Billy Drago (Actor)

Billy Drago in Delta Force II. (Photo: MGM)

Lean, sharp-featured character player of film and TV usually in Westerns, crime dramas, and action flicks. Drago's pointy chin and thin lips served to enhance the cruel smile of his sadistic villains. He may be best known for his performance as Al Capone's coolly vicious enforcer, Frank Nitti, in Brian De Palma's "The Untouchables" (1987). Drago was also the arch-villain in the light-hearted Western adventure series "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr." (Fox, 1993-94).

A Texas native of American Indian heritage, Drago was cast in Native American roles in his first TV and feature assignments. He had previously worked as a stuntman in a Western theme park in Dodge City, KS. Drago appeared in some plays in college before starting his entertainment career as a disc jockey at small stations in Kansas and Texas. Drago next turned decisively to acting, joining a small ensemble group touring Canada. He eventually landed in NYC where he began amassing credits on stage and TV. His TV credits include guest shots on "Hill Street Blues", "Moonlighting", and "Hunter". In features, Drago can be found in Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider" and "Invasion U.S.A." (both 1985), and many direct-to-video actioners. He is the father of actor Darren E. Burrows.