Billy Bob Thornton‘s marriages have drawn as much attention as his distinguished acting career, with six unions and several headline-making relationships making him a subject of enduring fascination in Hollywood. His high-profile marriage to Angelina Jolie and his current marriage to Connie Angland, among others, have shaped much of his personal narrative as he navigated fame and family through the decades.
Early Years: First Marriage to Melissa Lee Gatlin
Thornton’s journey into matrimony began with Melissa Lee Gatlin, an Arkansas native, in 1978, when he was in his early twenties and still laying the foundations of his Hollywood ambitions. The pair welcomed their daughter, Amanda Brooke Brumfield, during their brief union. By 1980, after just two years, the marriage ended. Gatlin attributed their separation to
“incompatibility and adultery on his part”
— Melissa Lee Gatlin, as stated in her divorce petition.
Brief Second Marriage with Actress Toni Lawrence
Following his divorce from Gatlin, Thornton entered another marriage in 1986, this time with Toni Lawrence, an actress who worked in television through the 1970s and early 1980s. Their relationship developed during a phase when Thornton was steadily rising as a character actor and narrative voice in film. This second marriage also proved to be fleeting, concluding in 1988, only about a year after it began.
Third Union: Cynda Williams and a Professional Collaboration
Thornton’s third spouse was actress Cynda Williams, whom he met during the production of the crime thriller “One False Move,” which Thornton co-wrote and in which Williams starred. The two married in 1990, strengthening both their personal and professional bonds. By the time “One False Move” premiered in 1992, their relationship had concluded, and they divorced before any major public attention could turn to their union. Thornton later acknowledged that their marriage was short-lived and that they remained better friends than spouses. Williams went on to marry producer Roderick Plummer in 2001, moving forward in her own life beyond their Hollywood chapter.
Challenges and Family: Pietra Dawn Cherniak
Thornton married model and actress Pietra Dawn Cherniak in 1993 at a time when his reputation in the film industry was accelerating. Together they became parents to two sons, William Langston Thornton, born in 1993, and Harry James Thornton, born in 1994. Despite this expansion of his family, the marriage deteriorated over four years.
Cherniak filed for divorce in 1997, citing irreconcilable differences as well as serious allegations of physical and verbal abuse. She even sought a restraining order, alleging that Thornton
“hit her in front of their kids,”
according to court documents. Thornton and his legal team denied all of the abuse allegations, though the claims left a significant mark on public perception.
Hollywood Headlines: Union with Angelina Jolie
Thornton’s most scrutinized marriage was with A-list actress Angelina Jolie. The actors met on the set of “Pushing Tin” in 1999, and eloped in Las Vegas the following year. Their relationship became known for its eccentric gestures, including their exchange of necklaces said to contain droplets of each other’s blood as a symbol of their intense connection. Thornton would later clarify that
“the gesture was a simple, affectionate idea that was exaggerated by the press,”
according to Entertainment Weekly.
The couple separated in 2002, with their divorce finalized in 2003, as the demands of their careers and differences in priorities widened the gap between them. During their marriage, Jolie adopted Maddox from Cambodia, planning to raise him with Thornton. However, after their separation, Jolie became a single adoptive parent until Brad Pitt later adopted Maddox during his own marriage to Jolie. This period marked a particularly turbulent chapter in both Thornton’s and Jolie’s personal stories.
Longest-Lasting Union: Connie Angland
Since 2014, Billy Bob Thornton has been married to Connie Angland, a former puppeteer and special effects artist, which has become his longest and arguably most stable relationship. Their connection began in May 2003, as Angland’s sister introduced them on the set of “Bad Santa,” shortly after Thornton’s split from Jolie. The couple welcomed a daughter, Bella, in September 2004, and eventually wed in a small, private ceremony at their Los Angeles home, attended by close family members.
Reflecting on whether he would marry again, Thornton once told Maxim in 2008 that he thought he’d never remarry due to labeling fears related to his many unions. Nevertheless, his relationship with Angland has endured, marking a period of relative calm after decades of emotionally turbulent and widely publicized marriages. The couple has maintained a low profile, choosing privacy and family life over the glare of the Hollywood spotlight.
The Impact of Billy Bob Thornton’s Marital History
Billy Bob Thornton’s eventful personal life has shaped public perception of him as much as his roles on screen. His marriages have intersected with his career highs and lows, influencing his professional and private worlds. Relationships with Melissa Lee Gatlin, Toni Lawrence, Cynda Williams, Pietra Dawn Cherniak, Angelina Jolie, and Connie Angland have each reflected different eras in Thornton’s life. The actor’s turbulent romantic journey mirrors the intense, conflicted persona he often brings to his performances in Hollywood, leaving the public and media both captivated and curious about what the future may hold for the man as much as the entertainer.
