Big Love series, for which he earned three Golden Globe nominations. He also directed a few films which include, Frailty and The Greatest Game Ever Played, both of which got good reception.

Trending

In addition to establishing himself on screen, Bill Paxton worked in music and helped promote independent films in his home state. He helped launch the Lone Star Film Festival.

Paxton is survived by his wife, Louise Newbury and two children.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback