Academy Award-winning writer, actor and director, Billy Bob Thornton burst into the spotlight in 1996 with his low-budget, independent drama Slingblade. Thorntons rise to fame wasn't any where near an overnight success story.

Thornton was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on August 4, 1955. He grew up penniless in the backwoods of Alpine, Arkansas. His family stayed with his grandparents, who had no indoor plumbing or electricity. His father worked as a history teacher, he didn't bring in enough money to afford his family a home of their own. He had few friends while growing up but one exception was Tom Epperson, who would later become a trusted colleague and screenwriting partner.

After high school, Thornton found a steady job and married in 1975. The marriage was disolved in a few short years but produced a daughter. He decided to enroll in University to major in Psychology but after just 2 semesters he and friend Tom Epperson opted for a career in Rock n' Roll. The pair headed off on a dead end road to New York City. Billy Bob returned home and again found a steady job.

In 1980 the pair decided to try their Rock n' Roll luck in sunny California, where, after meeting with little success, they began writing screenplays. It was a difficult time for Thornton. In addition to living in extreme poverty, he also experienced a near fatal heart attack. He did, however, manage to land some small roles in still smaller films including Troma's Chopper Chicks in Zombietown. He also remarried. His second marriage proved to be even shorter than his first. It was around this time that Karl Childers was born in the imagination of Thornton, who he said in an interview, he came up with during a particularly bad day on a Hollywood set.

He appeared on the sitcom Evening Shade before writing and appearing in the acclaimed One False Move in 1991. As time passed, he didn't forget about Karl Childers. He sharpened the character, perfecting his personality and mannerisms. Eventually, Childers would find a home in a short film Some folks Call It a Sling Blade (1993)directed by George Hickenlooper, which Thornton wrote and stared in. The film garnered positive notices, and he subsequently appeared in Dead Man (1995). In 1996, Thornton and Epperson co-wrote the screenplay for A Family Thing, a drama starring James Earl Jones and Robert Duvall. Thornton also got married and again divorced.

Big things finally started to happen for Billy Bob in 1996. He was approached by a producer to turn his short film into a feature based on Karl Childers. Although leery, Thornton agreed and Slingblade became the sleeper hit of the year earning Thornton an Oscar for his script. For the fourth time Thornton would re-marry and re-divorce.

Opportunities came rolling in and he took roles in several major blockbusters including The Apostle, Primary Colors and Armageddon. He also received an Oscar nomination for his work in A Simple Plan. He went on to star in Pushing Tin with John Cusack and Angelina Jolie and directed, wrote and stared in the comedy drama Daddy and Them.

Currently he is romantically linked with Angelina Jolie and is set to direct the Matt Damon movie, All the Pretty Horses.