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IMDbPro

Billy Bob Thornton

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000290
Billy Bob Thornton at an event for IMDb First Credit (2016)
Chris Evans, Ryan Gosling, and Ana de Armas lead the Netflix action thriller 'The Gray Man,' and they've got the choreographed battle scars to prove it. They're joined by Regé-Jean Page, Jessica Henwick, Billy Bob Thornton, Julia Butters, and directors Anthony and Joe Russo to reveal what makes an on-screen fight look believable, why Chris Evans is the perfect action star, and what stylish pants give Ryan Gosling an extra boost of skill.
Play clip3:55
'The Gray Man' Cast and Directors Answer Burning Questions
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
Billy Bob Thornton was born on August 4, 1955 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, to Virginia Roberta (Faulkner), a psychic, and William Raymond (Billy Ray) Thornton, an educator, high school history teacher, and basketball coach (now deceased). He is the older brother of James Donald (Jimmy Don) (born in 1958 and now deceased) and John David (born in 1969). He has been married six times and has four children: daughter Amanda Brumfield, with Melissa Lee Gatlin (now Parish); sons William and Harry, both with Pietra Dawn Cherniak; and daughter Bella with Connie Angland.

Billy Bob began his artistic career as a musician, playing drums and singing in a band called Tres Hombres, which once opened for Hank Williams Jr.. In 1981, he moved to Los Angeles with childhood friend Tom Epperson to pursue an acting and writing career. On the side, Billy Bob also sought work as a singer and drummer. He and Epperson tried for years to sell their scripts but no one was buying. During those rough times, Billy Bob neglected his health and subsequently landed in the hospital with heart problems due to malnutrition. In 1992, Billy Bob starred in One False Move (1992), a movie he co-wrote with Epperson. The team finally received attention because of this work, which was very well received in Hollywood. His popularity increased steadily, especially after Sling Blade (1996) which he wrote, directed and in which he starred.
BornAugust 4, 1955
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornAugust 4, 1955
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000290
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Won 1 Oscar
    • 32 wins & 57 nominations total

Before They Were Famous: Actors' Early Roles

Before They Were Famous: Actors' Early Roles

See photos of celebrities like Michelle Williams and Jenna Ortega before they hit the big-time, and revisit some of their earliest onscreen roles.
See the full gallery
Production art
Photos

Photos635

Billy Bob Thornton in 1883 (2021)
Billy Bob Thornton in 1883 (2021)
Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath (2016)
Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath (2016)
Billy Bob Thornton in It's Time (2021)
Billy Bob Thornton in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath (2016)
Billy Bob Thornton and Markie Post in Hearts Afire (1992)
Billy Bob Thornton and John Savage in Goliath (2016)
Billy Bob Thornton and Nina Arianda in Goliath (2016)
Billy Bob Thornton and Ana de la Reguera in Goliath (2016)
Billy Bob Thornton and Morris Chestnut in Goliath (2016)

Known for:

Sling Blade (1996)
Sling Blade
8.0
  • Karl Childers
  • 1996
A Simple Plan (1998)
A Simple Plan
7.5
  • Jacob
  • 1998
Frances McDormand, Billy Bob Thornton, and James Gandolfini in The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
The Man Who Wasn't There
7.5
  • Ed Crane
  • 2001
Liv Tyler, Bruce Willis, and Ben Affleck in Armageddon (1998)
Armageddon
6.7
  • Dan Truman
  • 1998

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • Land Man
    • Pre-production
    • TV Series
  • The Electric State
    • (voice)
    • Post-production
  • Devil's Peak (2023)
    Devil's Peak
    • Charlie
    • 2023
  • Kaley Cuoco and Lake Bell in Harley Quinn (2019)
    Harley Quinn
    • Billy Bob Thornton (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2022
  • Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling in The Gray Man (2022)
    The Gray Man
    • Fitzroy
    • 2022
  • 1883 (2021)
    1883
    • Marshal Jim Courtright
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2021
  • Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath (2016)
    Goliath
    • William H. (Billy) McBride
    • Billy McBride
    • TV Series
    • 2016–2021
  • Tom Arnold, Mika Boorem, Herbert Russell, Cody Kasch, Devin Ratray, Paige Howard, and Jackie Pucci in Hollywood.Con (2021)
    Hollywood.Con
    • Boxmaster
    • 2021
  • Billy Bob Thornton, Jim Sturgess, Amber Heard, Theo James, and Cara Delevingne in London Fields (2018)
    London Fields
    • Samson Young
    • 2018
  • Aaron Taylor-Johnson in A Million Little Pieces (2018)
    A Million Little Pieces
    • Leonard
    • 2018
  • Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa 2 (2016)
    Bad Santa 2: Outtakes
    • Willie Soke
    • Video
    • 2017
  • Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa 2 (2016)
    Bad Santa 2: Deleted Scenes
    • Willie Soke
    • Video
    • 2017
  • Fargo (2014)
    Fargo
    • Voice Over
    • Lorne Malvo
    • TV Series
    • 2014–2017
  • Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa 2 (2016)
    Bad Santa 2
    • Willie Soke
    • 2016
  • Tina Fey in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)
    Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
    • General Hollanek
    • 2016
  • American Dad! (2005)
    American Dad!
    • Billy Bob Thornton (voice)
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • Trailer Park Boys: Drunk, High & Unemployed (2015)
    Trailer Park Boys: Drunk, High & Unemployed
    • Billy Bob Thornton
    • TV Movie
    • 2015

Writer

  • Kevin Bacon, Robert Duvall, John Hurt, Billy Bob Thornton, Robert Patrick, John Patrick Amedori, Katherine LaNasa, Frances O'Connor, Shawnee Smith, Ray Stevenson, Ron White, Marshall Allman, Carissa Fowler, and Karli Barnett in Jayne Mansfield's Car (2012)
    Jayne Mansfield's Car
    • written by
    • 2012
  • Laura Dern, Kelly Preston, and Billy Bob Thornton in Daddy and Them (2001)
    Daddy and Them
    • written by
    • 2001
  • Leslie Nielsen, Vanessa Angel, and Lochlyn Munro in Camouflage (2001)
    Camouflage
    • screenplay by
    • story by (as Reginald Perry)
    • 2001
  • Cate Blanchett in The Gift (2000)
    The Gift
    • written by
    • 2000
  • The Last Real Cowboys (2000)
    The Last Real Cowboys
    • story by
    • Short
    • 2000
  • Sling Blade (1996)
    Sling Blade
    • play
    • screenplay
    • 1996
  • Don't Look Back (1996)
    Don't Look Back
    • story
    • teleplay
    • TV Movie
    • 1996
  • A Family Thing (1996)
    A Family Thing
    • written by
    • 1996
  • Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade (1994)
    Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade
    • Writer
    • Short
    • 1994
  • One False Move (1992)
    One False Move
    • written by
    • 1992

Director

  • Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath (2016)
    Goliath
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2021
  • Kevin Bacon, Robert Duvall, John Hurt, Billy Bob Thornton, Robert Patrick, John Patrick Amedori, Katherine LaNasa, Frances O'Connor, Shawnee Smith, Ray Stevenson, Ron White, Marshall Allman, Carissa Fowler, and Karli Barnett in Jayne Mansfield's Car (2012)
    Jayne Mansfield's Car
    • Director
    • 2012
  • The King of Luck (2011)
    The King of Luck
    • Director
    • 2011
  • Laura Dern, Kelly Preston, and Billy Bob Thornton in Daddy and Them (2001)
    Daddy and Them
    • Director
    • 2001
  • Matt Damon and Penélope Cruz in All the Pretty Horses (2000)
    All the Pretty Horses
    • Director
    • 2000
  • Sling Blade (1996)
    Sling Blade
    • Director
    • 1996
  • Widespread Panic: Live from the Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA
    • Director
    • Video
    • 1991
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos123

'The Gray Man' Cast and Directors Answer Burning Questions
Clip 3:55
'The Gray Man' Cast and Directors Answer Burning Questions
Billy Bob Thornton
Clip 1:38
Billy Bob Thornton
Parkland
Clip 0:34
Parkland
Parkland
Clip 1:06
Parkland
Parkland
Clip 1:20
Parkland
Parkland
Clip 0:58
Parkland
The Bad News Bears (2005)
Clip 0:38
The Bad News Bears (2005)
The Astronaut Farmer
Clip 1:02
The Astronaut Farmer
The Astronaut Farmer
Clip 1:03
The Astronaut Farmer
The Bad News Bears (2005)
Clip 0:39
The Bad News Bears (2005)
The Astronaut Farmer
Clip 1:05
The Astronaut Farmer
School for Scoundrels
Clip 0:45
School for Scoundrels

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Official Facebook (Billybobapalooza)
    • Official Facebook (The Boxmasters)
  • Alternative name
    • Reginald Perry
  • Height
    • 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
  • Born
    • August 4, 1955
    • Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
  • Spouses
      Connie AnglandOctober 22, 2014 - present (1 child)
  • Children
      Amanda Brumfield
  • Parents
      Virginia Roberta Faulkner
  • Relatives
      James Donald Thornton(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Music videos for Travis Tritt: "Modern-Day Bonnie and Clyde" (2002) and "It's a Long Way to Richmond."
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Biographical Movies
    • 1 Print Biography
    • 2 Portrayals
    • 15 Interviews
    • 22 Articles
    • 3 Pictorials
    • 5 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Once was told by director Billy Wilder that he was too ugly to be an actor and he should write a screenplay for himself in which he could exploit his less-than-perfect features. Thornton later collected an Oscar for his Sling Blade (1996) screenplay.
  • Quotes
    [on his Academy Award nomination for Best Actor (Sling Blade (1996)] Getting the nomination is like gravy. Winning would be like whatever is better than gravy.
  • Trademarks
      Houston Colt 45's hat

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