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Billy Bob Thornton Biography

Birth Name:William Robert Thornton

Birth Place:Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States

Profession Actor, Writer, Soundtrack, Director, Producer

Fast Facts

Received the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films President's Award for his 1997 role in "A Simple Plan․"
Awarded the London Critics Circle Film Award Actor of the Year for his role in "The Man Who Wasn't There․"
Honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004
Won a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay for "Sling Blade" in 1997
Won Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for "Sling Blade․"
Attended Malvern High School
Father Billy Ray Thornton was a high school basketball coach and mother Virginia Faulkner Thornton was a psychic
Made his film debut in the 1987 thriller "Hunter's Blood․"
While working as a waiter he met director Bill Wilder and he encouraged him to become a screenwriter
Quote: "I can't sit through plays and musical theatre․ I just want to run up onstage and mess up their hair and turn over the furniture․"
Was a founding member of the rock band Boxmasters
Appeared in the music video "Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde" by Travis Tritt in 2000
Has a genuine phobia of some types of silverware and antique furniture
Attended the Kansas City Royals tryout camp in 1973, but an injury ended his baseball future
Was a pitcher on his high school baseball team

Awards

1993International Fantasy Film Award-Best Screenplay: winner
1993Independent Spirit Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1996Honorable Mentions (The Next Ten Best Picture Contenders)-Honorable Mentions: nominated
1996BSFC Award-Best New Filmmaker: nominated
1996Special Jury Prize-Special Jury Award: winner
1996Humanitas Prize-Feature Film Category: nominated
1996KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1996Special Achievement Award-: winner
1997Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: winner
1997Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: nominated
1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1997CFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
1997Chlotrudis Award-Best Director: nominated
1997Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: winner
1997Edgar-Best Motion Picture: winner
1997Independent Spirit Award-Best First Feature: winner
1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Screenplay, Original: nominated
1997WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: winner
1998BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1998LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1998SDFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1999Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1999Saturn Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1999Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1999Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actor - Sci-Fi: nominated
1999CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1999Chlotrudis Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1999Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1999DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1999Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
1999NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1999OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1999OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1999Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
1999SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2001Saturn Award-Best Writing: nominated
2001NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
2001Grand Prix-: nominated
2001SEFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2002AFI Award-Actor of the Year - Male - Movies: nominated
2002Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002Audience Award-Best Actor: winner
2002DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002Empire Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002FFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2002Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2002Sierra Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
2002OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
2002PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2002PFCS Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2002Golden Aries-Best Foreign Actor: winner
2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
2003DVD Premiere Award-Best Audio Commentary, New Release: nominated
2004COFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2004Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Sleazebag: nominated
2012BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
2012Golden Berlin Bear-Best Film: nominated
2014Dagger-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2014Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries: winner
2014Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: nominated
2014IGN Award-Best TV Villain: nominated
2014INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie: nominated
2014OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
2015Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
2015Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actor: nominated
2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
2015OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2015Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
2017Felix-Best Actor: nominated
2017Felix-Best Adapted Screenplay: nominated
2017Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama: winner
2017Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama/Genre: nominated
2019Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actor of the Decade: nominated
2019Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama/Genre: nominated
2019Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama/Genre: nominated
2025Golden Globe-Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series - Drama: nominated
2025Golden Panda Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role for a Television Series: nominated
2025Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama or Genre: nominated
2026Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
2026Critics Choice Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated