Billy Bob Thornton’s Ex-Wives: Meet the Actor’s 5 Former Spouses

Billy Bob Thornton’s personal life has been nearly as eventful as his acclaimed acting career, marked by six marriages and a series of high-profile relationships that span decades of Hollywood history. Thornton’s romantic life captured global attention during his 2000–2003 marriage to Angelina Jolie, a union defined by intense media spotlight and symbolic gestures. However, the actor has had numerous other notable high-profile marriages. Here’s what to know about Thornton’s six marriages, including his current marriage to Connie Angland.

Billy Bob Thornton married Melissa Lee Gatlin in 1978

Billy Bob Thornton’s first marriage was to fellow Arkansas native Melissa Lee Gatlin, whom he wed in 1978. At the time, Thornton was in his early 20s and finding his footing in Hollywood. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Amanda Brooke Brumfield, during their time together, according to People.

However, the marriage was short-lived. They divorced in 1980 after just two years. In Gatlin’s divorce petition, she cited “incompatibility and adultery on his part” as the reasons for the split.

The actor married actress Toni Lawrence in 1986

After his first marriage ended in 1980, Billy Bob Thornton entered into a second marriage with actress Toni Lawrence in 1986. Lawrence appeared in television shows in the ’70s and early ’80s. Their union took place amid Thornton’s steady climb from regional theater and small film roles toward broader recognition as a character actor and writer.

However, Thornton and Lawrence’s marriage proved short-lived. The couple separated after about a year together and officially divorced in 1988, ending what had been another brief marriage in the actor’s early adult years.

Billy Bob Thornton married actress Cynda Williams in 1990

Billy Bob Thornton’s third marriage was to actress Cynda Williams. They wed in 1990 after working together on the crime thriller One False Move, a film Thornton co‑wrote and in which Williams starred. Their union, however, was brief. By the time One False Move premiered in 1992, the couple had already divorced.

Reflecting on their time together in later interviews, Thornton himself acknowledged that their marriage was short‑lived and that they were better off as friends than spouses. According to HollywoodLife, Williams went on to marry film producer Roderick Plummer in 2001.

The ‘Landman’ star married model Pietra Dawn Cherniak in 1993

Billy Bob Thornton’s fourth marriage was to model and actress Pietra Dawn Cherniak, whom he married in 1993 during a period when his acting career was gaining significant momentum. The couple welcomed two sons together, William Langston Thornton and Harry James Thornton, in 1993 and 1994.

Their marriage, however, ended in 1997 when Cherniak filed for divorce. She cited irreconcilable differences and allegations of physical and verbal abuse. According to Hello!, Cherniak filed a restraining order against Thornton, alleging he hit her in front of their kids. Thornton and his team denied the abuse claims.

Billy Bob Thornton married A-list actress Angelina Jolie in 2000

Billy Bob Thornton’s fifth marriage was to Angelina Jolie after the two met on the set of the 1999 film Pushing Tin. The pair eloped in 2000, surprising Hollywood and fans alike with their sudden union in Las Vegas. During their time together, the couple became known for public appearances and eccentric romantic symbols. Most famously, they reportedly wore lockets with small drops of each other’s blood as a token of connection during periods apart. Thornton later described the gesture as a simple, affectionate idea that was exaggerated by the press, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Thornton and Jolie’s marriage was also short-lived. They separated in 2002 and finalized their divorce in 2003, largely due to differing lifestyles and priorities. Additionally, during their marriage, Jolie and Thornton adopted Maddox, a baby boy from Cambodia. According to People, Jolie adopted Maddox on her own but planned to raise him with Thornton. Maddox was later adopted by Brad Pitt during his marriage to Jolie.

The actor has been married to former puppeteer and special effects artist Connie Angland since 2014

Billy Bob Thornton has been married to Connie Angland since Oct. 22, 2014, marking his longest‑lasting marriage. The couple first met in May 2003, shortly after Thornton’s divorce from Angelina Jolie, when Angland’s sister introduced them on the set of Bad Santa.

Thornton and Angland share a daughter, Bella, born in September 2004. They chose a private wedding at their Los Angeles home surrounded by family after dating for over a decade.

In 2008, Thornton reflected to Maxim on how he felt he’d likely never marry again, as he didn’t want the press to refer to Angland as “Number Six.” However, he clearly changed his mind — and they’ve been going strong ever since.