Enterprise

Background:

A Pennsylvania-born character actor who founded a theater company called Book It Repertory Theatre and an acting studio named Freehold, John Billingsley first gained fame among science-fiction fans as a techie geek in a 1999 episode of the Fox popular show “The X-Files” before hitting the big time as the alien physician, Dr. Phlox, on UPN's “Star Trek: Enterprise” (2001-2005). The veteran actor is also known for portraying recurring roles in CBS' hit drama “Cold Case” (2004-2005), as serial killer George Marks, and Fox's breakout hit drama “Prison Break” (2006), as con Terrence Steadman, and more recently, as series regular Egan Foote on the ABC heavily promoted serialized drama “The Nine” (2006-present). An actor on both the big and small screen, Billingsley's film credits include “Breathing Hard” (2000), “Lessons for an Assassin” (2001), “Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles” (2001), “The Glass House” (2001), “High Crimes” (2002), “White Oleander” (2002), “Out of Time” (2003, with Denzel Washington), “The Nickel Children” (2005), “Room 6” (2006) and “Ripple Effect” (2007). The amiable actor has also added extensive theater credits to his resume.

Currently, Billingsley has completed filming Jerome Bixby's “The Man from Earth” (2007), a Sci-fi movie helmed by Richard Schenkman. He also has two projects still-in-production; “American Summer” (2007), a comedy starring Efren Ramirez and Matthew Lillard, and “The Least of These” (2008), a thriller starring Isaiah Washington as Father Andre James. On the small screen, he will play Scully in a TV series pilot titled “The World According to Barnes” (2007).

Outside the limelight, Billingsley and his wife, actress Bonita Friedericy, with whom he has worked on numerous projects, now reside in Los Angeles where he remains active in theater. In his free time, Billingsley enjoys reading. He has over 5000 books in his home collection and runs his own book club on his website. He is a supporter of The Aids Service Center.

Peregrine

Childhood and Family:

John Billingsley was born on May 20, 1960, in Media, Pennsylvania. He frequently moved as a child before his family eventually settled in Weston, Connecticut. Savagely teased for his Southern accent while growing up, young John soon learned the worth of acting by teaching himself how to behave like the other “Yankee kids” so he would not be beat up after school. He gained his real acting experience by performing in school plays. After high school, John studied theater at Bennington College in Vermont and after receiving his degree, relocated to Seattle, Washington, where he spent many years honing in on his craft in regional theater before heading to Los Angeles to pursue a career on TV.

Now a Los Angeles resident, John is happily married to wife Bonita Friedericy. She is an actress. John keeps two cats as family pets.

The Nine

Career:

John Billingsley acted in school plays and went on to study the craft at college. With a theater degree in his pocket, the actor moved to Seattle in the early 1980s and spent his next 15 years working in regional theater. He helped establish Book It Repertory Theatre, a Seattle-based theater company and Freehold, a Seattle acting studio. Billingsley started to appear in minor roles in film and television in the early 1990s. Despite the recognition he gained for his stage work, he struggled to make an adequate living. Driven by financial problems, in 1995 he eventually decided to head to Hollywood in an ultimate attempt to break into television.

Luckily, Billingsley’s move paid off. In 1997, he received a major break when he landed an unaccredited bit part in an episode of the popular ABC series “NYPD Blue,” playing a child molester. A series of guest star roles followed and he was seen in “Martial Law” (1998), “The Practice” (1998), “The Pretender” (1998-99), “Felicity” (1998), “Malcolm & Eddie” (1999), “Judging Amy” (2000) and “Diagnosis Murder” (2000). However, it was his fine turn as a technician geek in the hit science-fiction drama “The X-Files” in 1999 that gained the actor his early notice.

Billingsley finally made the leap to series TV as a regular performer when he won the role of Miles Ballard in the paranormal series “The Others.” Debuting on February 5, 2000, the Steven Spielberg-produced show was dismissed by audiences and left the air after only a few episodes. It was also in 2000 that Billingsley, who had collected several film credits including 1996's “Eden,” 1999's “Jimmy Zip,” and 1999's “Kate's Addiction,” worked with costars like John Rafter Lee and June Claman in the independent “Breathing Hard,” which won numerous honors on the festival circuit. He also starred as John Waddington in “Blood on the Backlot” and was featured in the independent drama “Eat Your Heart Out” (both 2000).

In 2001, the actor landed his most prominent role to date, that of eccentric alien Doctor Phlox on the fifth Star Trek series, “Star Trek: Enterprise.” He played the role until the show was finally canceled by UPN in 2005 because of low ratings.

While working on the series, Billingsley also appeared as a guest in a number of series like “Jack & Jill,” “The West Wing,” “Six Feet Under,” “Stargate SG-1,” “Angel” and “Duck Dodgers,” and acted in such movies as “Lessons for an Assassin” (2001), “Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles” (2001), “The Glass House” (2001), “High Crimes” (2002), “White Oleander” (2002), “Out of Time” (2003, as the coroner friend of Denzel Washington), “A Cinderella Story” (2004) and “The Nickel Children” (2005). After the demise of “Enterprise,” the actor was seen as serial killer George Marks in two episodes of the CBS hit police drama “Cold Case” (2004-2005). He also appeared in episodes of FX's “Nip/Tuck” (2005), CBS' “CSI: NY” (2005) and TNT's “The Closer” (2006).

In 2006, Billingsley further increased his TV exposure when he landed the role of con Terrence Steadman, the pathetic brother of U.S. Vice President Caroline Steadman, on the Fox breakout hit drama “Prison Break.” Shortly thereafter, he was cast in the regular role of Egan Foote in the ABC new series “The Nine” (2006-present). As a result, he was unable to continue his role as Steadman and was replaced in the role by Jeff Perry.

Billingsley also portrayed Harrison McKendrick in the thriller movie “Room 6” (2006) and Langdon in the made-for-TV film “Dead & Deader” (2006). In 2007, he could be seen in the movie “Ripple Effect,” the television movie “Suspect” and the series “Ghost Whisperer,” “Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service” and “Standoff.” As for his upcoming projects, Billingsley will play roles in three films, namely Jerome Bixby's “The Man from Earth” (2007), “American Summer” (2007) and “The Least of These” (2008). He is also set to star as Scully in a TV series pilot named “The World According to Barnes” (2007).

Awards:
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