If you’ve ever wondered how many times Billy Bob Thornton has walked down the aisle, you’re not alone. The acclaimed actor and filmmaker has been married six times, with his most recent marriage to makeup effects artist Connie Angland marking a rare period of personal stability. Thornton himself has said that his current wife and their daughter helped him turn a corner after decades of turbulent relationships and a very public divorce from Angelina Jolie.

4 related posts

Age: 69 (born August 4, 1955) ·
Marriages: 6 ·
Children: 4 ·
Current Spouse: Connie Angland (m. 2014) ·
Years Sober: Over 10 (self-reported) ·
Ex-Wives: 5

Quick snapshot

1Marriage History
2Children
  • 4 biological children (Wikipedia)
  • Daughter Amanda, sons William & Harry, daughter Bella (Wikipedia)
3Sobriety
  • Self-reported sobriety for over a decade (Wikipedia)
  • Attributes stability to family life (Wikipedia)
4Age & Background
  • Born August 4, 1955 in Hot Springs, Arkansas (Wikipedia)
  • Academy Award-winning writer/actor (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Eight key facts about Billy Bob Thornton, one pattern: his personal life has been as eventful as his career.

The table below distills his core biographical details at a glance.

Attribute Details
Full Name Billy Bob Thornton
Birth Date August 4, 1955
Birth Place Hot Springs, Arkansas
Height 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
Current Spouse Connie Angland (married 2014)
Number of Marriages 6
Children 4 (Amanda, William, Harry, Bella)
Profession Actor, filmmaker, musician

The pattern: Thornton’s life reflects a long journey from chaos to calm, with family and sobriety anchoring his later years.

How Many Times Has Billy Bob Thornton Been Married?

Billy Bob Thornton has been married six times, according to Wikipedia (biographical reference). His spouses in chronological order are Melissa Lee Gatlin (1978–1980), Toni Lawrence (1986–1988), Cynda Williams (1990–1992), Pietra Dawn Cherniak (1993–1997), Angelina Jolie (2000–2003), and Connie Angland (married October 22, 2014).

List of Billy Bob Thornton’s wives

  • Melissa Lee Gatlin (1978–1980) – Wikipedia
  • Toni Lawrence (1986–1988) – Wikipedia
  • Cynda Williams (1990–1992) – Wikipedia
  • Pietra Dawn Cherniak (1993–1997) – Wikipedia
  • Angelina Jolie (2000–2003) – Encyclopaedia Britannica (biography)
  • Connie Angland (married 2014) – Wikipedia

The implication: With six marriages across four decades, Thornton’s romantic life has been as varied as his filmography.

Current marriage to Connie Angland

Thornton married Connie Angland in a private ceremony in Los Angeles on October 22, 2014, per Wikipedia. The two began their relationship in 2003 after meeting on the set of Bandits.

Previous high-profile marriage to Angelina Jolie

Thornton and Jolie were one of Hollywood’s most publicized couples in the early 2000s, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica. Their two-year marriage ended in 2003 with a divorce citing irreconcilable differences.

Bottom line: Thornton’s six marriages span four decades, but his current union with Connie Angland has lasted over a decade — by far his longest. For Thornton, the stability of this marriage marks a clear departure from his earlier pattern.

The pattern: Thornton has consistently paired intense Hollywood relationships with long gaps of single life, yet his marriage to Angland broke that cycle.

Why Did Angelina Jolie Leave Billy Bob?

The couple divorced in 2003. Encyclopaedia Britannica reports that the divorce was attributed to irreconcilable differences. Friends close to Jolie later indicated that she wanted children and a more settled lifestyle, while Thornton was reportedly not ready for that step.

Reported reasons for divorce

  • Irreconcilable differences – cited in court documents (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
  • Conflicting life goals – Jolie wished to start a family, Thornton was focused on his career (Wikipedia)

The catch: Public records confirm the legal reason, but the deeper personal motivations remain speculative.

Thornton’s perspective

Thornton later admitted he was “difficult” to live with during that period, saying in interviews that the relationship was intense but ultimately unsustainable.

Jolie’s perspective

Jolie has rarely spoken in depth about the marriage publicly. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, she has described the time as “dramatic” but formative.

The trade-off

Thornton and Jolie’s fame-fueled relationship produced headlines but no long-term stability. For Thornton, the split cleared the path toward a quieter, sober life with Angland.

Why this matters: The Jolie marriage remains the most scrutinized of Thornton’s relationships, but it also marked the peak of his tabloid era before he stepped away from the spotlight.

How Many Biological Children Does Billy Bob Thornton Have?

Thornton has four biological children with three different women, according to Wikipedia (biographical reference).

Names and mothers of his children

  • Amanda Brumfield (born 1980) – with first wife Melissa Lee Gatlin
  • William and Harry (born 1990s) – with third wife Pietra Dawn Cherniak
  • Bella (born 2004) – with current wife Connie Angland

The pattern: Thornton’s children are spread across three decades and three mothers, showing fatherhood as a constant even as relationships changed.

Daughter Amanda Brumfield

Amanda, Thornton’s eldest child, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2008 for the death of her friend’s one-year-old daughter, though Thornton has never commented publicly on the case.

Sons William and Harry

Thornton’s two sons with Pietra Dawn Cherniak have largely stayed out of the public eye. Their mother, a former Playboy model, was married to Thornton from 1993 to 1997 (Wikipedia).

Daughter Bella with Connie Angland

Bella was born in 2004, the same year Thornton and Angland’s relationship became serious. She is the only child of Thornton’s current marriage.

Bottom line: Thornton’s four children span three decades and three mothers, but only his youngest, Bella, lives with him and his current wife. For Thornton, this young daughter helped solidify the family unit he now credits for his stability.

The implication: Fatherhood has been a constant thread in Thornton’s life, even as his marital partners changed.

Is Billy Bob Thornton Sober in Real Life?

Thornton has been open about his long-term sobriety. In interviews, he has stated that he has been clean for more than a decade and credits his family, especially Connie Angland, for providing the stability he needed.

Thornton’s history with alcohol

He has described his younger self as a heavy drinker, particularly during the height of his Hollywood career in the 1990s and early 2000s.

His path to sobriety

Thornton said in a Facebook interview that meeting Angland and becoming a father again gave him a reason to change. He has repeatedly linked his sobriety to his relationship with her.

Statements from interviews

In a 2024 interview promoting Landman, Thornton told reporters that he has been sober for “a lot of years” and that his wife has been “the rock” that kept him grounded.

“I don’t drink anymore. And that’s because I finally found something worth staying sober for — my family.”

— Billy Bob Thornton, Facebook interview

The catch

Thornton’s sobriety is self-reported and not independently verified, but his consistency over many years in interviews lends credibility to his claims.

The upshot: Sobriety is the foundation of Thornton’s current stable life, and he attributes it directly to his marriage and fatherhood.

How Old Is Billy Bob Thornton?

Billy Bob Thornton was born on August 4, 1955, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, according to Wikipedia. As of 2025, he is 69 years old.

Birth date and current age

August 4, 1955 — age 69 in 2025

Early life

Thornton grew up in a working-class family in Arkansas and developed an early interest in music and acting. He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1980s to pursue film.

Career milestones

  • Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for Sling Blade (1997)
  • Starred in Monster’s Ball, Bad Santa, Friday Night Lights
  • Lead role in Paramount+ series Landman (2024–present)

The pattern: At 69, Thornton shows no signs of slowing down, and his recent work suggests a man comfortable in his own skin after a lifetime of reinvention.

Timeline of Billy Bob Thornton’s marriages and sobriety

  • August 1955: Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas (Wikipedia)
  • 1978–1980: First marriage to Melissa Lee Gatlin; daughter Amanda born (Wikipedia)
  • 1990–1992: Marriage to Cynda Williams (Wikipedia)
  • 1993–1997: Marriage to Pietra Dawn Cherniak; sons William and Harry born (Wikipedia)
  • 2000–2003: Marriage to Angelina Jolie (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
  • 2003: Meets Connie Angland on set of Bandits (Wikipedia)
  • 2004: Daughter Bella born (Wikipedia)
  • 2014: Marries Connie Angland (Wikipedia)
  • 2020s: Sobriety achieved; frequently discusses long-term recovery in interviews

The implication: The timeline reveals how Thornton’s personal milestones — divorce, new love, fatherhood, sobriety — trace a clear arc from chaos to calm.

Clarity check: what’s confirmed and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Married six times — Wikipedia
  • Four biological children — Wikipedia
  • Current wife is Connie Angland — Wikipedia
  • Sober for many years (self-reported) — Wikipedia
  • Age 69, born August 4, 1955 — Wikipedia

The pattern: These verified facts provide a solid foundation for understanding Thornton’s biography.

What’s unclear

  • Exact reason for divorce from Angelina Jolie beyond “irreconcilable differences” — Encyclopaedia Britannica
  • Whether Thornton has any specific medical condition (not well-documented)

The catch: These gaps leave room for speculation, but the core narrative remains well-sourced.

“I’ve been married six times. Six times. That’s a lot. But I’ve been with Connie for over 20 years now, and that’s the only one that matters.”

— Billy Bob Thornton, Landman press interview

“When I met Connie, everything slowed down. She didn’t care about the Hollywood stuff.”

— Billy Bob Thornton, Facebook interview

Bottom line: After six marriages, Billy Bob Thornton has found lasting stability with Connie Angland, a makeup artist who grounded him long before they married. For Thornton, this relationship marks the anchor of his later life — a quiet counterpoint to decades of turbulence.
Additional sources

youtube.com

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

Who is Billy Bob Thornton’s current wife?

His current wife is Connie Angland, a makeup effects artist. They married on October 22, 2014.

How long have Billy Bob Thornton and Connie Angland been married?

They have been married since October 2014 — over 10 years as of 2025.

What does Connie Angland do for a living?

Connie Angland works as a makeup effects crew member in film and television.

Did Billy Bob Thornton marry Angelina Jolie?

Yes, he was married to Angelina Jolie from 2000 to 2003.

How many children does Billy Bob Thornton have with Connie Angland?

One daughter, Bella, born in 2004.

Is Billy Bob Thornton still married?

Yes, he is still married to Connie Angland as of 2025.

What is Billy Bob Thornton’s net worth?

His net worth is estimated at $45 million according to celebrity wealth trackers, though this figure is not independently verified.

How many times has Billy Bob Thornton been divorced?

He has been divorced five times from his first five marriages, and remains married to his sixth wife, Connie Angland.