Billy Bob Thornton is an acclaimed American actor, filmmaker, singer, and songwriter with an impressive body of work spanning multiple genres.
He first gained recognition for his role in the 1992 crime drama One False Move, which he co-wrote.
Thornton went on to give memorable performances in films such as “Tombstone” (1993), “Dead Man” (1995) and “U-turn” (1997).
In 1996, Thornton wrote, directed, and starred in the independent feature film “Sling Blade,” for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
His powerful portrayal of mentally retarded Carl Childs earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
contour
- Full name: Billy Bob Thornton
- Stage name: Billy Bob Thornton
- Date of birth: August 4, 1955
- Age: 69 years old
- Birthplace: Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
- Nationality: United States
- Occupation: American film actor, film producer, singer and songwriter
- Height: 1.78 m
- Parents: Virginia Roberta (née Faulkner) and William Raymond “Billy Ray” Thornton
- Siblings: Jimmy Don Thornton, John David Thornton and James Ben Thornton
- Spouses: Melissa Lee Gatlin (m. 1978-1980), Toni Lawrence (m. 1986-1988), Cynda Williams (m. 1990-1992) Married 1993-1997), Pietra Dawn Cherniak (married 1993-1997), Angelina Jolie (m. 2000–2003), Connie Angland (married 2014)
- Children: Amanda Thornton, Bella Thornton, Harry James Thornton and William Thornton
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $45 million
early life and education
Billy Bob Thornton was born on August 4, 1955 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was the son of Virginia Roberta (née Faulkner), a self-professed psychic, and William Raymond “Billy Ray” Thornton, ·Thornton is a high school history teacher and basketball coach.
Thornton had two brothers, John David Thornton and Jimmy Don Thornton, but unfortunately his brother Jimmy Don Thornton died in 1988 passed away. Jimmy displayed a talent for songwriting, writing two songs: “Island Avenue” and “Emily.”
He attended Malvern High School, where he struggled academically due to undiagnosed dyslexia. Despite this, he was a talented baseball player in high school and even tried out with the Kansas City Royals, although he was released after an injury.
After graduating from Malvern High School in 1973, Thornton briefly worked as asphalt paving for the Arkansas Department of Transportation. He then attended Henderson State University to pursue a degree in psychology, but dropped out after only two semesters. Thornton was of English and Irish descent, but his religious beliefs are unknown.
Profession
Billy Bob Thornton began his acting career in the early 1990s, with his first screen role in the 1987 thriller “Hunter’s Blood.” In the film, Thornton played a character named Billy Bob and served as a stunt double for the entire production, eventually appearing in two scenes.
Thornton’s breakthrough role came in 1992, when he played the villain in the film One False Move, for which he also co-wrote. This performance marked the beginning of his rise to fame, and he went on to star in several other films throughout the 1990s, including “Indecent Proposal,” “Where It Comes,” “Honour Bound” and “Tombstone.”
In 1996, Thornton wrote, directed and starred in the independent film Slingshot, which received critical acclaim. The film is an expansion of the short film Some Call It Slingshot Blade, which follows the story of a mentally disabled man imprisoned for a gruesome and seemingly inexplicable murder.
The media often described Thornton’s screen persona from this period as “a tattooed, hairy man.” This image was further reinforced in 2000 when he appeared in the music video for Travis Tritt’s song “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde”.
In the 1970s, Thornton was the drummer for a blues rock band called Tres Hombres, which ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons praised as “the best little cover band in Texas.” Thornton got a tattoo of the band’s name, which released its only studio album, Gunslinger, in 1983.
Thornton continued to explore his musical interests throughout his career, releasing several albums to his name, including “Private Radio” (2001), “The Edge of the World” (2003), “Hobo” (2005) and “Beautiful Door” (2007).
He has also collaborated with other artists, such as a cover of Warren Zevon’s song “The Wind” on a tribute album, and a cover of Johnny Cash’s classic “Ring of Fire” with Earl Scruggs.
Awards and nominations
Billy Bob Thornton received numerous awards and nominations throughout his career.
Academy Awards:
- Winner: Best Adapted Screenplay, “Sling Blade” (1997)
- Nominated: Best Actor, “Sling Blade” (1997)
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actor, “A Simple Plan” (1998)
Golden Globe Awards:
- Winner: Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama “Goliath” (2017)
- Winner: Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie (2015)
- Nominated: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama The Absent Man (2002)
social media
- Instagram account: @billybobthornton58
- Facebook: Billy Bob Thornton
- Twitter account: @BillyBobThorntn
personal life
Billy Bob Thornton was married six times. His current wife is Connie Angland, an actress and special effects makeup artist. He began a long-term relationship in 2003 and married her in October 2014. They have a daughter, Bella, born in 2004.
Thornton’s first marriage was to Melissa Lee Gatlin in 1978, but they divorced in 1980. They have a daughter named Amanda Brumfield. His second marriage was to Toni Lawrence in 1986, but they divorced in 1988.
Thornton’s third marriage was to Cynda Williams in 1990, but they divorced in 1992. His fourth wife was Pietra Dawn Cherniak, whom he married in 1993 and divorced in 1997. They had two children: William Langston Thornton and Harry James Thornton. Thornton’s fifth marriage was to Angelina Jolie from 2000 to 2003.
discography
studio album
- Private Radio (2001)
- Edge of the World(2003)
- Tramp(2005)
- Beautiful Door(2007)
film chronology
- director
- Sling Blade (1996)
- All the Pretty Horses (2000)
- Dad and Them(2001)
- Lucky King(2011)
- Jayne Mansfield’s Cars (2012)
Role:
- Sling Blade (1996)
- Armageddon(1998)
- A Simple Plan (1998)
- The Absent Person(2001)
- Monster Ball(2001)
- Bad Santa(2003)
- Friday Night(2004)
- Fargo (TV series, 2014)
- Goliath (TV series, 2016-2021)
- The Gray Man(2022)
net worth
As of 2024, Billy Bob Thornton’s net worth is estimated to be $45 million. Most of his wealth comes from his successful acting career, which has brought him considerable income over the years.
In addition to acting, he also earns considerable income as a director, producer, and musician. In addition, Thornton’s real estate investments further strengthened his financial standing.
