The Only Actor Besides Bill Paxton Who Has Faced Off Against an Alien, a Terminator, and a Predator

In the world of science fiction cinema, three creatures stand out as the most fearsome hunters: the relentless killing machine from the future, the Terminator; the perfect organism with acid for blood, the Alien; and the highly advanced extraterrestrial hunter, the Predator.

To have a character meet their end at the hands of any one of these iconic monsters is a memorable moment in a film. For an actor to have their character killed by all three is a unique achievement in movie history. It’s a strange and brutal cinematic honor.

For a long time, only one actor was widely known for this specific claim to fame. The late, great Bill Paxton cemented his legacy in the hearts of sci-fi fans with his memorable on-screen deaths across these three massive franchises. His roles, though sometimes small, were always impactful, leaving a lasting impression on audiences. But he is not alone.

Another well-known actor from the same era shares this rare and violent distinction, having also looked into the eyes of death brought by a cyborg, a xenomorph, and a Yautja. This performer also has a strong connection to director James Cameron, a filmmaker whose work was pivotal in shaping two of these legendary series.

The other actor to hold this trifecta of on-screen deaths is Lance Henriksen. A prolific character actor known for his distinctive voice and intense presence, Henriksen has a filmography filled with memorable roles in science fiction and horror. His journey through this gauntlet of cinematic monsters runs parallel to Paxton’s, yet with its own unique and sometimes debated circumstances.

Both actors appeared in James Cameron’s 1984 classic, The Terminator. While Paxton had a brief but memorable role as the blue-haired punk who confronts the newly-arrived T-800, Henriksen played a more significant part. He was Detective Hal Vukovich, one of the police officers investigating the “Phone Book Killer” and trying to protect Sarah Connor.

During the Terminator’s infamous assault on the police station, a scene of immense firepower and chaos, Vukovich is shot multiple times by the cyborg. Although his death is not explicitly shown in a final, graphic close-up, it is understood that he perished in the attack.

Two years later, both actors would reunite for another James Cameron masterpiece, Aliens. This is where the paths of their characters, and their on-screen fates, truly became legendary.

Bill Paxton’s performance as Private Hudson is one of the most quoted in sci-fi history. His initial bravado crumbles into pure panic, famously crying, “Game over, man! Game over!” when the Colonial Marines are overwhelmed. Hudson’s end comes during a desperate last stand in the medical bay.

As xenomorphs swarm from every direction, one bursts through the floor grating and violently pulls him under to his doom. It is a sudden and terrifying exit for one of the film’s most memorable characters.

Lance Henriksen’s role in Aliens was just as iconic, but very different. He played Bishop, the calm and capable android who serves as the crew’s synthetic person. His encounter with the Alien queen is one of the film’s most shocking moments.

In a swift and brutal attack, the queen impales Bishop with her massive tail and tears him in half at the waist. Here lies a point of debate among fans. Since Bishop is an android, he doesn’t “die” in the human sense. His upper torso continues to function, and he even manages to save the young girl, Newt, from being sucked out of an airlock.

In Alien 3, Ripley reactivates his damaged form to learn what happened on the ship, and he asks to be permanently disconnected. So, while he was destroyed by an Alien, the technicality of his “death” is often discussed.

The final piece of this deadly puzzle for both actors came with the Predator franchise. For Bill Paxton, this happened in 1990’s Predator 2. He played Detective Jerry Lambert, a cocky member of the LAPD team trying to understand the series of gruesome murders plaguing the city. Separated from his team on a subway, Lambert comes face-to-face with the Predator. Despite a valiant effort to fight back, he is no match for the superior hunter and is killed.

Lance Henriksen completed his triple-threat of monster encounters in the 2004 film Alien vs. Predator. He played Charles Bishop Weyland, the billionaire founder of Weyland Industries who leads the expedition to an ancient pyramid in Antarctica.

It is revealed that the android Bishop from Aliens was modeled after him. Deep within the pyramid, Weyland and his team are caught in the middle of a battle between the two alien species. In an act of sacrifice, Weyland uses an improvised flamethrower to buy the others time to escape from a Predator. For his trouble, the Predator impales and kills him. This death is unambiguous, securing Henriksen’s place alongside Paxton in this exclusive cinematic club.

The shared history of these two actors across three of the most important science fiction franchises of the 20th century is a fascinating piece of movie trivia. Their connection through director James Cameron, who cast both of them in career-defining roles, highlights a unique period in filmmaking.

Whether through a brief, violent encounter or a more complex, drawn-out demise, both Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen have earned the rare on-screen honor of being killed by an Alien, a Predator, and a Terminator.

What are your thoughts on this unique piece of movie history? Do you think Bishop’s destruction in Aliens counts as a “death”? Share your opinions in the comments below.