In an interview, Thornton talked about his struggling actor years. At one point he was so poor all he could afford to eat were potatoes, which he would grill until they stuck to the pan. This consumption led to myocarditis, which led to an intense pain in his chest since he didn't have any potassium in his system. He was treated at a hospital, thanks to a kind doctor who was from Arkansas, his home state. At the time Thornton had no medical insurance and has remained grateful for the doctor's treatment.

Ex-son-in-law of Jon Voight.

December 2007 - According to Forbes, for each dollar he got paid, Thornton's movies averaged $10 of gross income.

Nephew of professional wrestler Dory Funk Sr..

2006: Narrated the St. Louis Cardinals World Series DVD.

His character Willie from Bad Santa (2003) is reenacted by Eminem in the music video for Eminem's hit song "Just Lose It".

Cousin of wrestlers Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr..

Has four children: Amanda (born late 1970s), William (born 1993), Harry James (born 1994), and Bella (born September 2004).

In Armageddon (1998/I) he was the NASA flight director. In The Astronaut Farmer (2006) he was a former astronaut who went up against NASA.

Has stated that, of all the characters he has played, the one he enjoyed playing the most was Davy Crockett in The Alamo (2004).

Ex-son-in-law of Marc Lawrence and Fanya Foss.

Brad Pitt is the adoptive father of Thornton's son Maddox with Angelina Jolie. Maddox's last name is Jolie-Pitt and Thornton is no longer involved in raising the child.

In his contract for each film he does, there is a provision that states a list of demands. One of them includes a television with a satellite hook-up to watch the St. Louis Cardinals when they are in season.

Has a variety of phobias. Antiques (anything before 1950 or so), Benjamin Disraeli's hair, dust, castles, germs, Komodo dragons, clowns, flying and certain silverware, ("I can use silverware from Sears, but not real silverware, like that heavy, ornate, clunky stuff. Same with plates. I can't use those fancy ones with the flowers on it and everything - no way. Sometimes at home I just eat off of paper plates with plastic forks and knives.").

His paternal grandfather, Otis Thornton, with whom he spent time in his childhood on a small shack in the woods, was a forest ranger.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his earnings for the year at $20 million.

Born to William Raymond (Billy Ray) Thornton, a high school history teacher and basketball coach, and his wife Virginia R. Faulkner, a psychic.

Is a supporter of Liverpool Football Club (soccer team).

Owns a penthouse in Paris.

His father is of Irish ancestry, while his mother is half Choctaw Indian and half Italian.

10/7/04: Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

9/04: His fourth child, daughter Bella, with girlfriend Connie Angland, weighed in at 6 lb., 1.5 oz.

Gave up smoking after completing The Man Who Wasn`t There (2001).

Agreed to Ethan Coen and Joel Coen`s The Man Who Wasn`t There (2001) without reading the script, out of respect for the Coen brothers` talent.

3/10/02: Angelina Jolie and Thornton adopted a Cambodian baby boy. Jolie took custody of the baby in Africa, where she was shooting Beyond Borders (2003). Her father, Jon Voight, told reporters at the 3/11 Academy Awards luncheon. Voight said he didn`t know whether the couple had picked a name for the child.

Claimed in a "USA Today" interview that he has an intense phobia of antique furniture. This fear has been seen on screen in both Bandits (2001) and Sling Blade (1996).

9/22/00: Was treated for an unspecified "viral infection" at a Los Angeles hospital.

He and Dwight Yoakam have their own production company and are looking at producing movies and records together. Yoakam appeared opposite Thornton in Sling Blade (1996).

Gained about 50 pounds for his role as the auto mechanic in U Turn (1997).

He was honored by his hometown, where he`s remembered as a milkshake-loving, drum-playing rock `n` roller. "I had a Tastee-Freez stand before I got into politics," said Mayor Bill Scrimshire, who declared "Billy Bob Thornton Day" Tuesday. "When he was a kid in high school, he used to buy hamburgers and milkshakes from me. He was one of my Tastee-Freez kids."

In high school, Thornton played drums in a band called "Stone Cold Fever" and cranked out Creedence Clearwater Revival songs.

4/15/97: Ex-wife Pietra granted a restraining order against Thornton to keep him away from her and their children.

His mother, a psychic, predicted he would work with Burt Reynolds. That prediction came true when, beginning in 1990, he did three episodes of Reynolds` CBS series "Evening Shade" (1990).

Has numerous tattoos, among them at least 6 on his arms (3 right, 3 left) and on his lower back/hip.

Married 5 times.