Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, director, writer and musician who has appeared in numerous acclaimed films, including Sling Blade, for which he received an Academy Award for Best Screenplay in 1996. He was married to actress Angelina Jolie for two years before divorcing in 2006.

Thornton is the dummer and lead singer for the country/rockabilly band, The Boxmasters, which he co-founded in 2007. The band has released several albums, including a 2008 Christmas recording called Christmas Cheer. Thornton is credited on the band's recordings as "W. R. Thornton."

Thornton has insisted that he had always intended to work as a musician. Before The Boxmasters, he had appeared in a number of cover bands and had been a roadie for groups including Blood Sweat and Tears and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

The Boxmasters were touring in early and mid-2009 across Canada supporting Willie Nelson and Ray Price. During an appearance on a CBC radio show on April 8 of that year, Thornton gave brief, clipped answers and made comments that were perceived as insulting to Canadian listeners. He also insisted that host Jian Ghomeshi not ask him any questions about acting or filmmaking.PerezHilton: [You MUST Watch This!!!!!!! (April 9, 2009) The following night, while playing a show at Toronto's Massey Hall, The Boxmasters were booed by the crowd. The Boxmasters seen after left the tour early.Toronto Star: Billy Bob hightails it for border (April 11, 2009)

Thornton was cast in the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire in 1992. From there he went on to co-write the film One False Move which was released on May 8, 1992. In 1996, the actor wrote, directed and starred in the film Sling Blade which earned him an Academy Award. Since then, he has starred in other well known films such as Armageddon, Primary Colors, Monster's Ball, Bad Santa, and Love Actually. His more recent works include Friday Night Lights, Bad News Bears, The Astronaut Farmer, and Eagle Eye.

In a January 2009 interview, Thornton revealed that he and ex-wife Angelina Jolie are hoping to work together on an upcoming project. According to Thornton, getting the two back together on screen is simply a matter of finding the "right" project.Perez Hilton: Billy Bob and Angelina... (January 27, 2009)

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1993: Tombstone
1993: Indecent Proposal
1996: Sling Blade
1997: U Turn
1998: A Simple Plan
1998: Armageddon
1998: Primary Colors
1999: Pushing Tin
2001: Monster's Ball
2001: The Man Who Wasn't There
2003: Bad Santa
2003: Intolerable Cruelty
2004: Friday Night Lights
2005: The Bad News Bears
2007: Mr. Woodcock
2008: Eagle Eye