Billy Bob Thornton

He has been married and divorced five times. His ex-spouses include Melissa Lee Gatlin, Toni Lawrence, Cynda Williams, Pietra Dawn Cherniak and Angelina Jolie. After his divorce from Cherniak and before being married to Jolie, he was engaged to Laura Dern.

With Gatlin and Cherniak, he has fathered three children, a daughter and two sons respectively.

Presently, he is reported to be in a relationship with makeup effect crew member, Connie Angland with whom he has a daughter. He has explicitly mentioned of not marrying ever again in life.

Billy Bob Thornton was born on August 4, 1955 to Virginia Roberta and William Raymond Thornton in Hot Springs, Arkansas. His mother Virginia Roberta was a psychic, while his father William Raymond "Billy Ray" Thornton was a high school teacher and basketball coach.

It was at school that he started acting and decided to pursue a career in performing arts. In 1973, he received his degree.

Shortly thereafter, he enrolled at the Henderson State University to study psychology but dropped out after two semesters to pursue acting career.

In mid-1980s, he moved to Los Angeles to establish his career as an actor. It was there that he befriended Tom Epperson for life. Meanwhile, he took up varied jobs in the field of telemarketing, off wind farming and fast food management to survive a living.

Later on, he tried his luck as a drummer and rock singer. It was during one of the parties that he was advised by Billy Wilder to give up on acting and instead pursue a career as a screenwriter.

Both he and Epperson wrote scripts but their work did not have many takers, as people responded with little enthusiasm.

His first ever on screen presence was as a counter man of a restaurant in the 1980s ‘South of Reno’. Thereafter, he made an appearance in one of the episodes of Andy Griffith’s popular show, ‘Matlock’. In the episode, ‘The Photographer’, he played the role of a pawn store clerk. He also made a guest appearance in CBS sitcom, ‘Hearts Afire’.

In 1992, he got his big break with the crime-thriller film, ‘One False Move’ which he co-wrote and acted in. In the movie, he played the role of a villain. His solid portrayal of the character earned him much critical appreciation.

He won the prestigious Academy Award in the category of 'Best Adapted Screenplay' for the 1996 released film, ‘Sling Blade’. Additionally, he was presented with the Edgar Poe Allen Award, national Board of Review Award, Independent Spirit Award and Writer’s Guild of America Award in the similar category.

In October 2004, he was bestowed with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Over the years, he has received nominations in various categories from prestigious award such as Golden Globe Award, AFI Award, Satellite Award, Saturn Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and so on.