Sonny Landham

Sonny Landham (1941-2017) was an American actor and stunt performer. He is best known for his roles as Billy Bear in 48 Hrs. and tracker Billy Sole in Predator. Landham was born on February 11, 1941, in Canton, Georgia, and grew up in Rome, Georgia. He had a diverse heritage, including Cherokee, Seminole, German, English, Irish, and Jewish. Landham attended Saint Mary's Catholic School, Darlington School, and the University of Georgia. After graduating from Oglethorpe University, he served in the army, worked in an oil field, and became an ordained Baptist minister. Landham studied acting at Pasadena Playhouse and then moved to New York in 1968 to pursue his acting career. Prior to his mainstream film roles, he acted in pornographic films and worked as a model.