Only 2 Actors Have Battled the Top 3 Iconic Sci-Fi Creatures!

Warning, spoilers ahead! The following reveals plot details from several films in the “Alien,” “Terminator,” and “Predator” franchises.

A murderous android from the future, an almost invisible alien hunter, and a creature that can reproduce inside its victims: the T-800, Predator, and Xenomorph have profoundly shaped the science fiction imagination. These three cinematic monsters have become absolute pop culture icons.

Throughout the many films dedicated to these characters, numerous actors have attempted to survive them. However, only two have managed to enter each of these three universes: Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen.

Bill Paxton, the Ultimate Sci-Fi Victim

Bill Paxton holds a particularly unique place in this narrative. The actor, who passed away in 2017, is often noted as the only actor whose characters have been killed by a Terminator, a xenomorph, and a Predator.

His first encounter with one of these icons was in 1984. In “Terminator,” he briefly played a punk who is swiftly decimated by the T-800, portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a demand for his clothes.

Two years later, Paxton reunited with James Cameron for “Aliens.” He portrayed Hudson, a brash yet endearing soldier who meets his end at the hands of a xenomorph while fighting valiantly to the last second.

He then faced his final foe in 1990 with “Predator 2.” His character, Detective Jerry Lambert, is ultimately killed by the alien hunter during a subway showdown.

Lance Henriksen, from Terminator to Alien vs. Predator

Lance Henriksen’s journey took a slightly different order. He also first appeared in “Terminator” as Detective Hal Vukovich, who is killed in the police station by the relentless machine pursuing Sarah Connor.

Henriksen became one of the most familiar faces of the Alien saga. In “Aliens,” released in 1986, he played Bishop, a benevolent android vastly different from the sinister Ash of the original film. Although severely damaged by the xenomorph queen, Bishop survives this encounter and reappears in “Alien 3” in 1992.

It wasn’t until “Alien vs. Predator” in 2004 that Henriksen also completed the trio. He portrayed Charles Bishop Weyland, founder of Weyland Industries, who dies at the hands of a Predator. Thus, Henriksen has encountered all three monsters, though unlike Paxton, he wasn’t killed by each.

Frequent Collaborators in Genre Cinema

The connection between their filmographies is not the only commonality between Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton. The two actors have appeared together in several films, notably sharing the screen in “Near Dark,” also known by its original title.

Directed in 1987 by Kathryn Bigelow, this vampire film already confirmed their shared affinity for dark, violent, and fantastical narratives. A cult classic in which they once again navigated a world inhabited by supernatural creatures.

A Unique Place in Sci-Fi History

Thanks to these roles, Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen have forged an unexpected link between three of the most famous film franchises. Their involvement in Alien, Terminator, and Predator ensures them a unique place in the annals of the genre, even if their characters didn’t always make it out alive.

The Alien and Predator saga films are currently available for streaming on Disney+, as is Terminator: Dark Fate. The Terminator franchise is more scattered: the first film is available through Ciné+ OCS Amazon Channel, Terminator 2 on HBO Max, Terminator Salvation on Netflix, and Terminator Genisys on Paramount+. Terminator 3 is only available for rent or purchase on VOD.