Billy Bob Thornton's Messy Romantic History Hasn't Eclipsed His Career, Here's Why It Should
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Billy Bob Thornton has had some memorable roles, and these include performances in Sling Blade, A Simple Plan, The Man Who Wasn't There, and Fargo. He has continued to work steadily in the industry, and many would argue that he is somewhat of a Hollywood icon. Although Thornton has been successful in his career, his personal life has been less so.
He has been married multiple times and has had some incredibly high-profile relationships, most notably with Angelina Jolie. There is no denying his romantic history is interesting, and although it should not detract from his many accomplishments as an actor, it is hard not to talk about. We are looking back at some of Billy Bob Thornton's most famous couplings…
Who Has Billy Bob Thornton Been Married To?
Billy Bob Thornton has been married six times. His first wife was Melissa Lee Gatlin, and the relationship lasted just two years, with them marrying in 1978 and divorcing in 1980. Next was Toni Lawrence, who he married in 1986 and divorced two years later in 1988.
Thornton's third wife was Cynda Williams, who he married in 1990 and divorced in 1992, and then came Pietra Dawn Cherniak from 1993 until 1997.
Thornton's fifth wife was arguably his most high-profile, Angelina Jolie, who he married in 2000 and divorced in 2003. Last, and possibly least, is Connie Angland, the actor who married in 2014 and remains married.
Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie attracted many fans and media attention during their coupling, which started after they met on the film Pushing Tin in 1999. They had played a married couple onscreen, and it was not long before life imitated art because they got married in 2000 during a trip to Las Vegas. This may not sound scandalous because many people choose to elope in Las Vegas, but things were a bit more complicated. Thornton was reportedly engaged to actress Laura Dern at the time.
Laura Dern commented about the situation in an interview with Talk magazine in 2000 (Via Nine.com.au). She said, "I left our home to work on a movie, and while I was away, my boyfriend got married, and I've never heard from him again."
Thornton addressed what happened in a 2001 interview with The Guardian but insisted that although his decision hurt Dern, he was happy. "Others may say that you left our girl and married someone else," he said. "But it made me happy and somebody else happy. I'm sorry it caused pain."
Why Was Billy Bob Thorton's Relationship With Angelina Jolie So Controversial?
Billy Bob Thornton was 20 years older than Jolie, but this was not the issue that many people had with their relationship. His being engaged to Laura Dern was just the beginning of a wild relationship because Thornton and Jolie would make headlines again for reportedly gifting each other his-and-hers grave plots (via CheatSheet) and wearing vials around their neck filled with each other's blood.
There were many antics and comments they made that raised eyebrows, and years later, Thornton would reflect on their relationship in a podcast interview for HFPA in Conversation (via Grazia).
"I look at that time as a great time. Angie is still a friend of mine, and she's a great person, and she's done so much," he said. "I remember our time together as really being great. We just had different lifestyles. Hers is a global lifestyle, and mine is an agoraphobic lifestyle. So, that's really — that's the only reason we’re probably not still together, maybe, because of a different path in life we wanted to take."
But what about what they got up to, namely, the vials of blood around their neck? Thornton reportedly said that what they did "wasn't as crazy as people wrote about it." You may think the necklaces were a weird idea, but he clearly does not regret them.
"The necklaces were a very simple thing: 'Hey, let's poke our fingers with a pen and smear a little blood on there, and when we're away from each other we'll wear the necklace.' It was that easy," he explained. "But by the time it came out in the press, it sounded like we were wearing a bucket of blood around our necks."
But another issue was that Thorton "never felt good enough for her," which he revealed in a 2016 interview with GQ.
Who Is Billy Bob Thornton Married To Now?
Billy Bob Thornton's previous dating history may sound messy, but he does appear to have found the woman he was meant to be with: Connie Angland. The couple married in 2014 but had been dating for 12 years prior, and according to People, the wedding took place "at their home in Los Angeles during a private ceremony before family."
They also have a daughter, Bella Thornton, who was born in 2004. She is the youngest of Billy Bob's four children (he has three others from previous relationships).
Despite being in a long-term and committed relationship with Angland, Thornton prefers to keep his private life away from the public. This is a notable contrast from his earlier marriage with Angelina Jolie, and he has previously mentioned that their lifestyles led to their split. He referred to his own as an "agoraphobic lifestyle," suggesting he is a person who prefers to live a quiet life away from crowds.
GQ magazine has also noted the difference between Thornton's relationship with Jolie and his current marriage with Angland. The publication wrote how "Connie is far more his speed. She's a homebody, just like him, and Bella is homeschooled, so when Billy's not working, he gets to be at the house with them." So, it looks like Billy Bob Thornton could have finally met his match, something that fans of the couple are undoubtedly rejoicing over.
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