Billy Drago

Biography

Drago is well-known for his villainous parts (leading or supporting), and he is renowned for his rugged yet scary looks and evil smile. He was born William Eugene Burrows in Hugoton, Kansas. He became interested in acting and took his mother's maiden name 'Drago' as a stage name. At first he worked as a stuntman in Kansas, and then went to University of Kansas. After graduating he worked as a radio host before joining an acting crew that led him to New York. He began his acting career at the end of 1970s. After appearing in multiple TV series as a guest actor, he appeared in some low budget films such as: Windwalker (1980), Vamp (1986), Hunter's Blood (1986), Freeway (1988), Dark Before Dawn (1988), China White (1989), True Blood (1989), Martial Law II: Undercover (1991), Lady Dragon 2 (1993) and Cyborg 2: Glass Shadow (1993). Perhaps, he was mostly recognized in three action films, all staring Chuck Norris, Invasion U.S.A. (1985), Hero and the Terror (1988) and perhaps most famous in Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990), where Drago played memorable drug lord Ramon Cota. He also appeared as a guest actor in Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) also starring Chuck Norris. Some of his other well-known appearances were in: Mad Dog Time (1996), Tremors 4: The Legend Begins (2004) and The Hills Have Eyes (2006) remake, as the leader of mutated nomads. He also did an extensive work on TV, and his most popular guest-starring roles were as: Charmed (1998) TV series, as Barbas, the demon. Drago is a dedicated actor and has produced an instructional acting video with his late wife Silvana Gallardo.