| Mini biography: (by Sage Giordano on the IMDb)
| - Billy Bob Thornton was born to Billy Ray (educator, coach; deceased) and Virginia (psychic). He has two younger brothers, Jimmy Don, born in 1958 and now deceased, and John David, born in 1969. He has been married 5 times and has 3 children: daughter Amanda (with Gatlin); sons William and Harry (both with Cherniak). 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, a movie he co-wrote with Epperson. The team finally received attention because of this work, which was very well received in Hollywood. Suffice it to say that the rest is...
| Personal 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."
- "I was the fattest baby in Clark County, Arkansas. They put me in the newspaper. It was like a prize turnip."
- "Acting is playing -- it's actually going out on a playground with the other kids and being in the game, and I need that. Writing satisfies that part of myself that longs to sit in my room and dream."
| Factoids:
| - Has numerous tattoos, among them at least 6 on his arms (3 right, 3 left) and on his lower back/hip.
- His mother, a psychic, predicted he would work with Burt Reynolds (It came true when he did three episodes of CBS's "Evening Shade" starting in 1990).
- 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."
- Gained about 50 pounds for his role as the auto mechanic in U-TURN.
- He and Dwight Yoakum have their own production company and are looking at producing movies and records together.
- Says that he believes he is the reincarnation of Ben Franklin.
- 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).
| Significant Other(s):
| - Angelina Jolie, actress; married 5 May 2000 - divorced 2003 - 1 adopted child
- Pietra Dawn Cherniak; married 1993 - divorced 1997 - 2 children
- Cynda Williams, actress; married 1990 - divorced 1992
- Toni Lawrence, actress; married 1986 - divorced 1988
- Melissa Lee Gatlin; married 1978 - divorced 1980 - 1 child
| Feature Film Credits:
| - Peace Like a River (2009)
Duplicity (2009)
Tulia (2008)
Eagle Eye (2008)
The Informers (2008)
Mr. Woodcock (2007)
The Astronaut Farmer (2006)
School for Scoundrels (2006)
The Ice Harvest (2005)
Bad News Bears (2005)
The Alamo (2004)
Chrystal (2004)
Bad Santa (2003)
The Alamo (2003)
Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
Levity (2003)
Waking Up in Reno (2002)
Monster's Ball (2001)
Bandits (2001)
Daddy and Them (2001, also writer & director)
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Down From the Mountain (2000)
The Last Real Cowboys (2000)
South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000)
Franky Goes to Hollywod (1999)
Pushing Tin (1999)
| - A Simple Plan (1998)
Armageddon (1998)
Homegrown (1998)
Primary Colors (1998)
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1997)
The Apostle (1997)
U Turn (1997)
A Gun, a Car, a Blonde (1998)
The Winner (1996)
Sling Blade (1996, also screenplay & director)
The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995)
Dead Man (1995)
Floundering (1994)
On Deadly Ground (1994)
Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade (1994, also writer)
The Killing Box (1993)
Tombstone (1993)
Bound by Honor (1993)
Indecent Proposal (1993)
Trouble Bound (1992)
One False Move (1992, also writer)
For the Boys (1991)
Chopper Chicks in Zombietown (1989)
Going Overboard (1989)
South of Reno (1988)
Hunter's Blood (1987)
| Academy Awards®:
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Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 1996: SLING BLADE
Best Achievement in Writing (Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published) 1996: SLING BLADE