Billy Bob Thornton is an American musician and actor who like most others in the entertainment industry has a very interesting marriage history. The talented entertainer has been married more than 5 times and the women who have made his list of exes are equally people of substance in the entertainment industry. Let’s explore who Billy Bob Thornton’s wives were at various times and where each of them has been after their marriage with him.
Billy Bob Thornton’s Wives and Where They Are
About 4 years into his entertainment career which he began as a musician in the year 1974, Billy Bob Thornton married the then love of his life. However, this first marriage was only able to last for just 2 years from the year 1978 to 1980. In their divorce papers, his then-wife attributed the reason for her wanting to opt out of the marriage to Billy’s adulterous nature and their incompatibility. On these grounds, the marriage was annulled and both parties went their various ways.
It’s been more than 4 decades since then and the number of Billy Bob Thornton’s wives over these years has certainly increased. He has been married a total of 6 times with 5 of these marriages ending in divorces while he is currently married to the last woman he wedded. From these several marriages, Billy has fathered a total of 4 children from 3 of his now ex-wives. As you would expect, all his children are now adults. Below is a list of Billy Bob Thornton’s wives, what led to his divorce 5 them, and where they are now.
1. Melissa Lee Gatlin (1978 – 1980)
Billy Bob Thornton’s first wife from 1978 to 1980 was Melissa Lee Gatlin with whom he had Amanda Brumfield, a daughter Melissa bore on 30th June 1979. Amanda was in the year 2008 sentenced to 20 years in prison for causing the death of her friend’s 1-year-old child.
Since Melissa’s divorce from Billy, not much has been heard or read about her other than her daughter’s appeal of her 20 years murder sentence. It is believed that she prefers leading a quiet life out of the limelight.
2. Toni Lawrence (1986 – 1988)
About 6 years after Billy’s first divorce, he married American actress Toni Lawrence in the year 1986, precisely on the 4th of April. However, as it was with his first marriage, Billy’s second marriage lasted for just 2 years before it came crumbling. They separated in 1987 and by 1988, their divorce was finalized. Billy is the only man Toni is known to have gotten married to and not much is known about what she does now.
3. Cynda Williams (1990 – 1992)
Next on the list of Billy Bob Thornton’s wives is American actress, singer, and author, Cynthia Ann Williams. She got married to Billy in the year 1990 but by 1992 the two ceased to be addressed as husband and wife. Billy cast Cynthia in the film One False Move (1992) as Lila “Fantasia” Walker. The film is the first he wrote.
After Cynthia’s divorce from Billy, she got married to actor Arthur Louis Fuller in 1993 and remained his wife till 1998 when they divorced. Afterward, she married former college football star and now TV show producer, Roderick Plummer in July 2001. The two have been married since then and share a daughter named Sophia Plummer.
In the acting industry, not much has been seen of Cynda Williams these days as her last known acting role was in Turning Point (2012). Nowadays, she devotes more time working as an activist, artistic mentor, author, and playwright.
4. Pietra Dawn Cherniak (1993 – 1997)
Billy Bob Thornton married Playboy model Pietra Dawn Cherniak in 1993. Prior to the marriage ending 4 years later in 1997, the model bore two sons for him named William Thornton (born on 27th June 1993) and Harry James Thornton (born 19th June 1994).
In response to what led to their divorce, Dawn accused Billy of spousal abuse. She added that he sometimes abused her even in front of their children.
5. Angelina Jolie (2000 – 2002)
Apparently the most popular of Billy Bob Thornton’s wives, this American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian got married to Billy in 2000. Angelina Jolie and Bob adopted a Cambodian child in March 2002 and were well known for their public display of affection. However, in 2002, they separated and by the following year, they finalized their divorce. It was then revealed that Jolie actually adopted the Cambodian child as a single parent and not jointly with Billy.
Prior to Billy Bob Thornton, Angelina Jolie was married to Jonny Lee Miller from 1996 to 2000 when they divorced. Following her divorce from Billy, she got married to Brad Pitt in 2014 only to divorce him in 2016.
Talking about their divorce and what led to it, Billy asserted that they are 2 different people with different lifestyles. While Angelina had a “global lifestyle” his is an agoraphobic one.
6. Connie Angland (2003 to Present)
With 5 failed marriages and none lasting up to 5 years, Billy Bob Thornton lost faith in marriage. He once disclosed that he doesn’t believe marriage will work for him. Since 2003, he has been in a relationship with Connie Angland who works in the film industry as a makeup effect crew member. With her, Billy has a daughter named Bella Thornton who was born sometime in 2004.
Billy’s representative disclosed that he got married to Connie in Los Angeles on October 22, 2014. The couple is still together and their relationship has apparently been a huge success for Billy taking into consideration his failed marriages.
