- 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.
- His daughter, Amanda Brumfield, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for manslaughter. (October 6, 2011)
- His daughter, Amanda Brumfield, 32, was convicted of aggravated manslaughter in the death of a neighbor's baby daughter she was babysitting, from a head injury while apparently climbing out of a playpen. (June 2, 2011)
- Gained about 50 pounds for his role as the auto mechanic in U Turn (1997).
- Robert Duvall calls him "the hillbilly Orson Welles.".
- In an interview, Thornton talked about his struggling actor years. At one point, he was so poor all he could afford to eat were potatoes, which he would grill until they stuck to the pan. This consumption led to myocarditis, which led to an intense pain in his chest since he did not have any potassium in his system. He was treated at a hospital, thanks to a kind doctor who was from Arkansas, his home state. At the time, Thornton had no medical insurance and has remained grateful for the doctor's treatment.
- Was considered for the title role in Forrest Gump (1994), which went to Tom Hanks.
- Agreed to Ethan Coen and Joel Coen's The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) without reading the script, out of respect for the Coen brothers' talent.
- Claimed in a "USA Today" interview that he has an intense phobia of antique furniture. This fear has been seen on screen in both Bandits (2001) and Sling Blade (1996).
- Directed one actor to an Oscar nominated performance: himself in Sling Blade (1996).
- He and Dwight Yoakam have their own production company and are looking at producing movies and records together. Yoakam appeared opposite Thornton in Sling Blade (1996).
- Has stated that, of all the characters he has played, the one he enjoyed playing the most was Davy Crockett in The Alamo (2004).
- Worked as a waiter, fast food manager, telemarketer and offshore wind farmer in between acting gigs.
- Did not decide to pursue a career in acting until he was in his late twenties.
- His mother, a psychic, predicted he would work with Burt Reynolds. That prediction came true when, beginning in 1990, he did three episodes of Reynolds' CBS series Evening Shade (1990).
- In his contract for each film he does, there is a provision that states a list of demands. One of them includes a television with a satellite hook-up to watch the St. Louis Cardinals when they are in season.
- Father of four children: Amanda (born late 1970s), William (born 1993), Harry James Thornton (born 1994) and Bella Thornton (born September 2004).
- Ex-wife Pietra granted a restraining order against Thornton to keep him away from her and their children. (April 15, 1997)
- When Thornton and Jolie first married, the couple moved into the Beverly Hills home formerly owned by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. (2000)
- Is very insistent on researching the roles he plays. If, for example, he has to play a lawyer and must use a lot of legal parlance, he will not deliver until he is fully conversant and familiar with every aspect of the legal terminology and formalities. This he usually does under the guidance of a qualified attorney, a route he chose for his role as lawyer Billy McBride in Goliath (2016).
- Had tried out with the Kansas City Royals.
- In high school, Thornton played drums in a band called "Stone Cold Fever" and cranked out Creedence Clearwater Revival songs.
- Gave up smoking after completing The Man Who Wasn't There (2001).
- After a short period laying asphalt for the Arkansas State Transportation Department, he attended Henderson State University to pursue studies in psychology, but he dropped out after two semesters.
- Jolie and Thornton have adopted a Cambodian baby boy. Angelina Jolie took custody of the baby in Africa, where she is shooting Beyond Borders (2003), her father, Jon Voight, told reporters at the 3/11 Academy Awards luncheon. Voight said he didn't know whether the couple had picked a name for the child. (March 10, 2002)
- His character Willie from Bad Santa (2003) is reenacted by Eminem in the music video for Eminem's hit song "Just Lose It".
- Born to William Raymond "Billy Ray" Thornton, a high school history teacher and basketball coach, and his wife, Virginia R. (Faulkner), a psychic.
- Owns a penthouse in Paris.
- He was honored by his hometown, where he's remembered as a milkshake-loving, drum-playing rock 'n' roller. "I had a Tastee-Freez stand before I got into politics," said Mayor Bill Scrimshire, who declared "Billy Bob Thornton Day" Tuesday. "When he was a kid in high school, he used to buy hamburgers and milkshakes from me. He was one of my Tastee-Freez kids.".
- He was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in Austin, Texas. (March 2009)
- He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. (October 7, 2004)
- His paternal grandfather, Otis Thornton, with whom he spent time in his childhood on a small shack in the woods, was a forest ranger.
- Has numerous tattoos, among them at least six on his arms (three right, three left) and on his lower back/hip.
- Ex-son-in-law of Jon Voight, whom he co-starred with in U Turn (1997).
- In 2007, Forbes magazine estimated his earnings for the year at $20 million.
- Has English, Irish and Scottish ancestry. Has said that he also has Cherokee Native American ancestry; it is not clear if this ancestry has been documented/verified.
- Cousin of wrestlers Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr., who are known to wrestling fans as the Funk Brothers. Thornton was contacted about inducting the Funk Brothers into the WWE Hall of Fame, but declined the offer.
- According to Forbes magazine, for each dollar he got paid, Thornton's movies averaged $10 of gross income. (December 2007)
- In Armageddon (1998) he was the NASA flight director. In The Astronaut Farmer (2006) he was a former astronaut who went up against NASA.
- Weighed 30lbs when he was only seven and a half months old.
- Nephew of professional wrestler Dory Funk Sr..
- Narrated the St. Louis Cardinals World Series DVD. (2006)
- Ex-son-in-law of Marc Lawrence and Fanya Foss.
- Was treated for an unspecified "viral infection" at a hospital in Los Angeles, California. (September 22, 2000)
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