Bill Paxton suffered fatal stroke 11 days after undergoing ANEURYSM surgery, death certificate reveals

  • Paxton's death certificate shows he suffered an aneurysm that required surgery on Valentine's Day
  • He died 11 days later, from complications that caused him to suffer a stroke
  • The actor, 61, was best known for his roles in Titanic, Aliens and Apollo 13 

The surgery that resulted in Bill Paxton's (pictured) death last month was triggered by an aneurysm, the actor's death certificate reveals

The surgery that resulted in Bill Paxton's (pictured) death last month was triggered by an aneurysm, the actor's death certificate reveals

The surgery that resulted in Bill Paxton's death last month was triggered by an aneurysm, the actor's death certificate reveals. 

The report shows Paxton had just undergone valve replacement surgery to correct an aortic aneurysm problem when he suffered complications and had a fatal stroke.

The aorta is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.  

The surgery reportedly took place on Valentine's Day (February 14), and he died 11 days later on February 25, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the document, originally obtained by TMZ reports. 

Paxton, 61, was best known for his roles in Titanic, Apollo 13,  Aliens and the HBO series Big Love. 

He left behind two children and a wife, Louise Newbury, who he had been married to for 30 years.

Paxton was reportedly worried about the surgery, but 'optimistic' according to his Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman.

The actor was expected to reprieve his role of Master Sergeant Farell in a future sequel of the film and said to Liman in an email: 'Thanks for the good wishes. It will help me face this ordeal.

'Don't worry "Sgt Farell" will be ready to report for duty.'

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Paxton played the role of Brock Lovett in Titanic the treasure hunter that discovered the Heart of the Ocean necklace in the film
In the 1986 film Aliens, Paxton played the role of Private Hudson in the movie

The actor, 61, was perhaps best knwon for his roles in the James Cameron films Titanic (left) and Aliens (right) 

Paxton will make his final silver screen appearance alongside Tom Hanks and Emma Watson later this year in The Circle, which is in post-production.

Hanks wrote in a tweet: 'Bill Paxton was, simply, a wonderful man. A wonderful man.'

Director James Cameron said Paxton's death 'leaves such a void' after mentioning that the two were close friends after working together for 36 years, in a statement to Vanity Fair.

He was survived by his wife of 30 years Louise Newbury, right, and two children

He was survived by his wife of 30 years Louise Newbury, right, and two children

He wrote: 'I hope that amid the gaudy din of Oscar night, people will take a moment to remember this wonderful man, not just for all the hours of joy he brought to us with his vivid screen presence, but for the great human that he was.'

Other celebrities such as William Shatner, Rob Lowe, Zach Braff and several more have taken to social media to mourn the loss of their friend and Emmy-award winning colleague.

He had an Emmy for the History miniseries Hatfields and McCoys, and he was in the Golden Globe-nominated HBO series Big Love.

He was on the CBS series Training Day at the time of his death, and recently said he was 'thrilled' to have his son James Paxton to guest-star on an episode.

Paxton played the role of Brock Lovett in Titanic, the treasure hunter that discovered the famed Heart of the Ocean necklace in the film. In Aliens Paxton played Private Hudson in 1986.

Other notable work by Paxton includes the ABC drama Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and two Spy Kids films. He was also credited as a director, producer and writer in several other productions

His family said in a statement: 'It is with heavy hearts we share the news that Bill Paxton has passed away due to complications from surgery.'

They added that he had an 'illustrious career spanning four decades as a beloved and prolific actor and filmmaker.'

Paxton (center left) also received critical acclaim for his roles on TV, including the Golden Globe-nominated HBO series Big Love, which also starred  Jeanne Tripplehorn (left), Chloe Sevigny (center right) and Ginnifer Goodwin (right)

Paxton (center left) also received critical acclaim for his roles on TV, including the Golden Globe-nominated HBO series Big Love, which also starred Jeanne Tripplehorn (left), Chloe Sevigny (center right) and Ginnifer Goodwin (right)

His family's statement added: 'Bill's passion for the arts was felt by all who knew him, and his warmth and tireless energy were undeniable.

The Texas native has close to 100 acting credits to his name, including film and television work.

He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1955 and his father John Paxton was also an actor, having worked on several Spiderman films.

On the day of John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Paxton was photographed at eight years old, hoisted above the crowd outside of the president's hotel.

When he was 18 years old, he moved to Los Angeles in hopes to make his big break and got his start as a set dresser for Roger Corman.

He married Kelly Rowan in 1979 but they divorced shortly after in July of 1980.

Paxton later met his second wife on a bus in London when she was a just a teenager, he told Los Angeles Magazine in 2010.