Billy Bob Thornton (born August 4, 1955) is an American
actorAn actor or actress is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
,
directorA film director, or filmmaker is a person who directs the making or production of a film. Some also consider a film producer to be a filmmaker....
,
musicianA musician is a person who performs or writes music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music:* An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument.* A singer uses his or her voice as an instrument....
,
playwrightA playwright, also known as a dramatist, is a person who writes dramatic literature or drama. These works are usually written to be performed in front of a live audience by actors...
and
screenwriterScreenwriters or scenarists or scriptwriters are people in a film crew who write/create the screenplays from which films and television programs are made....
. His rise to fame began in the mid-1990s, after writing, directing, and starring in the film
Sling BladeSling Blade is a drama film set in rural Arkansas, written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton, who also stars in the lead role. It tells the story of a mentally impaired man named Karl Childers who is released from a psychiatric hospital where he has lived since killing his mother and her lover...
, for which he won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Early life
Thornton was born in
Hot Springs, ArkansasHot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
, the son of Virginia Roberta (
néeA married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage, and in speaking of the many cultures where the practice is traditional for women, the maiden name is the family name that the married name replaces....
Faulkner), an alleged
psychicA psychic is a person who claims to have the ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception, or is said to have such abilities by others...
, and William Raymond (Billy Ray) Thornton (November 1929 - August 1974), a high-school history teacher and
basketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of 5 players try to score points against one another by placing a ball through a
10 foot high hoop under organized rules...
coach. He is the oldest of three brothers, the others are Jimmy Don Thornton (April 1958 - October 1988) and John David Thornton (born 1969). Thornton lived in both
Alpine, ArkansasAlpine is an unincorporated community in Clark County, Arkansas, United States, approximately 8 miles east of Amity. The community center located in its heart is a popular draw for Clark County citizens during Christmas, 4th of July and Halloween celebrations annually.- External links :*...
and
Malvern, ArkansasMalvern is a city in, and the county seat of, Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The city had a population of 9,021 at the time of the 2000 census, and is also called the "Brick Capital of the World", due to the three Acme Brick plants in the area...
during his childhood, and also spent time with his grandfather, Otis Thornton, a forest ranger, in a small shack in the
woodsA forest is an area with a high density of trees. There are many definitions of a forest, based on the various criteria. These plant communities presently cover approximately 9.4% of the Earth's surface in many different regions and function as habitats for organisms, hydrologic flow modulators,...
. He was raised a Methodist, in an extended family in a shack that had neither electricity nor plumbing. Thornton graduated high school in 1973. A good high school
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
player, he tried out for the
Kansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, but was let go after an injury. After a short period laying
asphaltAsphalt is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits sometimes termed asphaltum...
for the
Arkansas State Transportation DepartmentThe Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is a government department in the U.S. state of Arkansas. Its mission is to provide a safe, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sound intermodal transportation system for the user...
, he attended
Henderson State UniversityHenderson State University, founded in 1890 as Arkadelphia Methodist College, is a four-year public liberal arts university located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. It is Arkansas's only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges...
, in
Arkadelphia, ArkansasArkadelphia is a city in Clark County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 10,548. The city is the county seat of Clark County. The city is situated at the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains...
, to pursue studies in
psychologyPsychology is an academic and applied discipline involving the systematic, and sometimes scientific, study of human or animal mental functions and behavior...
, but dropped out after two semesters.
In the late 1980s, Thornton settled in
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the municipality of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123.445 inhabitants...
, to pursue his career as an actor, with future writing partner Tom Epperson. Thornton initially had a difficult time succeeding as an actor, and worked in
telemarketingTelemarketing is a method of direct marketing in which a salesperson solicits to prospective customers to buy products or services, either over the phone or through a subsequent face to face or Web conferencing appointment scheduled during the call.Telemarketing can also include recorded sales...
,
offshoreOffshore construction is the installation of structures and pipelines in a marine environment for the production and transmission of oil and gas. Construction in the offshore environment is a dangerous activity, and heavy lifting is avoided as much as possible...
wind farmA wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used for production of electric power. Individual turbines are interconnected with a medium voltage power collection system and communications network...
ing, and
fast foodFast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with low quality preparation and served to the customer in a packaged form...
management between auditioning for acting jobs. He also played drums and sang with South African rock band Jack Hammer. While Thornton worked as a waiter for an industry event, he served film director
Billy WilderBilly Wilder was an Austrian-American journalist, filmmaker, screenwriter and producer, whose career spanned more than 50 years and 60 films. He is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of Hollywood's golden age...
and struck up a conversation with Wilder, who advised Thornton to consider a career as a screenwriter, for which he eventually won an Oscar in the category of best screenplay.
Career
Thornton first came to semi-prominence as a cast member on the
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
sitcomA situation comedy, usually referred to as a sitcom, is a genre of comedy programs which originated in radio. Today, sitcoms are found almost exclusively on television as one of its dominant narrative forms...
Hearts AfireHearts Afire is a sitcom that aired from September 14, 1992 to February 1, 1995 on CBS. It starred John Ritter and Markie Post as husband and wife, with Post portraying a journalist and Ritter playing a senator's aide....
with
John RitterJonathan Southworth "John" Ritter was an American actor and comedian perhaps best known for playing Jack Tripper in the ABC sitcom Three's Company.-Early life:...
and
Markie PostMarjorie Armstrong "Markie" Post is an American actress, best known for her 1985–1992 role as public defender Christine Sullivan on the NBC sitcom Night Court, and as bail bonds contractor Terri Michaels in The Fall Guy from 1982 to 1985.-Early life:Born in Palo Alto, California, Post is the...
. His role as the villain in 1992's
One False MoveOne False Move is a 1992/Thriller/Crime film/Neo noir movie co-written by Billy Bob Thornton. The film, also starring Thornton, Bill Paxton and Cynda Williams was directed by Carl Franklin. The low-budget B-movie was to be released straight to home video when it was finished. The film became...
, which he also co-wrote, brought him to the attention of critics. He also had small roles in the early 1990s films
Indecent ProposalIndecent Proposal is a 1993 film drama directed by Adrian Lyne. It stars Robert Redford, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Seymour Cassel and Oliver Platt...
,
On Deadly GroundOn Deadly Ground is a 1994 environmental action-adventure film, co-produced, directed by and starring Steven Seagal, and co-starring, Michael Caine, Joan Chen, John C. McGinley, R. Lee Ermey, and Billy Bob Thornton...
,
Bound by Honor,
Grey Knight, and
TombstoneTombstone is a 1993 Western movie written by Kevin Jarre and directed by its star Kurt Russell, with credited director George P. Cosmatos ghost-directing. The film, which boasts an ensemble cast with 85 speaking roles, involves Wyatt Earp and his brothers moving to Tombstone, Arizona, where they...
.
Thornton put Wilder's advice to good use, and went on to write, direct and star in the
independent filmAn independent film, or indie film, is a film that is produced outside of any major film studio. Originally, this term denoted independence from Paramount Pictures, MGM, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., RKO, Universal Pictures, United Artists, and Columbia Pictures, the 8 major studio entities...
Sling BladeSling Blade is a drama film set in rural Arkansas, written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton, who also stars in the lead role. It tells the story of a mentally impaired man named Karl Childers who is released from a psychiatric hospital where he has lived since killing his mother and her lover...
, which was released in 1996. The film, an expansion of a short film titled
Some Folks Call It a Sling BladeSome Folks Call it a Sling Blade is a short film directed by George Hickenlooper and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Molly Ringwald, and J.T. Walsh. It was adapted into the film Sling Blade, also starring Thornton....
, introduced the story of Karl Childers, a mentally handicapped man imprisoned for a gruesome and seemingly inexplicable murder.
Sling Blade garnered international acclaim. Thornton's screenplay earned him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, a
Writers Guild of America AwardThe Writers Guild of America Award for outstanding achievements in film, television, and radio has been presented annually by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America, West since 1949...
, and an
Edgar AwardThe Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
, while his performance received Oscar and
Screen Actors GuildThe Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
nominations for Best Actor. In 1998, he portrayed the
James-CarvilleJames Carville is an American political consultant, commentator, actor, attorney, media personality, and prominent liberal pundit. Carville gained national attention for his work as the lead strategist of the successful presidential campaign of then-Arkansas governor Bill Clinton...
-like Richard Jemmons in
Primary ColorsPrimary Colors is a 1998 film starring John Travolta based on the popular book . It also starred Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates and Adrian Lester...
. Thornton adapted the book
All the Pretty HorsesAll the Pretty Horses is a novel by U.S. author Cormac McCarthy published in 1992. Its romanticism brought the writer much public attention. The novel was a bestseller and won the U.S. National Book Award...
into a 2000
film with the same nameAll the Pretty Horses is a 2000 film, directed by Billy Bob Thornton and based on the novel of the same title by American author Cormac McCarthy...
, starring
Matt DamonMatthew Paige Damon is an American actor, writer and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the film Good Will Hunting, from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend Ben Affleck...
and
Penélope CruzPenélope Cruz Sánchez , better known as Penélope Cruz, is a Spanish actress. She gathered critical acclaim as a young actress for films such as Jamón, Jamón, La Niña de tus ojos, and Belle époque. She has also starred in several American films such as Blow, Vanilla Sky, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona...
. The negative experience (he was forced to cut more than an hour) led to his decision to never direct another film (a subsequent release,
Daddy and Them, had been filmed earlier). Also in 2000, an early script which he and Tom Epperson wrote together was made into
The Gift which starred
Cate BlanchettCatherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress and theatre director. She has won multiple acting awards, most notably two SAGs, two Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTAs, an Academy Award, as well as the Volpi Cup at 64th Venice International Film Festival.Blanchett came to international...
,
Hilary SwankHilary Ann Swank is an American actress. Her Hollywood film career began with a small part in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and then a major part in The Next Karate Kid , where she played Julie Pierce, the first female protégé of the sensei Mr. Miyagi...
,
Keanu ReevesKeanu Charles Reeves is a Lebanese-born Canadian-American actor, best known for his portrayals of a spaced-out metalhead in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and in two action films that were both financial and critical successes: the "ticking time bomb" thriller...
,
Katie HolmesKate Noelle "Katie" Holmes is an American actress who first achieved fame for her role as Joey Potter on The WB television teen drama Dawson's Creek from 1998 to 2003...
and
Giovanni RibisiGiovanni Ribisi is an American actor. His film credits include Perfect Stranger, Heaven, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Saving Private Ryan, That Thing You Do!, Boiler Room, subUrbia, The Gift, Basic, Lost in Translation, Flight of the Phoenix, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, I Love Your Work, The...
.
During the late 1990s, Thornton, who has had a life-long love for music, began a career as a
singer-songwriterA singer–songwriter is a musician who writes, composes and sings their own material including lyrics and melodies. They often provide the sole accompaniment to an entire composition or song, typically using a guitar or piano...
. He released a
roots rockRoots Rock is a term recently used to describe "a style of rock music that draws material from various American musical traditions including country, blues, and folk." The term is sometimes used in a broader sense to encompass other Americana, including early rock and roll, country rock, and other...
album titled
Private Radio in 2001, and two more albums,
The Edge of the World (2003) and
Hobo (2005). Thornton was the singer of a blues rock band named
Tres Hombres. Guitarist
Billy GibbonsBilly F Gibbons , nicknamed the Reverend Willie G, is a musician, actor, hot rod and car customizer and perhaps best known as the lead guitarist for ZZ Top. He is also the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs...
referred to the band as "The best little
cover bandA cover band , also called tribute band is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be know as a wedding band, party band and function band. Many bands, however, start as cover bands...
in
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
", and Thornton bears a tattoo with the band's name on it. He performed the
Warren ZevonZevon redirects here. For his son Jordan, see Jordan ZevonWarren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his strange, sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical...
song
The Wind on the tribute album
Enjoy Every Sandwich: Songs of Warren ZevonEnjoy Every Sandwich: Songs of Warren Zevon is a tribute album released in 2004 to the late Warren Zevon by many famous musicians. It includes two unreleased Zevon songs: "The Wind," sung by actor Billy Bob Thornton; and "Studebaker," sung by Warren's son Jordan Zevon.The album's title comes from...
. Thornton recorded a cover of the
Johnny CashJohnny Cash , born J. R. Cash, was an American singer-songwriter and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
classic "
Ring of Fire"Ring of Fire" is a country music song popularized by Johnny Cash and co-written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore. The single appears on Cash's 1963 compilation album, Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash....
" for the
Oxford AmericanThe Oxford American is an American quarterly literary magazine that features writing and art from Southerners or about the South. The magazine has ceased publication several times but is currently published.-First publication:...
magazine's Southern Music CD in 2001.
Thornton's screen persona has been described by the press as that of a "tattooed,
hirsuteHirsutism is excessive and increased hair growth on female humans in locations where the occurrence of terminal hair normally is minimal or absent. For example, a beard, or chest hair. It refers to a male pattern of body hair and it is therefore primarily of cosmetic and psychological concern...
man's man". He appeared in several major film roles following
Sling Blade 's success, including 1998's
ArmageddonArmageddon is a disaster/science fiction-action film about a group of blue-collar deep-core drillers who are sent by NASA to stop an Asteroid on a collision course with the Earth. It was directed by Michael Bay, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and released on Disney's Touchstone Pictures label...
and
A Simple PlanA Simple Plan is a 1998 drama film directed by Sam Raimi, based on the novel of the same name by Scott Smith, who also wrote the screenplay of the movie....
. In 2001 he had starring roles in three hollywood pictures,
Monster's BallMonster's Ball is a American/Canadian drama film directed by Marc Forster, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger and written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos. It was produced by Lions Gate and Lee Daniels Entertainment. The title comes from a custom in medieval England where...
,
BanditsBandits is a 2001 comedy/crime/drama/romance movie directed by Barry Levinson. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. Filming began in October 2000 and ended in February 2001. It helped Thornton earn a National Board of Review Best Actor Award for 2001...
and
The Man Who Wasn't ThereThe Man Who Wasn't There is a 2001 neo-noir film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Billy Bob Thornton stars in the title role. Also featured are James Gandolfini, Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johansson, and Coen regulars Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, and Jon Polito.-Concept and...
, for which he received many awards. He played a malicious mall
Santa ClausSanta Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
in 2003's
Bad SantaBad Santa is a 2003 comedy film directed by Terry Zwigoff, produced by Joel and Ethan Coen, and starring Billy Bob Thornton as the title character and Tony Cox as his partner in crime. Actors Bernie Mac and John Ritter co-star...
, a
black comedyBlack comedy is a sub-genre of comedy and satire in which topics and events that are usually regarded as taboo are treated in a satirical or humorous manner while retaining their seriousness...
that performed well at the box office and established Thornton as a leading comic actor. Thornton has stated that, following
Bad Santas success, audiences "like to watch [him] play that kind of guy," and "they [casting directors] call [him] up when they need an asshole. It's kinda that simple... you know how narrow the imagination in this business can be." In 2004 he played Davy CrockettDavid Crockett was a celebrated 19th-century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier and politician; referred to in popular culture as Davy Crockett and often by the epithet “King of the Wild Frontier.” He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives, served in the Texas...
in The AlamoThe Alamo is a 2004 American war film about the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. It is the second major studio film about the battle, following John Wayne's 1960 film of the same name. The film was directed by Texan director John Lee Hancock, and produced by Ron Howard, Brian...
. He appeared in the comic film School for ScoundrelsSchool for Scoundrels is a 2006 comedy film, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder, and directed by Todd Phillips. The film is based on the 1960 British film of the same name. The film was released on September 29, 2006.-Plot:...
, which was released on September 29, 2006. In the film, he plays a self-help doctor; the role was written specifically for Thornton. More recent films include The Astronaut FarmerThe Astronaut Farmer is a American drama film directed by Michael Polish, who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Mark. The story focuses on a Texas rancher who constructs a rocket in his barn and, against all odds, launches himself into outer space....
, a drama released on February 23, 2007, and the comedy, Mr. WoodcockMr. Woodcock is a 2007 comedy directed by Craig Gillespie, and starring Seann William Scott, Billy Bob Thornton, Susan Sarandon, Amy Poehler, and Ethan Suplee. The film was released on September 14, 2007.-Plot:...
, in which Thornton plays a sadistic gymThe word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
teacher. In September 2008, Thornton starred in the big brother action movie Eagle EyeEagle Eye is a 2008 action/thriller film directed by D. J. Caruso and starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan. The two portray a young man and a single mother who are brought together and coerced by an anonymous caller into carrying out a plan by a possible terrorist organization...
along side Shia LaBeoufShia Saide LaBeouf is an American actor, voice actor, and comedian.LaBeouf began his comedy career when he was 10 years old, and then launched his acting career in 1998 at the age of 12. He became known among younger audiences for his part in the Disney Channel series Even Stevens, also appearing...
and Michelle MonaghanMichelle Lynn Monaghan is an American actress, known for her roles in Mission: Impossible III, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Gone Baby Gone, Made of Honor and Eagle Eye.-Early life:...
. He will next star in the drama Peace Like a RiverThis article is about the novel by Leif Enger. For the song written by Paul Simon, see Paul Simon Peace Like a River is a best-selling novel by Leif Enger, who took the title from the lyrics of the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul", which was performed at his wedding...
. Thornton has also expressed an interest in directing another film, possibly a period piece"Period piece" is phrase that is used to describe creative works.-Setting:In the performing arts, a period piece is a work set in a particular era. This informal term covers all countries, all periods and all genres. It may be as long and general as the medieval era or as limited as one...
about cave explorer Floyd CollinsWilliam Floyd Collins was a celebrated pioneer caver in central Kentucky, USA. On January 30, 1925, while trying to discover a new entrance to the system of underground caves that is a popular Kentucky tourist attraction, Collins became trapped in a narrow crawlway fifty-five feet below the surface...
, based on the book Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins
by Robert K. Murray and Roger BruckerRoger Brucker is an American cave explorer and author of books about caves.-Early life:After graduating from Oberlin College with an art degree in 1951, he enlisted in the U.S...
.
Thornton received a star on the Hollywood Walk of FameThe Hollywood Walk of Fame is a sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA, that serves as an entertainment museum...
on October 7, 2004.
CBC interview and Canadian tour
On April 8, 2009 Thornton and his musical group The BoxmastersThe Boxmasters are an American country rock/rockabilly band founded in Bellflower, California in 2007. It features actor Billy Bob Thornton on drums and vocals with J.D. Andrew on bass, guitars, and vocals as well as Michael Wayne Butler on guitars and lap steel...
were interviewed on a CBC Radio OneCBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
program QQ is a Canadian radio show, which airs on CBC Radio One. Hosted by Jian Ghomeshi, the program is a national arts magazine show.The content features interviews with prominent cultural and entertainment figures. However, the show's subjects and interviewees also deal with broader cultural topics...
, hosted by
Jian GhomeshiJian Ghomeshi is an award-winning broadcaster, writer, musician and producer who was born in London, England and is based in Toronto. He is currently the host and co-creator of the national daily talk program, Q, on CBC Radio One and Bold TV...
in which Thornton's responses were either incomprehensible or discourteous. Eventually, Thornton explained he had "instructed" the show's producers to not ask questions about his career as screenwriter and actor. Ghomeshi had mentioned Thornton’s acting credentials in the introduction. Thornton also complained that Canadian audiences were like “mashed potatoes without the gravy". The widely criticized interview received international attention in the media and on
YouTubeYouTube is a video sharing website on which users can upload and share videos. Three former PayPal employees created YouTube in February 2005. In November 2006, YouTube, LLC was bought by Google Inc. for $1.65 billion, and is now operated as a subsidiary of Google...
. The following night, opening for
Willie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country singer-songwriter, author, poet, actor and activist. He reached his greatest fame during the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, but remains iconic, especially in American popular culture.He has continued to tour, record and perform in recent years, and...
at Toronto's
Massey HallMassey Hall is a venerable performing arts theatre in the Garden District of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The theatre originally was designed to seat 3,500 patrons but, after extensive renovations in the 1940s, now seats up to 2,752.-History:...
, Thornton stated mid-set he liked Canadians but not the CBC radio host resulting in boos and catcalls. On April 10 Thornton announced
The BoxmastersThe Boxmasters are an American country rock/rockabilly band founded in Bellflower, California in 2007. It features actor Billy Bob Thornton on drums and vocals with J.D. Andrew on bass, guitars, and vocals as well as Michael Wayne Butler on guitars and lap steel...
would not be playing with Nelson during concerts scheduled in Canada due to members of the crew and band having the flu.
Personal life
Thornton has frequently disclosed that he has obsessive–compulsive disorder. He and rock singer
Warren ZevonZevon redirects here. For his son Jordan, see Jordan ZevonWarren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his strange, sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical...
became close friends after sharing their common experiences with the disorder. Various idiosyncratic behaviors have been well-documented in interviews with the actor; among these is a
phobiaA phobia , is an irrational, intense, persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, or people. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject...
of antique furniture — a disorder shared by the
Dwight YoakamDwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter and actor, most famous for his country music. Active since the early 1980s, he has recorded more than twenty albums and compilations, and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.-Early life:Yoakam was born...
character in the Thornton-penned Sling Blade
, and by Thornton's own character in the 2001 film Bandits
. Additionally, he has stated that he has a fear of certain types of silverwareCutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
, a trait assumed by his character, Hank Grotowski, in 2001's Monster's Ball
, in which Grotowski insists on a plastic spoon for his daily bowl of chocolate ice creamIce cream or ice-cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners. In some cases, artificial flavourings and colorings are used in...
. In a 2004 interview with The IndependentThe Independent is a British newspaper published by Tony O'Reilly's Independent News & Media. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily newspapers. The daily edition was named National...
, Thornton explained: "It's just that I won't use real
silverSterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by weight of silver and 7.5% by weight of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925....
. You know, like the big, old, heavy-ass forks and knives, I can't do that. It's the same thing as the antique furniture. I just don't like old stuff. I'm creeped out by it, and I have no explanation why...I don't have a phobia about American antiques, it's mostly French — you know, like the big, old, gold-carved chairs with the
velvetVelvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are very evenly distributed, with a short dense pile, giving it a distinct feel.- Composition :...
cushions. The Louis XIV type. That's what creeps me out. I can spot the imitation antiques a mile off. They have a different vibe. Not as much dust." In addition to his aversion to silver cutlery, velvet, and "creepy, castle-y stuff," Thornton confesses that "pieces from 1700 and 1800 France and England really freak me out, especially
harpsichordA harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
s."
Thornton lives in
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the municipality of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123.445 inhabitants...
. He has been married five times, most notably to actress
Angelina JolieAngelina Jolie is an American actress and Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. She has received three Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and an Academy Award. Jolie has promoted humanitarian causes throughout the world, and is noted for her work with refugees through...
. Each of Thornton's marriages ended in divorce. The pair were known for their eccentric behavior, which reportedly included wearing vials of each others' blood around their necks; Thornton later clarified that the "vials" were, instead, two small lockets, each containing only a single drop of blood.
Thornton and Jolie adopted a child from
CambodiaThe Kingdom of Cambodia , formerly known as Kampuchea , is a country in South East Asia with a population of over 14 million people. The kingdom's capital and largest city is Phnom Penh...
whom they named Maddox. Jolie's divorce petition defined the child as both her and Thornton's, and requested the Court grant her
custodyChild custody and guardianship are legal terms which are sometimes used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parent's duty to care for the child.Following ratification of the...
and Thornton reasonable
visitationIn family law, contact is one of the general terms which denotes the level of contact a parent or other significant person in a child's life can have with that child...
.
Thornton is the father of four children. His first marriage, to Melissa Gatlin, produced Amanda Spence Brumfield on June 30, 1979; his fourth wife, Pietra Cherniak, bore William Langston on June 27, 1993 and Harry James on June 19, 1994; and Thornton and his current girlfriend Connie Angland welcomed Bella on September 22, 2004. Thornton has stated that he will likely not marry again, specifying that he believes marriage "doesn't work" for him.
He has two younger brothers, Jimmy Don, (who died abruptly of a heart attack in 1988), and John David, who resides in Arkansas. Jimmy Don Thornton wrote a number of songs, two of which--"Island Avenue" and "Emily"--Thornton has recorded on his solo albums.
Filmography
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
| 1986 |
Hunter's Blood |
Billy Bob |
|
| 1988 |
South of Reno |
Counterman |
|
| 1989 |
Going Overboard Going Overboard is a film released on May 11, 1989. It was the first starring role for Adam Sandler. It also features Burt Young, Allen Covert, Billy Zane, Terry Moore, Milton Berle, and a small role by Billy Bob Thornton. The movie frequently ranks very "high" on the...
|
Dave |
|
Chopper Chicks in ZombietownChopper Chicks In Zombietown is a 1991 comedy horror movie released by Troma, featuring Billy Bob Thornton.The film is about an all female motorcycle gang named the 'Cycle-Sluts' who cruise into the isolated town of Zariah looking for a good time...
|
Tommy |
|
| 1991 |
The Dark Backward |
Patron at Sloppy's |
(uncredited) |
| For the Boys For the Boys is a 1991 feature film which tells the story of an 1940s actress/singer who teams with a famous performer to entertain American troops. The film traces her life through 50 years. The original music score was composed by Dave Grusin....
|
Marine Sergeant, Korea |
|
| 1992 |
One False MoveOne False Move is a 1992/Thriller/Crime film/Neo noir movie co-written by Billy Bob Thornton. The film, also starring Thornton, Bill Paxton and Cynda Williams was directed by Carl Franklin. The low-budget B-movie was to be released straight to home video when it was finished. The film became...
|
Ray Malcolm |
|
| 1993 |
Tombstone Tombstone is a 1993 Western movie written by Kevin Jarre and directed by its star Kurt Russell, with credited director George P. Cosmatos ghost-directing. The film, which boasts an ensemble cast with 85 speaking roles, involves Wyatt Earp and his brothers moving to Tombstone, Arizona, where they...
|
Johnny Tyler |
|
| Bound by Honor |
Lightning |
|
Indecent ProposalIndecent Proposal is a 1993 film drama directed by Adrian Lyne. It stars Robert Redford, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Seymour Cassel and Oliver Platt...
|
Day Tripper |
|
| The Killing Box "The Killing Box" is the thirty-fifth episode of the American television series Prison Break and is the thirteenth episode of its second season. Broadcast on November 27, 2006, it was also the last episode to be aired in 2006 in the United States. The episode is written by Zack Estrin and directed...
|
Langston |
|
| Trouble Bound |
Coldface |
|
| 1994 |
On Deadly GroundOn Deadly Ground is a 1994 environmental action-adventure film, co-produced, directed by and starring Steven Seagal, and co-starring, Michael Caine, Joan Chen, John C. McGinley, R. Lee Ermey, and Billy Bob Thornton...
|
Homer Carlton |
|
| Floundering |
Gun Clerk |
|
| Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade Some Folks Call it a Sling Blade is a short film directed by George Hickenlooper and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Molly Ringwald, and J.T. Walsh. It was adapted into the film Sling Blade, also starring Thornton....
|
Karl Childers |
Short film |
| 1995 |
Dead ManDead Man is a 1995 Western film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. It stars Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer, Billy Bob Thornton, Iggy Pop, Crispin Glover, John Hurt, Michael Wincott, Lance Henriksen, and Robert Mitchum . The film, dubbed an "Acid Western" by its director, includes twisted elements of...
|
Big George Drakoulious |
|
| The Stars Fell on Henrietta The Stars Fell on Henrietta is a 1995 drama film from Warner Bros., directed by James Keach and produced by Clint Eastwood....
|
Roy |
|
| 1996 |
Sling Blade |
Karl Childers |
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor The Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor is an annual award given by the Chicago Film Critics Association.-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:...
Chlotrudis Award for Best ActorThe 3rd Annual Chlotrudis Awards were presented in 1997 by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film.-Winners:*Best Movie**Sling Blade *Best Director**Joel Coen, Fargo *Best Actress**Frances McDormand, Fargo *Best Actor...
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorThe Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor is an award given by the Kansas City Film Critics Circle to honor the best achievements in acting.-1960s:-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:...
Nominated — Academy Award for Best ActorPerformance by an Actor in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| Don't Look Back Don't Look Back is a made-for-HBO action movie/thriller directed by Geoff Murphy starring Eric Stoltz, John Corbett, Josh Hamilton and Billy Bob Thornton. It's the story of Jesse Parish, a heroin addict living in Los Angeles, who steals a suitcase full of drug money and immediately finds himself...
|
Marshall |
|
| The Winner |
Jack |
|
| 1997 |
The ApostleThe Apostle is a 1997 film, written and directed by Robert Duvall, who stars in the title role. John Beasley, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Bob Thornton, June Carter Cash, and Miranda Richardson also appear...
|
Troublemaker |
|
U TurnU Turn is a 1997 Neo-noir/drama film directed by Oliver Stone, based on the book Stray Dogs by John Ridley. It stars Sean Penn, Billy Bob Thornton, Jennifer Lopez, Jon Voight, Powers Boothe, Joaquin Phoenix, Claire Danes and Nick Nolte.-Plot:...
|
Darrell |
|
Princess Mononokeis a 1997 Japanese animated historical fantasy feature film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. It was first released in Japan on July 12, 1997 and in the United States on October 29, 1999 in select cities and on November 26, 1999 in Canada....
|
Jigo |
Voice Only (English Language Version) |
| 1998 |
A Simple PlanA Simple Plan is a 1998 drama film directed by Sam Raimi, based on the novel of the same name by Scott Smith, who also wrote the screenplay of the movie....
|
Jacob Mitchell |
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor -1980s:-1990s:-2000s:...
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorThe Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor is an annual award given by the Chicago Film Critics Association.-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:...
Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting ActorThe 4th Annual Chlotrudis Awards were presented in 1998 by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film.-Winners:*Best Movie**L.A. Confidential *Best Director**Curtis Hanson, L.A. Confidential *Best Actress...
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActorThe Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the annual awards given by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.This award has been awarded since 1977.-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:...
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActorThe Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor is an annual film award given by the Online Film Critics Society to honor the best supporting actor of the year.-1990s:-2000s:...
San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActorThe San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award given by the San Diego Film Critics Society to honor the finest male acting achievementes in filmmaking.-1990s:-2000s:...
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting ActorPerformance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry. Since its inception, however, the...
Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role |
| Armageddon |
Dan Truman, NASA Administrator |
|
| Homegrown Homegrown is a 1998 comedy / thriller film. It was directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal and starred Billy Bob Thornton, John Lithgow, and Hank Azaria.-Plot:...
|
Jack Marsden |
|
The Thin Red LineThe Thin Red Line is a 1998 war film which tells a fictional story of United States forces during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II with the focus on the men in C Company, most notably Private Witt and his conflicted feelings about fighting in the war, Colonel Tall and his desire to win...
|
Narrator |
(Edited) |
| Primary Colors Primary Colors is a 1998 film starring John Travolta based on the popular book . It also starred Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates and Adrian Lester...
|
Richard Jemmons |
|
| 1999 |
Pushing Tin Pushing Tin is a 1999 comedy-drama film directed by Mike Newell. It centers on a cocky air traffic controller who quarrels over proving "who's more of a man" with fellow employee Bell . The film got mixed reviews, ranking 50% at Rotten Tomatoes, and opened #4 at the box office...
|
Russell Bell |
|
| 2000 |
The Last Real Cowboys |
Tar |
|
| South of Heaven, West of Hell South of Heaven, West of Hell is country singer Dwight Yoakam's soundtrack album to the motion picture of the same name in which he both starred and directed. Yoakam portrays a lawman in the early 1900s in the "wild west" of the Arizona Territory. Half of the tracks in the album are country music...
|
Brig. Smalls |
|
| 2001 |
Daddy and Them |
Claude Montgomery |
|
Monster's BallMonster's Ball is a American/Canadian drama film directed by Marc Forster, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger and written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos. It was produced by Lions Gate and Lee Daniels Entertainment. The title comes from a custom in medieval England where...
|
Hank Grotowski |
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor The Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor is an award given by the Florida Film Critics Circle to honor the finest male acting achievements in filmmaking.-1990s:-2000s:...
also for BanditsBandits is a 2001 comedy/crime/drama/romance movie directed by Barry Levinson. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. Filming began in October 2000 and ended in February 2001. It helped Thornton earn a National Board of Review Best Actor Award for 2001...
and The Man Who Wasn't ThereThe Man Who Wasn't There is a 2001 neo-noir film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Billy Bob Thornton stars in the title role. Also featured are James Gandolfini, Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johansson, and Coen regulars Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, and Jon Polito.-Concept and...
National Board of Review Award for Best ActorAn incomplete list of the winners of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Award for Best Actor :-1940s:-1950s:-1960s:-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:...
also for BanditsBandits is a 2001 comedy/crime/drama/romance movie directed by Barry Levinson. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. Filming began in October 2000 and ended in February 2001. It helped Thornton earn a National Board of Review Best Actor Award for 2001...
and The Man Who Wasn't ThereThe Man Who Wasn't There is a 2001 neo-noir film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Billy Bob Thornton stars in the title role. Also featured are James Gandolfini, Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johansson, and Coen regulars Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, and Jon Polito.-Concept and...
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama |
| Bandits Bandits is a 2001 comedy/crime/drama/romance movie directed by Barry Levinson. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. Filming began in October 2000 and ended in February 2001. It helped Thornton earn a National Board of Review Best Actor Award for 2001...
|
Terry Lee Collins |
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor The Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor is an award given by the Florida Film Critics Circle to honor the finest male acting achievements in filmmaking.-1990s:-2000s:...
also for Monster's BallMonster's Ball is a American/Canadian drama film directed by Marc Forster, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger and written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos. It was produced by Lions Gate and Lee Daniels Entertainment. The title comes from a custom in medieval England where...
and The Man Who Wasn't ThereThe Man Who Wasn't There is a 2001 neo-noir film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Billy Bob Thornton stars in the title role. Also featured are James Gandolfini, Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johansson, and Coen regulars Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, and Jon Polito.-Concept and...
National Board of Review Award for Best ActorAn incomplete list of the winners of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Award for Best Actor :-1940s:-1950s:-1960s:-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:...
also for Monster's BallMonster's Ball is a American/Canadian drama film directed by Marc Forster, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger and written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos. It was produced by Lions Gate and Lee Daniels Entertainment. The title comes from a custom in medieval England where...
and The Man Who Wasn't ThereThe Man Who Wasn't There is a 2001 neo-noir film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Billy Bob Thornton stars in the title role. Also featured are James Gandolfini, Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johansson, and Coen regulars Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, and Jon Polito.-Concept and...
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best ActorThe Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is an award given by the Phoenix Film Critics Society to honor the finest achievements in filmmaking.-2000s:...
|
| The Man Who Wasn't There The Man Who Wasn't There is a 2001 neo-noir film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Billy Bob Thornton stars in the title role. Also featured are James Gandolfini, Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johansson, and Coen regulars Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, and Jon Polito.-Concept and...
|
Ed Crane |
Chlotrudis Audience Award for Best Actor The 8th Annual Chlotrudis Awards were presented April 6, 2002, by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. Honoring the best of the past year's independent, documentary and international film, the awards ceremony took place at the Berklee College of Music's David Friend Recital Hall...
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorThe Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor is an award given by the Florida Film Critics Circle to honor the finest male acting achievements in filmmaking.-1990s:-2000s:...
also for BanditsBandits is a 2001 comedy/crime/drama/romance movie directed by Barry Levinson. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. Filming began in October 2000 and ended in February 2001. It helped Thornton earn a National Board of Review Best Actor Award for 2001...
and Monster's BallMonster's Ball is a American/Canadian drama film directed by Marc Forster, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger and written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos. It was produced by Lions Gate and Lee Daniels Entertainment. The title comes from a custom in medieval England where...
London Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorThe London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year in an annual award given by the London Film Critics Circle.-2000s:...
National Board of Review Award for Best ActorAn incomplete list of the winners of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Award for Best Actor :-1940s:-1950s:-1960s:-1970s:-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:...
also for BanditsBandits is a 2001 comedy/crime/drama/romance movie directed by Barry Levinson. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. Filming began in October 2000 and ended in February 2001. It helped Thornton earn a National Board of Review Best Actor Award for 2001...
and Monster's BallMonster's Ball is a American/Canadian drama film directed by Marc Forster, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Halle Berry, Heath Ledger and written by Milo Addica and Will Rokos. It was produced by Lions Gate and Lee Daniels Entertainment. The title comes from a custom in medieval England where...
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best ActorThe Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor is an annual film award given by the Online Film Critics Society to honor the best lead actor of the year.-1990s:-2000s:...
Russian Guild of Film Critics Award for Best Foreign Actor
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best ActorThe Southeastern Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor is one of the awards given by the Southeastern Film Critics Association to honor the finest achievements in filmmaking.-1990s:-2000s:...
Nominated — American Film Institute Award AFI Actor of the YearThe American Film Institute Awards 2002 honored the best 10 Movies and 10 Television Programs of the year.-Movies:*About a Boy*About Schmidt*Adaptation.*Antwone Fisher...
Nominated — Saturn Award for Best ActorThe Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed, who felt that films within those genres...
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActorThe Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award given by the Phoenix Film Critics Society to honor the finest achievements in filmmaking.-2000s:...
|
| 2002 |
Waking Up in Reno Waking Up in Reno is a 2002 American comedy drama film directed by Jordan Brady. The screenplay by Brent Briscoe and Mark Fauser focuses on two redneck couples taking a road trip from Little Rock to Reno to see a monster truck rally.-Plot:...
|
Lonnie Earl Dodd |
|
| The Badge The Badge is a 2002 film starring Billy Bob Thornton as a small town Louisiana lawman, Sheriff Darl Hardwick, who investigates the death of a local transsexual....
|
Sheriff Darl Hardwick |
|
| 2003 |
Bad Santa Bad Santa is a 2003 comedy film directed by Terry Zwigoff, produced by Joel and Ethan Coen, and starring Billy Bob Thornton as the title character and Tony Cox as his partner in crime. Actors Bernie Mac and John Ritter co-star...
|
Willie |
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy |
Love ActuallyLove Actually is a British romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis. The screenplay delves into different aspects of love as shown through stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are linked as their tales progress...
|
The US President |
|
| Intolerable Cruelty Intolerable Cruelty is a black comedy romance directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Cedric the Entertainer and Billy Bob Thornton...
|
Howard D. Doyle |
|
| Levity Levity is a 2003 drama movie, directed by Ed Solomon. Its theatrical release was on April 4. The score for this film was composed by Mark Oliver Everett of the band Eels.-Plot:...
|
Manuel Jordan |
|
| 2004 |
Friday Night Lights |
Coach Gary Gaines |
|
| The Alamo The Alamo is a 2004 American war film about the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. It is the second major studio film about the battle, following John Wayne's 1960 film of the same name. The film was directed by Texan director John Lee Hancock, and produced by Ron Howard, Brian...
|
David CrockettDavid Crockett was a celebrated 19th-century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier and politician; referred to in popular culture as Davy Crockett and often by the epithet “King of the Wild Frontier.” He represented Tennessee in the U.S. House of Representatives, served in the Texas...
|
|
| Chrystal |
Joe |
|
| 2005 |
The Ice Harvest The Ice Harvest is a 2005 neo-noir/comedy-drama film directed by Harold Ramis and written by Richard Russo and Robert Benton, based on the novel of the same name by Scott Phillips. It is distributed by Focus Features. The DVD was released on February 28, 2006...
|
Vic Cavanaugh |
|
| Bad News Bears |
Morris Buttermaker |
|
| 2006 |
School for Scoundrels School for Scoundrels is a 2006 comedy film, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Jon Heder, and directed by Todd Phillips. The film is based on the 1960 British film of the same name. The film was released on September 29, 2006.-Plot:...
|
Dr. P/Dennis Sherman |
|
| 2007 |
The Astronaut Farmer The Astronaut Farmer is a American drama film directed by Michael Polish, who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Mark. The story focuses on a Texas rancher who constructs a rocket in his barn and, against all odds, launches himself into outer space....
|
Charles Farmer |
|
| Mr. Woodcock Mr. Woodcock is a 2007 comedy directed by Craig Gillespie, and starring Seann William Scott, Billy Bob Thornton, Susan Sarandon, Amy Poehler, and Ethan Suplee. The film was released on September 14, 2007.-Plot:...
|
Jasper Woodcock |
|
| 2008 |
Eagle Eye Eagle Eye is a 2008 action/thriller film directed by D. J. Caruso and starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan. The two portray a young man and a single mother who are brought together and coerced by an anonymous caller into carrying out a plan by a possible terrorist organization...
|
Morgan |
|
| 2009 |
The Informers The Informers is a American ensemble film written by Bret Easton Ellis and Nicholas Jarecki and directed by Gregor Jordan. The film is based on Ellis' 1994 collection of short stories of the same name....
|
William |
|
Peace Like a RiverThis article is about the novel by Leif Enger. For the song written by Paul Simon, see Paul Simon Peace Like a River is a best-selling novel by Leif Enger, who took the title from the lyrics of the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul", which was performed at his wedding...
|
|
(in production) |
| 2010 |
Zero Theorem Zero Theorem was a planned feature film project by director Terry Gilliam. The science fiction film was to star Billy Bob Thornton. Participating were producer Richard D...
|
Qohen Leth |
(pre-production) |
Other screen credits
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
| 1992 |
One False MoveOne False Move is a 1992/Thriller/Crime film/Neo noir movie co-written by Billy Bob Thornton. The film, also starring Thornton, Bill Paxton and Cynda Williams was directed by Carl Franklin. The low-budget B-movie was to be released straight to home video when it was finished. The film became...
|
Writer |
Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay The Film Independent's Spirit Award for Best Screenplay is one of the annual awards given by Film Independent.-2000s:*2000: You Can Count on Me - Kenneth Lonergan**Chuck & Buck - Mike White**Love & Sex - Valerie Breiman...
|
| 1994 |
Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade Some Folks Call it a Sling Blade is a short film directed by George Hickenlooper and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Molly Ringwald, and J.T. Walsh. It was adapted into the film Sling Blade, also starring Thornton....
|
Writer |
|
| 1996 |
A Family ThingA Family Thing is a 1996 film starring Robert Duvall, James Earl Jones and Irma P. Hall. It was written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson and directed by Richard Pearce.-Plot:...
|
Writer |
Humanitas Prize The is an award for film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom. It began in 1974 with Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser — also the founder of Paulist Productions — but is generally not seen as specifically directed toward religious cinema or TV...
|
| Sling Blade |
Director/Writer |
Academy Award for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay
National Board of Review Award for Special Achievement in FilmmakingThe National Board of Review of Motion Pictures was founded in 1909 in New York City, just 13 years after the birth of cinema, to protest New York City Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr.'s revocation of moving-picture exhibition licenses on Christmas Eve 1908. The mayor believed that the new medium...
Independent Spirit Award for Best First FeatureThe Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature is one of the annual Independent Spirit Awards.-1980s:*1987: She's Gotta Have It**A Great Wall**Belizaire the Cajun**Hoosiers**True Stories*1988: Dirty Dancing**Anna...
Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted ScreenplayThe Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay is one of the three screenwriting Writers Guild of America Awards, one that is specifically for film...
Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best DirectorThe 3rd Annual Chlotrudis Awards were presented in 1997 by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film.-Winners:*Best Movie**Sling Blade *Best Director**Joel Coen, Fargo *Best Actress**Frances McDormand, Fargo *Best Actor...
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Original ScreenplayThe Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay is an annual award given by the International Press Academy.- 1990s :*1996: Lone Star*1996: The People vs...
|
| Don't Look Back Don't Look Back is a made-for-HBO action movie/thriller directed by Geoff Murphy starring Eric Stoltz, John Corbett, Josh Hamilton and Billy Bob Thornton. It's the story of Jesse Parish, a heroin addict living in Los Angeles, who steals a suitcase full of drug money and immediately finds himself...
|
Story and teleplay |
|
| 2000 |
All the Pretty Horses All the Pretty Horses is a 2000 film, directed by Billy Bob Thornton and based on the novel of the same title by American author Cormac McCarthy...
|
Director/Producer |
|
| The Gift |
Writer |
Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Writing The following is a list of people who have won the Saturn Award for Best Writing....
|
| 2001 |
Camouflage |
Story and screenplay |
as Reginald Perry |
| Daddy and Them |
Director/Writer |
|
Discography
For albums and songs recorded by Thornton's band, see The Boxmasters#Discography.
- Private Radio
Private Radio is the debut album by American actor and singer/songwriter Billy Bob Thornton. His first foray into recorded music following a successful movie career up to the time of the album's release, it was a traditional country music album released by Universal Records in September 2001.The...
(CD) - Universal RecordsUniversal Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
- 2001
- Earl Scruggs And Friends (CD) - MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part...
- 2001
- The Edge of the World
The Edge of the World is the second album by American actor and singer/songwriter Billy Bob Thornton. It was released in 2003 on Sanctuary Records.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Billy Bob Thornton; except where indicated
...
(CD) -
Sanctuary RecordsSanctuary Records is a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world. It was also the world's largest independent owners of...
- 2003
HoboHobo is the third album by American actor and singer/songwriter Billy Bob Thornton. It was released by Big Deal Records in 2005.The song "Your Blue Shadow" was originally featured on his album Private Radio.-Track listing:# Hobo...
(CD) - Big Deal Records - 2005
Beautiful Door (CD) - New Door Records - 2007
External links