Billy Bob Thornton
Birth Name:
William Robert Thornton
Birth Place:
Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States
Profession
Actor, Writer, Soundtrack, Director, Producer
Fast Facts
- 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․"
- Received the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films President's Award for his 1997 role in "A Simple Plan․"
- 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
- 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
- Has a genuine phobia of some types of silverware and antique furniture
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 AwardWinner
- 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 PrixNominated
- 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
- 2025C&I TV Award - Best Actor: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