Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton
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Name:
Billy Bob Thornton
Who is:
, , ,
Birth date:
(69 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S.
Height:
5'10 ft ()
Weight:
183 lb (83 kg)
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Billy Bob Thornton

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Biography of Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, musician, Oscar winner for Best Adapted Screenplay for Sling Blade, which he also wrote, directed, and starred in, Golden Globe winner for his stellar performances in the TV series Fargo (2015) and Goliath (2017). Net worth: $45 million.
Actor and Musician Billy Bob Thornton
Actor and Musician Billy Bob Thornton
He's won a Saturn Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films, plus a Special Achievement Award from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has earned multiple Golden Globe nominations, plus one Emmy nod and three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.

He's best known for films like Love Actually, Faster, Bad Santa, Armageddon, Monster's Ball, and Intolerable Cruelty. He's also a talented musician who's released four solo albums and several live recordings.

While Thornton has always kept his private life low-key, he couldn't escape media scrutiny. Surprisingly, it wasn't his acting career or his work as drummer, songwriter, and singer in blues-rock bands like Tres Hombres and The Boxmasters that grabbed headlines. He was married to Angelina Jolie. Back then, everyone was writing about their whirlwind romance, their vampire obsession, basement living, tattoos, and those infamous vials of each other's blood they wore around their necks.

Childhood

The future award-winning actor and singer was born on August 4, 1955, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the USA, and was the first of four sons in his family. The boys' mother, Virginia Roberta, was Cherokee. According to the family legend, she had the gift of prophecy. Their father, William Raymond, was of Irish and Scottish descent. He worked as a high school history teacher and basketball coach.
The First Picture of Billy Bob Thornton
The First Picture of Billy Bob Thornton
His parents were Methodists (Protestant denomination), and they raised their children according to this religion. Billy's family was poor, living in a house without running water or electricity. Billy spent a lot of time with his grandfather, a forester who lived in a small forest cabin. As the brothers grew up, they loved listening to British rock music and dreamed of becoming famous musicians.
Young Billy Bob Thornton (on the left) with his Brothers
Young Billy Bob Thornton (on the left) with his Brothers
In high school, he was a drummer in a school band called Stone Cold Fever. They played songs by the legendary rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival. Later, he became lead singer of the band Tres Hombres, performing both his own songs and tracks written by his brother Jimmy. He later included songs like "Island Avenue" and "Emily," written by his brother who died at age 30 in 1988, on one of his solo albums.
Billy Bob Thornton Then and Now
Billy Bob Thornton Then and Now
Besides his passion for music and acting, he also loved sports. He was an excellent baseball player who actually made it into the Kansas City Royals organization after graduating high school in 1973. But a knee injury ended his baseball dreams.

After graduating, he worked road construction for a few months. Later that year, he enrolled at Henderson University to study psychology but dropped out after two semesters.

Acting Career

In the mid-1980s, he moved to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming a major Hollywood star. He struggled to make it as an actor and worked at fast-food restaurants, selling household cleaning products, and waiting tables between auditions for various low-budget TV shows. To earn extra cash, he sang and played drums in a folk band called Jack Hammer, led by pianist and songwriter Solomon Burroughs. But he never gave up on his acting dreams.
Billy Bob Thornton: Interview with Larry King
According to Zoomboola.com, his persistence paid off in 1986. That year, he got his first role in the horror film Hunter's Blood. Following this debut, he landed several small roles: in South of Reno, he played a bartender; in For the Boys, he appeared as a Korean War naval officer; and in Adam Sandler's first film Going Overboard, he portrayed a cruise ship passenger named Dave. He also played in trash films like Chopper Chicks in Zombietown.
The First Billy Bob Thornton's Role (Hunter's Blood)
The First Billy Bob Thornton's Role (Hunter's Blood)
One day while working as a waiter, he served legendary six-time Oscar-winning director Billy Wilder. They struck up a conversation, and Wilder encouraged Thornton to try his hand at screenwriting. That conversation inspired him to write his first script with his friend Epperson. That script drew the attention of producers. The script became the foundation for the drama One False Move, where Thornton played a brutal murderer. This role brought him positive reviews from critics.
Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade
Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade
He kept writing, and one project—the crime drama Sling Blade (1995)—catapulted him to international fame. He won the Oscar, a Writers Guild of America Award, and an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. Moreover, he was nominated for the Oscar as Best Actor and for a Writers Guild of America Award. The film showcased his talents as screenwriter, actor, and director, telling the story of a mentally disabled man who spent 25 years in a psychiatric hospital for murder and later befriends a young boy.
In 1997, Billy Bob Thornton Received the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay
In 1997, Billy Bob Thornton Received the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay
Following this breakthrough, Thornton was flooded with offers from directors. He stayed incredibly busy, working on multiple projects each year. Four films featuring Thornton hit theaters in 1997, followed by five more in 1998, including the blockbuster Armageddon where he played a NASA Administrator.
Billy Bob Thornton in Armageddon
Billy Bob Thornton in Armageddon
In 2001, Thornton appeared in The Man Who Wasn't There as a barber whose get-rich-quick schemes—investing in dry cleaning equipment and blackmailing his wife's lover—ultimately lead him to the electric chair. This role brought him an award of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, and he was nominated for Golden Globe and Saturn Awards.
The Man Who Wasn't There is One of the Best Films with Billy Bob Thornton
The Man Who Wasn't There is One of the Best Films with Billy Bob Thornton
In 2002, the actor snagged another award from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures and earned a Satellite Award nomination from the International Press Academy for his lead role in the Oscar-winning film Monster's Ball - a story about a modern-day executioner who takes pride in his work.

In 2003, fans saw their idol in the tragicomedy Love Actually, where he played the US president. That same year, the actor appeared in the picture Bad Santa. Interestingly, he landed this role ahead of such film stars as Bill Murray and Jack Nicholson. The film was a huge box office success and earned numerous awards, with the actor receiving a Golden Globe nomination. In 2004, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2006, the actor played in the comedy School for Scoundrels. The role of the sly Dr. P, a leader of psychological assertiveness training, was written specifically for him. Using forbidden and dangerous methods in his work, Thornton's character tried to ruin the personal life of one of his students due to his attraction to the student's girlfriend.
A Frame from the Film School for Scoundrels
A Frame from the Film School for Scoundrels
In 2008, he joined such famous actors as Brad Renfro, Mickey Rourke, Amber Heard, and Kim Basinger in the picture The Informers. The film told seven interconnected stories over one week in the lives of characters with questionable moral standards.

In 2011, alongside Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, he had the opportunity to voice characters in the Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots.
Fargo: Brilliant Work of Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman
Fargo: Brilliant Work of Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman
Two standout 2014 projects that earned multiple prestigious industry award nominations are worth highlighting. First is Fargo, where the actor played a killer and won a Golden Globe Award, earning critical acclaim for his incredible work alongside Martin Freeman. The second is the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, where he played urologist Dr. Oliver Lorvis, who became aroused at the slightest touch from any woman.

In 2016, the black comedy Bad Santa 2 was released. It was the sequel to the hugely successful original. The actor once again played a thief and con man disguised as Santa Claus who encounters unexpected Christmas miracles on Christmas Eve.
A Frame from the Film Bad Santa 2
A Frame from the Film Bad Santa 2
The legal drama Goliath released that same year received great reviews from critics. Critics praised the actor's brilliant performance as lawyer Billy McBride. According to the storyline, the opportunity for revenge against his former firm and his relationship with a client motivated the lawyer to take on a challenging murder case.
In Goliath, Billy Bob Thornton Portrayed a Brilliant Lawyer
In Goliath, Billy Bob Thornton Portrayed a Brilliant Lawyer
In 2017, the actor was involved in the shooting of Goliath. According to TVLine, it was the shooting of the second and third seasons.

In 2018, Billy Bob Thornton played in the film London Fields. Amber Heard, Theo James and Cara Delevingne also joined the thriller.

Other Projects

Beyond acting, Thornton has also written scripts, directed films, and pursued music. He co-wrote screenplays for films like Don't Look Back (about a drug addict who robs his dealer), The Gift (about a woman with prophetic abilities), and Camouflage (featuring an unconventional private detective). He's also directed four feature films. He's released four albums with his band The Boxmasters.
Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters – The Poor House

Private Life of Billy Bob Thornton

The actor has been married six times. He has four children: two sons and two daughters.
Billy Bob Thornton is a Famous Lady-Killer
Billy Bob Thornton is a Famous Lady-Killer
When he was 23 years old, he married an actress Melissa Lee Gatlin who gave him a daughter named Amanda. In 1988, they broke up. In 2011, Amanda was convicted of aggravated manslaughter in the death of a baby she was babysitting. She received 20 years in prison. Thornton never commented on the tragedy and has no relationship with his eldest daughter.
Billy Bob Thornton's Daughter Was Convicted of Murdering a Baby
Billy Bob Thornton's Daughter Was Convicted of Murdering a Baby
From 1986 to 1988, he dated actress Toni Lawrence, and from 1990 to 1992, Cynda Williams.

In 1993, he married a former Playboy model Pietra Cherniak. They had two sons, William and Harry James. They broke up in 1997. His ex-wife accused him of domestic violence and got a restraining order to keep him away from their children. From 1997 to 1999, he was engaged to actress Laura Dern, but they never married.
Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie Were Married for Three Years
Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie Were Married for Three Years
His next wife was Angelina Jolie. They met on the set of the film Pushing Tin and married in 2000. He was 20 years older and later said he could never understand why she chose him. The couple spent three years together and became known for their eccentric behavior. He wrote a song for her called Angelina. They are still really good friends.
Billy Bob Thornton – Angelina
Since 2003, Billy Bob Thornton has dated makeup artist Connie Angland, who gave birth to his daughter Bella. In 2015, they got married. Interestingly, Billy Bob had publicly stated he didn't intend to marry her.
In 2015, Thornton Got Married for the Sixth Time
In 2015, Thornton Got Married for the Sixth Time
The actor has had serious heart problems due to malnourishment in his youth. He also has obsessive-compulsive disorder. He's afraid of flying, has a phobia of antique furniture (especially French pieces), and fears certain types of silverware.
Billy Bob Thornton, His Older Sons and his Wife with their Daughter
Billy Bob Thornton, His Older Sons and his Wife with their Daughter
The star is a vegetarian who quit smoking and doesn't drink alcohol because even a few beers give him terrible headaches.

He quotes William Faulkner, supports Liverpool Football Club, loves Tom Waits' songs, and enjoys walking around Paris.

Billy Bob Thornton Now

In 2019, Billy Bob starred in another season of Goliath. The actor also continues touring with his rockabilly and country band The Boxmasters, whose new material has been well-received by fans.

Billy Bob Thornton: latest news and articles

  • Very nice actor, actually. It is a pity that recently he does`t play that much anymore.
    2021-05-09 15:12:26
  • I still remember him from the role of Angelina Jolie`s husband :) I already thought that they were not a very good couple, although their romance, admittedly, was very stormy. They even seem to have paired tattoos.
    2021-04-29 20:42:03
  • Such a cruel brutal type with a hard fate. Well, his characters are the same, of course
    2021-04-27 12:44:30
  • Bad Santa is such a comedy crap, but I love these films and watched them in December every year.
    2021-04-24 13:02:49
  • I know that he has an Oscar. They talked about this in the trailer of the Judge, and I watched the Judge seven times for sure. The film must be watched because the cast is in the top ten.
    2021-02-18 22:39:31
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