Billy Bob Thornton is an American film actor, filmmaker, singer, and songwriter. He received international attention after writing, directing, and starring in the independent drama film
Sling Blade (1996), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. For his role in
A Simple Plan (1998) he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He is also known for his film roles in
One False Move (1992),
Dead Man (1995),
U Turn (1997),
Primary Colors (1998),
Armageddon (1998),
Monster's Ball (2001),
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001),
Intolerable Cruelty (2003),
Bad Santa (2003), and
Friday Night Lights (2004). He has written a variety of films including
A Family Thing (1996) and
The Gift (2000) and has directed films such as
Daddy and Them (2001),
All the Pretty Horses (2000), and
Jayne Mansfield's Car (2012).