Editing Billy Bob Thornton (section)

== Career ==
===1986–1995: Early roles and breakthrough ===
In September 1987, Thornton appeared on stage in a [[one-act play]], "Beethoven Symphonies," as part of the West Coast Theatre Ensemble in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-16-ca-5273-story.html |title=Fringe Festival: Stage Reviews: "Art Violated" |work=Los Angeles Times |last=Lond |first=Ray |date=September 16, 1987 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> His first on-screen role was playing a character named Billy Bob in the thriller ''[[Hunter's Blood]]''. He was a [[stand-in]] on that film for the whole production, and then appeared in two scenes.<ref>{{cite interview|last=Thornton|first=Billy Bob|interviewer=Will Harris|title=Billy Bob Thornton on Goliath, Fargo, and working with Warren Zevon|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date=October 19, 2016|url=https://www.avclub.com/billy-bob-thornton-on-goliath-fargo-and-working-with-1798253728|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516194305/https://www.avclub.com/billy-bob-thornton-on-goliath-fargo-and-working-with-1798253728|archive-date=May 16, 2022|access-date=December 8, 2023}}</ref>

He subsequently appeared in minor roles in the film ''[[South of Reno]]'' and the 1987 ''[[Matlock (1986 TV series)|Matlock]]'' episode "The Photographer". Another one of his early screen roles was as a cast member on the CBS sitcom ''[[Hearts Afire]]'' and in 1989 he appeared as an angry heckler in [[Adam Sandler]]'s debut film ''[[Going Overboard]]''.<ref>Smoron, Paige (January 30, 2000). "Biofeedback The Jeers Of A Clown". ''Chicago Sun–Times'', p.14E col.4</ref>  He played the role as the villain in 1992's ''[[One False Move]]'', which he also co-wrote. He also had roles in the 1990s films ''[[Indecent Proposal]]'', ''[[On Deadly Ground]]'', ''[[Bound by Honor]]'', and ''[[Tombstone (film)|Tombstone]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cote |first=Anna |date=2024-03-17 |title=All Billy Bob Thornton Movies In Order |url=https://medium.com/@annacote/all-billy-bob-thornton-movies-in-order-46f0ea7178df |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref>

=== 1996–2004: ''Sling Blade'' and acclaim ===
He went on to write, direct, and star in the 1996 [[independent film]] ''[[Sling Blade]]''.<ref name="actors" /> The film, an expansion of the [[short film]] ''[[Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade]]'', introduced the story of a [[intellectual disability|mentally disabled]] man imprisoned for a gruesome and seemingly inexplicable murder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/sling-blade-movie-2181/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Sling Blade'' garnered international acclaim.  Thornton's screenplay earned him an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for Best Adapted Screenplay, a [[Writers Guild of America Award]], and an [[Edgar Award]], while his performance received Oscar and [[Screen Actors Guild]] nominations for Best Actor.<ref name="actors" />

Thornton appeared in several major film roles following the success of ''Sling Blade''. In 1998, he portrayed the [[James Carville]]-like Richard Jemmons in ''[[Primary Colors (film)|Primary Colors]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tunzelmann |first=Alex von |date=2013-05-29 |title=Primary Colors: fiction takes second place to fact |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2013/may/29/primary-colors-bill-clinton-film-accuracy |access-date=2024-06-09 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> That same year, he appeared in the [[disaster film]] ''[[Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon]]'', and the [[neo-noir]] [[thriller film]] ''[[A Simple Plan (film)|A Simple Plan]]'', the latter of which earned him a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]]. His screen persona has been described by the press as that of a "tattooed, hirsute man's man".<ref name="jamshowbiz">{{cite web |publisher=JAM! Showbiz |title=Billy Bob Hollywood's go-to guy |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2006/09/24/1888691.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101055419/http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2006/09/24/1888691.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 1, 2013 |access-date=September 24, 2006 }}</ref>

Thornton adapted the book ''[[All the Pretty Horses (novel)|All the Pretty Horses]]'' into a 2000 ''[[All the Pretty Horses (film)|film of the same name]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-01-01 |title=All The Pretty Horses |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pretty-horses-review/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Empire |language=en}}</ref> The negative experience (he was forced to cut more than an hour of footage) led to his decision to never direct another film; a subsequent release, ''[[Daddy and Them]]'', had been filmed earlier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daddy and Them |url=http://jpshrine.org/news/dadnthem1.html |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=jpshrine.org}}</ref>  Also in 2000, an early script which he and [[Tom Epperson]] wrote together was made into ''[[The Gift (2000 film)|The Gift]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chagollan |first=Steve |date=2000-12-12 |title=The Gift |url=https://variety.com/2000/film/awards/the-gift-2-1117790410/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2001, he directed ''Daddy and Them'' while securing starring roles in three Hollywood films: the [[romantic drama]] ''[[Monster's Ball]]'', the [[Crime film|crime]] [[Comedy drama|comedy-drama]] ''[[Bandits (2001 film)|Bandits]]'', and the neo-noir film ''[[The Man Who Wasn't There (2001 film)|The Man Who Wasn't There]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/billy-bob-thornton-2174/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2002, Thornton appeared in [[Travis Tritt]]'s [[music video]] for the song "[[Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde]]".

[[file:BillyBobThorntonHWOFFeb2012crop.JPG|thumb|upright|left|Thornton in 2012]] 
Thornton played a malicious mall [[Santa Claus|Santa]] in 2003's ''[[Bad Santa]]'', a [[black comedy]] on the set of which he admits to getting drunk,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-21 |title=Billy Bob Thornton reveals he was drunk while filming iconic Bad Santa scene |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/bad-santa-billy-bob-thornton-drunk-mall-scene-a9165516.html |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> and in the same year, portrayed an oil millionaire in the comedy film ''[[Intolerable Cruelty]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=Intolerable Cruelty movie review (2003) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/intolerable-cruelty-2003 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=rogerebert.com |language=en}}</ref> and a womanizing President of the United States in the British [[romantic comedy]] film ''[[Love Actually]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Thomas |date=2021-12-23 |title=Billy-Bob Thornton {{!}} Love, Actually |url=https://cinemayearzero.com/2021/12/23/billy-bob-thornton-love-actually/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=CINEMA YEAR ZERO |language=en}}</ref> He stated that, following the success of ''Bad Santa'', audiences "like to watch him play that kind of guy" and that "[[Casting (performing arts)|casting directors]] call him up when they need an asshole".<ref name="jamshowbiz" /> He referred to this when he said that "it's kinda that simple... you know how narrow the imagination in this business can be".<ref>{{cite web|work=Los Angeles Daily News |title=School is in session |url=http://www.dailynews.com/entertainment/ci_4386629 |access-date=September 24, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003839/http://www.dailynews.com/entertainment/ci_4386629 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref> In 2004, Thornton starred as [[David Crockett]] in ''[[The Alamo (2004 film)|The Alamo]]'', and played Coach [[Gary Gaines]] in the [[Football films|football drama]] film ''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Friday Night Lights |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/friday-night-lights/2000121826/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref>  Also that year, he received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] on October 7.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-25 |title=Thornton Gets Star on Hollywood Walk |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/thornton-gets-star-on-hollywood-walk |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Associated Press |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2005–2013: Career fluctuations ===
He played a baseball coach in the 2005 sports comedy ''[[Bad News Bears]]'', a remake of the 1976 ''[[The Bad News Bears|film of the same name]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balfour |first=Brad |date=8 Aug 2021 |title=Billy Bob Thornton Gets on Base with Bad News Bears |url=https://www.popentertainmentarchives.com/post/billy-bob-thornton-gets-on-base-with-bad-news-bears |website=popentertainmentarchives.com}}</ref>  He appeared in the 2006 comic film ''[[School for Scoundrels (2006 film)|School for Scoundrels]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Movies - review - School For Scoundrels |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/02/19/school_for_scoundrels_2006_review.shtml |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In the film, he plays a self-help doctor, which was written specifically for him.<ref name="jamshowbiz" /> Other films include 2007 drama ''[[The Astronaut Farmer]]'' and the comedy ''[[Mr. Woodcock]]'', in which he played a [[sadomasochism|sadistic]] gym teacher.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Movies - review - Mr. Woodcock |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/09/24/mr_woodcock_2007_review.shtml |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In September 2008, he starred in the [[action film]] ''[[Eagle Eye]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Eagle Eye" Movie Review |url=https://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/movies/EagleEye.asp |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=www.jesusfreakhideout.com}}</ref>  He has also expressed an interest in directing another film, possibly a [[period piece]] about cave explorer [[Floyd Collins]],<ref>{{cite web |publisher=About.com |title=Interview with "School for Scoundrels" Star Billy Bob Thornton |url=http://movies.about.com/od/schoolforscoundrels/a/schoolbt091506_2.htm |access-date=September 25, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080128192048/http://movies.about.com/od/schoolforscoundrels/a/schoolbt091506_2.htm |archive-date=January 28, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> based on the book ''Trapped!: The Story of Floyd Collins''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/floyd-collins-ghostly-presence-haunts-mammoth-cave|title=Floyd Collins' Ghostly Presence Haunts Mammoth Cave|last=Jones|first=Malcolm|date=July 15, 2018|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=August 30, 2018|language=en}}</ref> In 2011, Thornton voiced Jack in the animated comedy film ''[[Puss in Boots (2011 film)|Puss in Boots]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=2011-10-27 |title=A Fairy Tale Mix With 9 Lives and Dozens of Egg Jokes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/movies/puss-in-boots-with-antonio-banderas-review.html |access-date=2024-06-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== Since 2014: ''Fargo'' and ''Goliath'' ===
In 2014, he starred as [[sociopathic]] [[hitman]] [[Lorne Malvo]] in the FX miniseries ''[[Fargo (TV series)|Fargo]]'', inspired by the 1996 ''[[Fargo (1996 film)|film of the same name]]'', for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Mini-Series.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2015)|url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2015/all#category-1896|publisher=GoldenGlobes.com. [[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] (HFPA)|access-date=August 9, 2017|archive-date=October 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012222937/http://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominees/2015/all#category-1896|url-status=dead}}</ref> Thornton made a guest appearance on ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'' in 2014, where he played a middle-aged [[Urology|urologist]] who gets excited about every woman who touches him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How 'The Big Bang Theory' scored Billy Bob Thornton for a surprise guest spot |url=https://ew.com/article/2014/10/31/big-bang-theory-billy-bob-thornton/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref>  That same year, he played a prosecutor in the [[legal drama]] ''[[The Judge (2014 film)|The Judge]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Judge |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-judge/cast/2030308581/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=TVGuide.com |language=en}}</ref> In 2015, Thornton appeared in ''[[Entourage (film)|Entourage]]'', the film adaptation of the ''[[Entourage (U.S. TV series)|television series]]''.<ref name="thornton">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/billy-bob-thornton-joining-entourage-675155 |title=Billy Bob Thornton Joining 'Entourage' Movie (Exclusive) |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Borys |last=Kit |date=January 29, 2014 |access-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref>

''[[Goliath (TV series)|Goliath]]'', a television series by Amazon Studios, featured Thornton as a formerly brilliant and personable lawyer, who is now washed up and alcoholic. It premiered on October 13, 2016, on Amazon Prime Video. ''Goliath'' was renewed for two additional seasons, with the final season released on September 24, 2021, by Amazon Prime Video. Also in 2016, he reprised his role as the bad mall Santa in ''[[Bad Santa 2]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/bad-santa-2-billy-bob-thornton-to-return-as-willie-with-tony-cox-and-brett-kelly-for-festive-comedy-a3143481.html|title=Bad Santa 2: Billy Bob Thornton to return as Willie for festive sequel|date=2015-12-23|website=Evening Standard|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-05-25}}</ref>

In 2017, Thornton starred in the music video ''Stand Down''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/kosoniccity/videos/10155463133736663/|title=Stand Down|website=[[Facebook]]}}</ref> by [[Kario Salem]] (musically known as K.O.). It received the Best Music Video award from the Toronto Shorts International Film Festival<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tisff.net/toronto/content.asp?PageID=1 |title=Toronto Shorts International Film Festival |access-date=April 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426080149/http://www.tisff.net/toronto/content.asp?PageID=1 |archive-date=April 26, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and has had 13 million views on Facebook and counting.

Since 2024, Thornton has starred in ''[[Landman (TV series)|Landman]]'', as Tommy Norris, a [[Landman (oil worker)|landman]] at an [[oil company]].