--- name: "Billy Bob Thornton" canonical: "https://film.one/person/billy-bob-thornton" fi1m_id: "billy-bob-thornton" imdb_id: "nm0000671" tmdb_id: 879 wikidata_id: "Q202735" roles: ["Actor","Writer","Director"] born: "4 August 1955" reviewed_on_fi1m: 11 average_fi1m_score: 72 average_as: "actor" average_over: 10 updated: "2026-10-05T12:06:55.768102+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Billy Bob Thornton ## Identity Billy Bob Thornton - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/billy-bob-thornton - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** billy-bob-thornton - **IMDb ID:** nm0000671 - **TMDB ID:** 879 - **Wikidata ID:** Q202735 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bob_Thornton, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q202735, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000671/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/879 Actor and writer. Born 4 August 1955 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor, Writer, Director - **Born:** 4 August 1955, Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA - **Active:** 1992–present - **Also known as:** Reginald Perry - **Titles on Fi1m:** 11: 10 acting, 1 directing - **Frequently works with:** [Bill Paxton](https://film.one/person/bill-paxton.md), [Demi Moore](https://film.one/person/demi-moore.md) - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 3 nominated) - **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 10 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 75 (6), 2000s 69 (3), 2010s 74 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 65 across 10 titles - **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 2 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 3 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 7, Crime 4, Comedy 3, Action 2, Adventure 2, Romance 2 - **Screen time:** 16 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,664m across 8 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bob_Thornton, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q202735, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000671/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/879 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*One False Move*](https://film.one/film/one-false-move.md) (86) - **HBO Max:** [*Puss in Boots*](https://film.one/film/puss-in-boots.md) (66) - **Hulu:** [*Indecent Proposal*](https://film.one/film/indecent-proposal.md) (50) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Billy Bob Thornton > Billy Bob Thornton makes awkward, withdrawn men worth watching by letting us see how much ordinary company costs them. We rate him most highly when a film gives that vulnerability room without indulging every eccentricity. Ordinary company looks exhausting for Billy Bob Thornton's Ed Crane in *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001). His stillness makes the barber's loneliness visible without asking him to explain it, and gives us a reason to stay with a deliberately slow crime film. Tricia Cooke, editing with Joel and Ethan Coen, allows us time to study him, while Carter Burwell's music lends support that the performance scarcely needs. Frances McDormand's warmer Doris Crane gives him a useful contrast and holds our interest on her own. The broader supporting turns are less helpful, and some later stretches test the patience Thornton has earned. That interest in difficult company was there in *One False Move* (1992), directed by Carl Franklin, in which he plays Ray Malcolm. The screenplay he wrote with Tom Epperson gives its criminals and police enough pride and awkwardness to make their decisions matter. His breakthrough as writer, director and star came with *Sling Blade* (1996), where Karl Childers struggles with ordinary conversation. Thornton makes the effort behind Karl's few words moving, while Lucas Black and Natalie Canerday help his more conspicuous acting feel at home among the other performances. As a director, though, he lets some scenes linger after we have understood them. Sam Raimi's *A Simple Plan* (1998) gives that vulnerability a sharper purpose. As Jacob Mitchell, Thornton makes the prospect of wealth look dangerous because we understand his feelings more readily than he understands the plans around him. We were more upset than we expected by Jacob's difficulty keeping up with the others. It is a performance that makes the crime plot hurt. In Michael Bay's *Armageddon* (1998), his Dan Truman supplies welcome calm amid the frantic cutting. The comedy lead Willie in *Bad Santa* (2003) and television's Lorne Malvo in *Fargo* (2014) followed, with the latter beginning a substantial television phase. There is a risk of treating Thornton as a reliable supplier of peculiar men, when his work as Karl and Ed is so precise about the difficulty of getting along with other people. Start with *A Simple Plan*; choose something else if the evening needs cheering up. ## Biography Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter and director. He wrote, directed and starred as Karl Childers in the 1996 film *Sling Blade*, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He also wrote and appeared as Ray Malcolm in the 1992 film *One False Move*. Thornton was born on 4 August 1955 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He gained early recognition in films including *Tombstone* (1993) and later appeared in *Armageddon* (1998), *Love Actually* (2003) and *Bad Santa* (2003). He has also worked in television, including a role in the 2014 series *Fargo*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, encyclopediaofarkansas.net.* ## On Fi1m (11) ### Performed in (10) — the average rests on these - *Fargo* (2014), Fi1m 82, as Lorne Malvo — [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md) - *Puss in Boots* (2011), Fi1m 66, as Jack (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/puss-in-boots.md) - *The Big Bang Theory* (2007), Fi1m 68, as Oliver Lorvis — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-big-bang-theory.md) - *Love Actually* (2003), Fi1m 58, as The US President — [page](https://film.one/film/love-actually.md) - *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001), Fi1m 81, as Ed Crane — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-wasnt-there.md) - *A Simple Plan* (1998), Fi1m 86, as Jacob Mitchell — [page](https://film.one/film/a-simple-plan.md) - *Armageddon* (1998), Fi1m 64, as Dan Truman — [page](https://film.one/film/armageddon.md) - *Dead Man* (1995), Fi1m 81, as Big George Drakoulious — [page](https://film.one/film/dead-man.md) - *Indecent Proposal* (1993), Fi1m 50, as Day Tripper — [page](https://film.one/film/indecent-proposal.md) - *One False Move* (1992), Fi1m 86, as Ray Malcolm — [page](https://film.one/film/one-false-move.md) ### Directed (1) - *Sling Blade* (1996), Fi1m 83, as Karl Childers — [page](https://film.one/film/sling-blade.md) ## Complete filmography (108) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern* (2026), Actor - *If These Walls Could Rock* (2025), Actor - *The Electric State* (2025), as Voice (uncredited) - *Landman* (2024), series, as Tommy Norris · Executive Producer - *Devil's Peak* (2023), as Charlie McNeely - *Walk, Don't Run: The Story of The Ventures* (2022), Actor - *Help Her Live* (2022), Thanks - *The Gray Man* (2022), as Fitzroy - *1883* (2021), series, as Marshal Jim Courtright - *Hollywood.Con* (2021), as Boxmaster - *The Ventures: Stars on Guitars* (2020), Actor - *Harley Quinn* (2019), series, as Billy Bob Thornton (voice) - *A Million Little Pieces* (2019), as Leonard - *London Fields* (2018), as Samson Young - *Bad Santa 2* (2016), as Willie Soke - *Goliath* (2016), series, as Billy McBride · Director - *IRON WILL: Veterans Battle with PTSD* (2016), as Narrator - *The First Boys of Spring* (2016), Actor - *Whiskey Tango Foxtrot* (2016), as General Hollanek - *Our Brand Is Crisis* (2015), as Pat Candy - *Entourage* (2015), as Larsen McCredle - *Into the Grizzly Maze* (2015), as Douglass - *The Judge* (2014), as Dwight Dickham - *Cut Bank* (2014), as Stan Steeley - *Fargo* (2014), series, as Lorne Malvo, Narrator (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/fargo-2014.md) - *Parkland* (2013), as Forrest Sorrels - *Jayne Mansfield's Car* (2013), as Skip Caldwell · Director, Screenplay - *The Baytown Outlaws* (2012), as Carlos - *Puss in Boots* (2011), as Jack (voice) — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/puss-in-boots.md) - *The Smell of Success* (2011), as Patrick - *The King of Luck* (2011), Director - *Nashville Rises* (2011), as Narrator - *Harry Dean Stanton: Crossing Mulholland* (2011), Actor - *Faster* (2010), as Cop - *Small Town Saturday Night* (2010), Thanks - *The Informers* (2008), as William Sloan - *Eagle Eye* (2008), as Thomas Morgan - *The Big Bang Theory* (2007), series, as Oliver Lorvis — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-big-bang-theory.md) - *Mr. Woodcock* (2007), as Jasper Woodcock - *The Astronaut Farmer* (2007), as Charles Farmer - *2006 St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Heaven: A World Championship Season* (2006), as Narrator - *2006 St. Louis Cardinals: The Official World Series Film* (2006), as Narrator - *NFL: Favre 4 Ever* (2006), as Narrator (voice) - *School for Scoundrels* (2006), as Dr. P - *The Ice Harvest* (2005), as Vic - *Bad News Bears* (2005), as Morris Buttermaker - *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Billy Bob Thornton (voice) - *Friday Night Lights* (2004), as Coach Gary Gaines - *Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson* (2004), as Other Voices (voice) - *The Alamo* (2004), as Davy Crockett - *Chrystal* (2004), as Joe - *Bad Santa* (2003), as Willie - *Intolerable Cruelty* (2003), as Howard D. Doyle - *Love Actually* (2003), as The US President — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/love-actually.md) - *Warren Zevon: Keep Me in Your Heart* (2003), as Narrator - *Levity* (2003), as Manuel Jordan - *Waking Up in Reno* (2002), as Lonnie Earl Dodd - *Widespread Panic: Panic In the Streets* (2002), Director - *The Badge* (2002), as Sheriff Darl - *Monster's Ball* (2001), as Hank Grotowski - *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001), as Ed Crane — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-wasnt-there.md) - *Daddy and Them* (2001), as Claude Montgomery · Director, Writer - *Bandits* (2001), as Terry Lee Collins - *Camouflage* (2001), Story, Screenplay - *The Gift* (2000), Screenplay - *All the Pretty Horses* (2000), Director, Producer - *CatDog and the Great Parent Mystery* (2000), as Hound Dog McDog / CatDog's Step-father (voice) - *The Last Real Cowboys* (2000), as Tar · Story - *South of Heaven, West of Hell* (2000), as Brig. Smalls - *Pushing Tin* (1999), as Russell Bell - *A Simple Plan* (1998), as Jacob Mitchell — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/a-simple-plan.md) - *Armageddon* (1998), as Dan Truman — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/armageddon.md) - *Homegrown* (1998), as Jack Marsden - *CatDog* (1998), series, as CatDog's Father (voice) - *Primary Colors* (1998), as Richard Jemmons - *The Apostle* (1997), as Troublemaker - *U Turn* (1997), as Darrell - *A Gun, a Car, a Blonde* (1997), as Syd / Monk - *King of the Hill* (1997), series, as Boyce Hubert (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md) - *The Winner* (1996), as Jack - *Sling Blade* (1996), as Karl Childers · Director, Theatre Play, Screenplay — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/sling-blade.md) - *Don't Look Back* (1996), as Marshall · Writer, Story - *A Family Thing* (1996), Writer - *Dead Man* (1995), as Big George Drakoulious — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/dead-man.md) - *Out There* (1995), as Jailbird - *The Stars Fell on Henrietta* (1995), as Roy - *Floundering* (1994), as Gun Clerk - *Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade* (1994), as Karl Childers · Writer - *On Deadly Ground* (1994), as Homer Carlton - *Tombstone* (1993), as Johnny Tyler - *Indecent Proposal* (1993), as Day Tripper — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/indecent-proposal.md) - *Grey Knight* (1993), as Langston - *Bound by Honor* (1993), as Lightning - *Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun* (1993), as Rowdy Udall - *Trouble Bound* (1993), as Coldface - *Hearts Afire* (1992), series, as Billy Bob Davis - *One False Move* (1992), as Ray Malcolm · Writer — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/one-false-move.md) - *For the Boys* (1991), as Marine Sergeant, Korea - *The Dark Backward* (1991), as Patron at Sloppy's - *Evening Shade* (1990), series, as Alvin - *The Outsiders* (1990), series, as Buck Merrill - *Going Overboard* (1989), as Dave - *Chopper Chicks in Zombietown* (1989), as Tommy - *South of Reno* (1988), as Counterman - *Hunter's Blood* (1986), as Billy Bob - *Matlock* (1986), series, as Pawnshop Clerk - *Knots Landing* (1979), series, as Timberman - *Somedays*, Actor ## Gallery - ![Billy Bob Thornton](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-bad85ac25b62.jpg) Billy Bob Thornton — Emmanuelle CHOUSSY, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Billy_Bob_Thornton_2017_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Posing in front of the world premiere release of the film "Armageddon" are Peter Stormare, director Michael Bay, Ben Affleck, Liv ](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-b36165b63d4e.jpg) KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Posing in front of the world premiere release of the film "Armageddon" are Peter Stormare, director Michael Bay, Ben Affleck, Liv — NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/ArmageddonPremiere98.jpg/1280px-ArmageddonPremiere98.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters in concert at Slims in San Francisco, California, September, 2007.](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-d8d266757f4f.jpg) Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters in concert at Slims in San Francisco, California, September, 2007. — Beatrice Murch from South America, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/BillyBobThornton.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Billy Bob Thornton as the US President in Love Actually](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-adffa96af94d.jpg) Billy Bob Thornton as the US President in Love Actually — Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/BillyBobThornton.loveactually.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Billy Bob Thornton](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-f70d016d0717.jpg) Billy Bob Thornton — Image via TMDB - ![Billy Bob Thornton](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-ca26ddd3b5e6.jpg) Billy Bob Thornton — Image via TMDB - ![Billy Bob Thornton](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-e19377f8557d.jpg) Billy Bob Thornton — Image via TMDB - ![Billy Bob Thornton at a ceremony for America to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2012)](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-39f144b1e746.jpg) Billy Bob Thornton at a ceremony for America to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (2012) — Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/BillyBobThorntonHWOFFeb2012.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Billy Bob Thornton, Dylan Walshe & Kristin Bargmann backstage in Portland, Maine 2018](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-3c1cd97a2ff0.png) Billy Bob Thornton, Dylan Walshe & Kristin Bargmann backstage in Portland, Maine 2018 — Jessarchivetn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Billy_Bob_Thornton%2C_Dylan_Walshe_%26_Kristin_Bargmann_backstage_in_Portland%2C_Maine_2018.png/1280px-Billy_Bob_Thornton%2C_Dylan_Walshe_%26_Kristin_Bargmann_backstage_in_Portland%2C_Maine_2018.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Billy Bob Thornton](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-3eebaeebe8a9.jpg) Billy Bob Thornton — Image via TMDB - ![Billy Bob Thornton](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-661b55c5e973.jpg) Billy Bob Thornton — Image via TMDB - ![Billy Bob Thornton](https://film.one/media/person/82227/gallery-e5021989df5d.jpg) Billy Bob Thornton — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 1 won, 3 nominated - 1999: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *A Simple Plan* - 1998: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *Sling Blade* - 1997: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (won), for *Sling Blade* - 1997: Best Actor (nominated), for *Sling Blade* ### Golden Globes — 2 won - 2017: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *Goliath* - 2015: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *Fargo* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/billy-bob-thornton