BILLY ZANE lifts the character of "The Phantom" out of the pages of comic strip history and brings him to vibrant threedimensional life on the big screen. Born in Chicago, Zane's fast-rising career has led to sixteen films in a comparatively short time. They include "Dead Calm," an Australian film in which his riveting performance earned him much critical praise; the more recent "Danger Zone," filmed in the mines of South Africa; and "Demon Knight: Tales From the Crypt;" "Regina;" "August Fires;" Norman Jewison's light-hearted comedy "Only You;" and "Tombstone," where he played the memorable Shakespearean actor. The actor also starred in the critically acclaimed "Orlando," "Sniper," filmed in Australia, as one of 'Biff's boys' in "Back to the Future II," and "Memphis Belle," in which he portrayed a heroic World War II bombardier. Television audiences remember him best for starring in six episodes of David Lynch's acclaimed cult series "Twin Peaks." It was while on location in Australia for "Dead Calm" that Zane was first introduced to the legend of "The Phantom." "I read my first Phantom comic in 1987," recalls Zane, "and for me this guy was the end-all as far as role models and superheroes. The books were everywhere. It was the only comic I ever collected. I read my first and saved them. 'The Phantom' was a national hero... and he was different. He had no super powers, no super bank accounts. He's just super decent. Not super human, but super humane." With his muscular body sheathed in a form-fitting purple costume and hood embroidered with subtle skull patterns, Zane cuts a startling and impressive figure as The Phantom. His penetrating eyes framed by a black mask, he wears the benevolent Good Mark ring on one hand and the feared Skull Ring on the other. A black leather gunbelt supporting matched .45 automatics bears the dreaded Skull insignia of 'The Ghost Who Walks.' Mounted on his white stallion, Zane is the personification of the legendary hero. The actor recalls reading a favorite episode where one 19th century Phantom travels to New York just before the Civil War. "He gets a horse when he arrives," says Zane, "and asks a local which way Texas is. The guy laughs, 'Ya take a left in Memphis, buddy... or is it a right?' The Phantom takes that ride and runs into Mark Twain in Mississippi. What a clever way of getting children interested in our past." Zane found his introduction to Lee Falk, the creator of "The Phantom," a memorable experience. Their first encounter at the studio when Zane was fully costumed was private. "It was fascinating," says the actor. "He talked like he could be remembering his own adventures. The anecdotes spilled from his lips, and I didn't have to ask questions." "The Phantom" filmed on the New York backlot of Universal Studios before journeying to Thailand. For Zane it was a return to the location of his first acting job. "I did 'Back to the Future II' in Home Town Square next door to where we filmed. The trailers were in the same place," added Zane, with a characteristic engaging smile, "but now mine was a little bigger and closer to the set." Zane worked a year-and-a-half with trainer Tom Muzila before cameras turned on "The Phantom." "He introduced me to a lot of very interesting techniques, including a Zen-like exercise with an eight pound ball. For practice we once stalked through Griffith Park rolling around with fake guns. The park rangers chased us away." The actor also studied many of the character's cat-like movements from "The Phantom" comic themselves. "The poses introduced by Falk were really great. I tried to take that body language into the film." As The Phantom, Zane performed many perilous but safely-orchestrated stunts including a ride on a pontoon outside a seaplane, swinging from a rope bridge over a gorge, and harrowing riding stunts like transfering from a moving plane to horseback. "I shared these with incredible stunt people," says Zane, "but I did a lot of what we were trying to capture on film. It wasn't a good day unless there wasn't an ice pack present... I found a new respect for the actors and actresses who made long careers with this kind of film." Of the film itself, he calls it "a ride of a lifetime." Zane adds, "Bring your seat belts. It plays upon a collective memory of something that is shared by everyone that liked early screen adventure forged by Tom Mix, Errol Flynn and John Wayne. It's part of our collective consciousness that finds its way into patriotism. I don't know how or why. I can't completely explain it, but it just makes you feel good."