Billy Bob Thornton
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- August 4, 1955 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
- Active Years
- 1944–2026 (83 Years)
- Total Credits
- 181 credits in database
Acting Born Aug 4, 1955 Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA 181 credits
Biography
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and musician who was born on August 4, 1955, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He has 162 known credits on the Movie Database and is also known as Reginald Perry. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and appeared in early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone. In the mid-1990s, he wrote, directed, and starred in the independent film Sling Blade, winning an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. His subsequent major film roles included Armageddon and A Simple Plan in 1998. During the late 1990s, he began a career as a singer-songwriter, releasing three albums and serving as the singer of a blues rock band.
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Career overview
Billy Bob Thornton was born on August 4, 1955, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and musician. He gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and appeared in several early 1990s films, including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone.
In the mid-1990s, after writing, directing, and starring in the independent film Sling Blade, he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Following the success of Sling Blade, he appeared in several major film roles, including 1998's Armageddon and A Simple Plan. During the late 1990s, Thornton also began a career as a singer-songwriter, releasing three albums and serving as the singer of a blues rock band.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern
The Electric StateIf These Walls Could Rock
LandmanLandman · Executive ProducerStanding on the Shoulders of Kitties
Devil's Peak
The Gray ManHelp Her Live · ThanksImmediate FamilyWalk, Don't Run: The Story of The Ventures
1883Hollywood.Con
The Ventures: Stars on GuitarsChuck Leavell: The Tree ManPicture Show: A Tribute Celebrating John Prine
The Kelly Clarkson ShowHarley QuinnA Million Little PiecesUntouchableZZ Top - That Little Ol' Band from Texas
London FieldsTemple of Art
GoliathGoliath · DirectorWhiskey Tango FoxtrotBad Santa 2IRON WILL: Veterans Battle with PTSD
The Late Show with Stephen ColbertClose Up with The Hollywood ReporterEntourageInto the Grizzly MazeOur Brand Is Crisis
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonLate Night with Seth MeyersLate Night with Seth MeyersFargoFargo
ParklandNorm Macdonald LiveJayne Mansfield's CarJayne Mansfield's Car · ScreenplayJayne Mansfield's Car · Director
The Baytown OutlawsBasically Frightened: The Musical Madness of Colonel Bruce Hampton
Puss in BootsNashville RisesThe Smell of SuccessThe King of Luck · DirectorDislecksia: The Movie
FasterSmall Town Saturday Night · ThanksAin't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm
Levon Helm: Ramble At The Ryman
Eagle EyeThe InformersMr. Woodcock: Phys Ed Trauma TalesVH1 Rock Honors: The WhoPick Up the Pace: Making “Mr. Woodcock”
The Big Bang TheoryThe Astronaut FarmerMr. WoodcockClassic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation
School for ScoundrelsNFL: Favre 4 EverVH1 Rock Honors2006 St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Heaven: A World Championship Season2006 St. Louis Cardinals: The Official World Series Film
American Dad!The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonBad News BearsThe Ice HarvestMr. Thornton Goes to Hollywood
Friday Night LightsThe AlamoUnforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack JohnsonSam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood RenegadeChrystal
Real Time with Bill MaherJimmy Kimmel Live!Love ActuallyBad SantaIntolerable Cruelty
CMT Music AwardsHypaSpaceWaking Up in RenoThe BadgeWidespread Panic: Panic In the Streets · Director
The Man Who Wasn't ThereBanditsMonster's BallDaddy and ThemDaddy and Them · Writer
The Gift · ScreenplayAll the Pretty Horses · DirectorAll the Pretty Horses · ProducerThe Last Real CowboysThe Last Real Cowboys · Story
The Early ShowPushing Tin
CatDogArmageddonA Simple PlanPrimary ColorsAn Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn
King of the HillThe ViewClassic AlbumsU TurnThe Apostle
The Daily ShowSling BladeSling Blade · DirectorSling Blade · ScreenplaySling Blade · Theatre Play
Full Filmography
181 titles- Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern (2026)
- The Electric State (2025) as Voice (uncredited)
- If These Walls Could Rock (2025)
- Landman (2024) as Tommy Norris
- Landman (2024) Executive Producer
- Standing on the Shoulders of Kitties (2024) as Self
- Devil's Peak (2023) as Charlie McNeely
- The Gray Man (2022) as Fitzroy
- Help Her Live (2022) Thanks
- Immediate Family (2022) as Self
- Walk, Don't Run: The Story of The Ventures (2022)
- 1883 (2021) as Marshal Jim Courtright
- Hollywood.Con (2021) as Boxmaster
- The Ventures: Stars on Guitars (2020)
- Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man (2020) as Self
- Picture Show: A Tribute Celebrating John Prine (2020) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self - Guest
- Harley Quinn (2019) as Billy Bob Thornton (voice)
- A Million Little Pieces (2019) as Leonard
- Untouchable (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- ZZ Top - That Little Ol' Band from Texas (2019) as Self
- London Fields (2018) as Samson Young
- Temple of Art (2018) as Self
- Goliath (2016) as Billy McBride
- Goliath (2016) Director
- Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) as General Hollanek
- Bad Santa 2 (2016) as Willie Soke
- IRON WILL: Veterans Battle with PTSD (2016) as Narrator
- The First Boys of Spring (2016)
- What Doesn’t Kill Me: The Life and Music of Vic Chesnutt (2016) as Self
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Entourage (2015) as Larsen McCredle
- Into the Grizzly Maze (2015) as Douglass
- Our Brand Is Crisis (2015) as Pat Candy
- Trailer Park Boys: Drunk, High and Unemployed (2015) as Self
- Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead (2015) as Self - Actor / Director
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Fargo (2014) as Lorne Malvo
- Fargo (2014) as Narrator (voice)
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (2014) as Self
- The Judge (2014) as Dwight Dickham
- Cut Bank (2014) as Stan Steeley
- 21 Years: Richard Linklater (2014) as Self - Actor
- Parkland (2013) as Forrest Sorrels
- Norm Macdonald Live (2013) as Self
- Jayne Mansfield's Car (2013) as Skip Caldwell
- Jayne Mansfield's Car (2013) Screenplay
- Jayne Mansfield's Car (2013) Director
- Sport in America: Our Defining Stories (2013) as Self
- The Baytown Outlaws (2012) as Carlos
- Basically Frightened: The Musical Madness of Colonel Bruce Hampton (2012) as Self
- Puss in Boots (2011) as Jack (voice)
- Nashville Rises (2011) as Narrator
- The Smell of Success (2011) as Patrick
- The King of Luck (2011) Director
- Dislecksia: The Movie (2011) as Self
- Harry Dean Stanton: Crossing Mulholland (2011)
- Faster (2010) as Cop
- Small Town Saturday Night (2010) Thanks
- Ain't in It for My Health: A Film About Levon Helm (2010) as Self
- Levon Helm: Ramble At The Ryman (2009) as Self
- Eagle Eye (2008) as Thomas Morgan
- The Informers (2008) as William Sloan
- Mr. Woodcock: Phys Ed Trauma Tales (2008) as Self
- VH1 Rock Honors: The Who (2008) as Self
- Pick Up the Pace: Making “Mr. Woodcock” (2008) as Self
- The Big Bang Theory (2007) as Oliver Lorvis
- The Astronaut Farmer (2007) as Charles Farmer
- Mr. Woodcock (2007) as Jasper Woodcock
- Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation (2007) as Self
- School for Scoundrels (2006) as Dr. P
- NFL: Favre 4 Ever (2006) as Narrator (voice)
- VH1 Rock Honors (2006)
- 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
- American Dad! (2005) as Billy Bob Thornton (voice)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- Bad News Bears (2005) as Morris Buttermaker
- The Ice Harvest (2005) as Vic
- Mr. Thornton Goes to Hollywood (2005) as Self
- Friday Night Lights (2004) as Coach Gary Gaines
- The Alamo (2004) as Davy Crockett
- Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (2004) as Other Voices (voice)
- Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade (2004) as Self
- Chrystal (2004) as Joe
- Real Time with Bill Maher (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- Love Actually (2003) as The US President
- Bad Santa (2003) as Willie
- Intolerable Cruelty (2003) as Howard D. Doyle
- Levity (2003) as Manuel Jordan
- Warren Zevon: Keep Me in Your Heart (2003) as Narrator
- Celebrities Uncensored (2003) as Self
- CMT Music Awards (2002) as Self - Presenter
- HypaSpace (2002) as Self
- Waking Up in Reno (2002) as Lonnie Earl Dodd
- The Badge (2002) as Sheriff Darl
- Widespread Panic: Panic In the Streets (2002) Director
- Making "The Man Who Wasn't There" (2002) as Self
- The Man Who Wasn't There (2001) as Ed Crane
- Bandits (2001) as Terry Lee Collins
- Monster's Ball (2001) as Hank Grotowski
- Daddy and Them (2001) as Claude Montgomery
- Daddy and Them (2001) Writer
- Daddy and Them (2001) Director
- Camouflage (2001) Story
- Camouflage (2001) Screenplay
- The Gift (2000) Screenplay
- All the Pretty Horses (2000) Director
- All the Pretty Horses (2000) Producer
- The Last Real Cowboys (2000) as Tar
- The Last Real Cowboys (2000) Story
- South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000) as Brig. Smalls
- CatDog and the Great Parent Mystery (2000) as Hound Dog McDog / CatDog's Step-father (voice)
- Arista Records' 25th Anniversary Celebration (2000) as Self
- The Early Show (1999) as Self
- Pushing Tin (1999) as Russell Bell
- CatDog (1998) as CatDog's Father (voice)
- Armageddon (1998) as Dan Truman
- A Simple Plan (1998) as Jacob Mitchell
- Primary Colors (1998) as Richard Jemmons
- An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn (1998) as Self
- Homegrown (1998) as Jack Marsden
- King of the Hill (1997) as Boyce Hubert (voice)
- The View (1997) as Self
- Classic Albums (1997) as Self
- U Turn (1997) as Darrell
- The Apostle (1997) as Troublemaker
- A Gun, a Car, a Blonde (1997) as Syd / Monk
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self
- Sling Blade (1996) as Karl Childers
- Sling Blade (1996) Director
- Sling Blade (1996) Screenplay
- Sling Blade (1996) Theatre Play
- Don't Look Back (1996) as Marshall
- Don't Look Back (1996) Writer
- Don't Look Back (1996) Story
- A Family Thing (1996) Writer
- The Winner (1996) as Jack
- Dead Man (1995) as Big George Drakoulious
- Out There (1995) as Jailbird
- The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995) as Roy
- On Deadly Ground (1994) as Homer Carlton
- Inside the Actors Studio (1994) as Self
- Floundering (1994) as Gun Clerk
- Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade (1994) as Karl Childers
- Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade (1994) Writer
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Bound by Honor (1993) as Lightning
- Indecent Proposal (1993) as Day Tripper
- Tombstone (1993) as Johnny Tyler
- Trouble Bound (1993) as Coldface
- Grey Knight (1993) as Langston
- Living and Working in Space: The Countdown Has Begun (1993) as Rowdy Udall
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Self
- Hearts Afire (1992) as Billy Bob Davis
- One False Move (1992) as Ray Malcolm
- One False Move (1992) Writer
- For the Boys (1991) as Marine Sergeant, Korea
- The Dark Backward (1991) as Patron at Sloppy's
- Evening Shade (1990) as Alvin
- The Outsiders (1990) as Buck Merrill
- Going Overboard (1989) as Dave
- Chopper Chicks in Zombietown (1989) as Tommy
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- This Morning (1988) as Self - Guest
- Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night (1988) as Self - Audience Member
- South of Reno (1988) as Counterman
- Matlock (1986) as Pawnshop Clerk
- Hunter's Blood (1986) as Billy Bob
- Knots Landing (1979) as Timberman
- This Week in Baseball (1977)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Today (1952) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Somedays
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Billy Bob Thornton best known for?
Billy Bob Thornton is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Dernsie: The Amazing Life of Bruce Dern (2026), The Electric State (2025), Landman (2024), Landman (2024).
When and where was Billy Bob Thornton born?
Billy Bob Thornton was born on August 4, 1955 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA.
How many credits does Billy Bob Thornton have?
Billy Bob Thornton has accumulated over 181 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2026.
What is Billy Bob Thornton's background in cinema and television?
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and musician who was born on August 4, 1955, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He has 162 known credits on the Movie Database and is also known as Reginald Perry. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and appeared in ea...
Billy Bob Thornton by the numbers
181credits
134films
47TV series
1944–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- CMT Music Awards (2002) as Self - Presenter — aged about 46
- 1883 (2021) as Marshal Jim Courtright — aged about 65
- Harley Quinn (2019) as Billy Bob Thornton (voice) — aged about 63
- Fargo (2014) as Lorne Malvo — aged about 58
- Fargo (2014) as Narrator (voice) — aged about 58
- Landman (2024) as Tommy Norris — aged about 68
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