Billy Bob Thornton is a celebrated American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, and musician known for his distinctive performances in movies such as Sling Blade, A Simple Plan, Monster’s Ball, and Bad Santa. While his professional career has earned him major awards and worldwide recognition, his personal life has also attracted considerable public attention.
One of the most frequently searched aspects of his biography is Billy Bob Thornton wives. Thornton has been married six times, and each marriage represents a different chapter of his personal life. His former relationships with actresses and other notable women have often been featured in entertainment coverage, with his marriage to Angelina Jolie becoming especially well-known.
His current wife is Connie Angland, whom he married in 2014 after many years together. Before that relationship, Thornton had five previous marriages, including his highly publicized marriage to Jolie.
This article explores the history of Billy Bob Thornton wives, including his marriages, divorces, children, and the relationship that ultimately shaped his current family life.
Who Is Billy Bob Thornton?
Billy Bob Thornton was born on August 4, 1955, in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He developed an interest in acting and filmmaking before eventually moving to Los Angeles to pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Thornton gained major recognition after co-writing and starring in Sling Blade. The film became an important milestone in his career and earned him an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He also received an Oscar nomination for his performance.
Over the years, Thornton has worked in acting, writing, directing, and music. His career includes dramatic performances, comedies, television roles, and work with his band.
Although his professional achievements are substantial, his personal relationships have also remained a recurring subject of public interest. His six marriages are particularly notable because several of his former wives were involved in the entertainment industry.
How Many Wives Has Billy Bob Thornton Had?
Billy Bob Thornton has had six marriages.
His wives, in chronological order, were:
- Melissa Lee Gatlin
- Toni Lawrence
- Cynda Williams
- Pietra Dawn Cherniak
- Angelina Jolie
- Connie Angland
The first five marriages ended in divorce. Thornton married Connie Angland in 2014, and they have remained together.
Because Thornton has had several marriages over multiple decades, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish his wives from women he dated or was engaged to. Laura Dern, for example, was a significant former partner but was never his wife.
Melissa Lee Gatlin Was Billy Bob Thornton First Wife
Melissa Lee Gatlin was Thornton’s first wife. The couple married in 1978, when Thornton was still in the early stages of his career.
Their marriage lasted approximately two years before ending in divorce in 1980. Thornton and Gatlin had one daughter, Amanda Brumfield.
Unlike some of Thornton’s later relationships, this early marriage took place before he became a major Hollywood star. Consequently, comparatively little public information is available about their relationship.
The marriage nevertheless marks the beginning of the timeline of Billy Bob Thornton wives.
Toni Lawrence Was His Second Wife
Thornton married actress Toni Lawrence in 1986. Their marriage was his second.
The relationship lasted around two years, and the couple divorced in 1988. Lawrence’s career in entertainment meant that the marriage connected Thornton with another performer during the early years of his own development.
After the divorce, Thornton continued working toward greater success in Hollywood. His breakthrough as a screenwriter and actor would come later.
Cynda Williams Was His Third Wife
Thornton’s third wife was actress Cynda Williams. They married in 1990 and divorced in 1992.
Williams and Thornton also shared a professional connection. Williams appeared in One False Move, a 1992 crime thriller that Thornton co-wrote.
The film received considerable critical attention and helped establish Thornton as a serious writer and filmmaker. His relationship with Williams therefore belongs to an important period in his professional development.
Their marriage ended the same year One False Move was released, and Thornton later entered another relationship that would result in his fourth marriage.
Pietra Dawn Cherniak Was His Fourth Wife
Thornton married model Pietra Dawn Cherniak in 1993. Their marriage lasted until 1997.
The couple had two sons, William and Harry. This marriage was also a significant period in Thornton’s transition from an aspiring performer into an increasingly recognized Hollywood personality.
Their divorce received more public attention than some of Thornton’s earlier separations. Cherniak made allegations of domestic abuse during their divorce proceedings, while Thornton denied the allegations.
Because the circumstances surrounding the divorce were widely reported, this period is often included in biographies of Billy Bob Thornton wives.
Laura Dern Was a Partner, Not a Wife
Laura Dern is sometimes mistakenly included when people search for Thornton’s wives.
Thornton and actress Laura Dern were in a serious relationship and became engaged. However, they never married.
Their relationship ended in the late 1990s, and Thornton subsequently became involved with Angelina Jolie.
The distinction is important when creating an accurate timeline. Although Dern was one of the most recognizable women in Thornton’s romantic history, she should not be counted among his six wives.
Angelina Jolie Was Billy Bob Thornton Fifth Wife
Angelina Jolie is undoubtedly the most famous name associated with the search term Billy Bob Thornton wives.
Thornton and Jolie met while working together on the 1999 movie Pushing Tin. Their relationship quickly became a major subject of entertainment news.
The couple married on May 5, 2000, in Las Vegas. Their marriage attracted enormous media attention because of their intense public image and unconventional displays of affection.
At the time, Jolie was already becoming a major Hollywood star, while Thornton had established himself as an acclaimed actor, writer, and filmmaker.
Their relationship was often described as passionate and unconventional. The couple famously wore vials containing each other’s blood around their necks, a detail that became one of the most recognizable stories associated with their marriage.
Despite the intense public interest surrounding their relationship, the marriage did not last. Thornton and Jolie separated in 2002, and their divorce was finalized in 2003.
Why Did Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie Divorce?
The exact reasons behind a celebrity divorce are often more complicated than media headlines suggest.
Thornton and Jolie eventually acknowledged that they had grown apart. Their relationship had developed quickly, and their careers and lifestyles were moving in different directions.
Neither person has described the marriage simply as a failure. In later interviews, Thornton has spoken respectfully about Jolie and described their relationship as an important part of his life.
The former couple remained on friendly terms, although their lives went in separate directions after the divorce.
Their marriage continues to attract attention because it was brief, highly publicized, and involved two major Hollywood personalities.
Connie Angland Is His Sixth and Current Wife
Connie Angland is the sixth woman to become Billy Bob Thornton wife.
Thornton and Angland met around the time of Bad Santa, released in 2003. Their relationship developed differently from some of Thornton’s earlier high-profile romances.
Instead of immediately marrying, the couple spent many years together. They welcomed their daughter, Bella, before eventually marrying.
Thornton and Angland married privately on October 22, 2014, in Los Angeles.
Their long relationship before marriage marked a different chapter in Thornton’s personal life. Unlike his earlier marriages, the relationship with Angland developed over many years before the couple decided to formalize it.
As of 2026, Connie Angland remains Thornton’s wife.
Billy Bob Thornton’s Children
Thornton is the father of several children from different relationships.
His children include Amanda, his daughter with Melissa Lee Gatlin; William and Harry, his sons with Pietra Dawn Cherniak; and Bella, his daughter with Connie Angland.
Thornton has generally kept much of his family life away from the intense spotlight that followed some of his relationships.
His children have grown up during different periods of his career, from his early years as an actor to his later success as an established Hollywood figure.
Billy Bob Thornton Wives Timeline
Looking at the marriages chronologically makes Thornton’s relationship history easier to understand.
1978–1980: Thornton married Melissa Lee Gatlin.
1986–1988: He married actress Toni Lawrence.
1990–1992: He married actress Cynda Williams.
1993–1997: He was married to Pietra Dawn Cherniak.
2000–2003: He was married to Angelina Jolie.
2014–present: He has been married to Connie Angland.
Among these marriages, Thornton also had important relationships that did not result in marriage. Laura Dern is the most notable example.
What Makes Billy Bob Thornton’s Marriage History Interesting?
The story behind Billy Bob Thornton wives is interesting because it spans several decades of Hollywood history.
Thornton’s first marriages occurred before he became an internationally recognized star. As his career grew, his relationships increasingly attracted media attention.
His marriage to Jolie was particularly notable because both individuals were major Hollywood figures. Their relationship became part of popular culture and continues to be discussed years after their divorce.
His relationship with Angland represents another contrast. Rather than being a short-lived Hollywood marriage, it developed over many years before the couple married.
Together, these relationships show how Thornton’s personal life changed alongside his professional career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Billy Bob Thornton Wives
How many wives has Billy Bob Thornton had?
Billy Bob Thornton has had six wives throughout his life.
Who was Billy Bob Thornt first wife?
His first wife was Melissa Lee Gatlin, whom he married in 1978.
Who is Billy Bob Thornton current wife?
His current wife is Connie Angland. They married in 2014.
Was Angelina Jolie married to Billy Bob Thornton?
Yes. Angelina Jolie was Thornton’s fifth wife. They married in 2000 and divorced in 2003.
Was Laura Dern one of Billy Bob Thornton wives?
No. Laura Dern and Thornton were engaged and had a serious relationship, but they never married.
Conclusion
The story of Billy Bob Thornton wives covers six marriages and several decades of personal and professional change. Thornton’s wives were Melissa Lee Gatlin, Toni Lawrence, Cynda Williams, Pietra Dawn Cherniak, Angelina Jolie, and Connie Angland.
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