Billy Bob Thornton’s romantic life reads like a wild Hollywood soap opera — with enough twists and turns to make Mercury retrograde look like a leisurely stroll through the park. The man has been married and divorced more times than you can count, and not all of those relationships ended with a bow on top. Some flamed out spectacularly, while others quietly fizzled away… but each chapter adds another layer to this complex love saga. As Venus dances through Gemini today, stirring up all kinds of relationship chatter, it feels only right to dive into the full drama of Thornton’s entanglements — from his very first marriage in the late ’70s to the surprisingly enduring bond he shares with his current wife. Curious how the actor’s love life stacks up against the stars? Buckle up — it’s a four-minute ride through all the marriages, separations, and eyebrow-raising moments that made Billy Bob the headline king of love and loss. LEARN MOREReading Time: 4 minutes
Billy Bob Thornton has been married and divorced many times.
Yes, even by Hollywood standards.
Some of these entanglements lasted longer than others. And some ended more bitterly than others.
Here’s a recap of Thornton’s marital history, famous and forgotten. Plus, where things stand today.
In 1978, Billy Bob Thornton married Melissa Lee Gatlin.
The short-lived marriage ended in 1980, with Gatlin accusing Thornton of adultery in her divorce petition.
However, in 1979, the couple welcomed their daughter, Amanda Brumfield. She is most famous for serving 9 years in prison before being freed by The Innocence Project.
In 1986, Thornton married Toni Lawrence.
It was not a happily ever after.
The following year, they separated. Thornton and Lawrence divorced in 1988.
In 1990, Billy Bob Thornton married Cynda Williams, an actress.
She was part of the cast of the 1992 film, One False Move. That film was his writing debut.
Speaking of 1992, that was also the year in which their marriage came to an end.
In 1993, Thornton and Pietra Dawn Cherniak married.
He and the Playboy model had two sons, William Langston Thornton (born in June 1993) and Harry James Thornton (born in June of 1994).
The marriage came to an end in 1997. Cherniak accused Thornton of spousal abuse, alleging that it sometimes took place in front of their children.
Beginning in 1997, Billy Bob Thornton began dating beloved actress Laura Dern.
Reports and rumors have claimed that the two became engaged. However, that is not the truth.
The relationship ended in 1999. By the sound of it, it may have outlasted at least one of his marriages.
In 2000, Thornton married Angelina Jolie following their shared project, 1999’s Pushing Tin. She is nearly 20 years his junior.
This is perhaps Thornton’s most infamous relationship, which may be saying a lot. The two packed on the PDA with great enthusiasm. They also wore lockets that contained a single drop of each other’s blood. This romantic gesture spurred unhinged rumors about the two of them, and prompted some of the earliest hate towards Jolie.
In June of 2002, the couple separated, divorcing the following year. Despite March 2002 announcements that they had adopted a child from Cambodia, it turned out that Jolie had adopted Maddox as a single parent.
In 2003, Billy Bob Thornton began dating Connie Angland, a makeup effects artist on the set of Bad Santa. In 2004, they welcomed a daughter, Bella Thornton.
For over a decade, they opted to forego marriage. Thornton’s history of getting married and divorced so many times was, to be blunt, discouraging.
However, in October of 2014, he and Angland married. It was largely spurred by their daughter. Despite his track record — which Thornton himself admits was not so good — they remain together and married in 2025.
Sixth time’s the charm?
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