Billy Bob Thornton is kind of a walking contradiction. He’s the guy who won an Oscar for the haunting Sling Blade, yet he’s also the guy who famously wore a vial of his wife’s blood around his neck. For years, the headlines weren't about his acting; they were about the revolving door of his personal life. Five marriages. Five divorces.
Then came Connie.
If you’re looking for the billy bob thornton wife who finally figured out how to tame the "caged lion," you’re looking for Connie Angland. They’ve been together for over two decades now. Honestly, that’s an eternity in Hollywood years. It’s even longer than all five of his previous marriages combined.
Who Is Connie Angland?
She isn't a red-carpet-hungry starlet. Not even close. Connie Angland is a veteran of the film industry, but she spent her career behind the scenes. She worked as a special effects artist, a puppeteer, and an animatronic engineer.
If you’ve seen Men in Black or Planet of the Apes, you’ve seen her work.
She’s low-key. Thornton has often said that her mellow nature is exactly what he needed. They met on the set of Bad Santa back in 2003. It was a weird time for him. He was fresh off a very loud, very public divorce from Angelina Jolie. He’s described himself during that era as being in a "lost weekend" phase.
Connie’s sister, Carrie, was a makeup artist on the film and basically played matchmaker. She told Billy her sister was coming to visit and had a feeling they’d click. She was right. Within two months, they were a couple.
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The Long Road to "I Do"
Most people assume they got married right away because, well, that was Billy’s pattern. He usually moved fast.
- Melissa Lee Gatlin (1978–1980)
- Toni Lawrence (1986–1988)
- Cynda Williams (1990–1992)
- Pietra Dawn Cherniak (1993–1997)
- Angelina Jolie (2000–2003)
But with Connie, he waited. He waited eleven years.
In 2008, he told Maxim he probably wouldn't ever marry again. He didn't want the press calling her "Number Six." He felt like marriage papers were a jinx. He famously told the HuffPost that signing a marriage certificate made him feel like a "caged lion."
They had a daughter, Bella, in 2004. They were living as a family, totally committed, but without the legal paperwork. Eventually, though, the "caged lion" softened.
They finally tied the knot in a super private ceremony at their Los Angeles home on October 22, 2014. The world didn't even find out until the following year.
Why This Marriage Is Different
Why did this one stick?
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Thornton has been surprisingly open about it. He credits Connie with "dragging him out of the gutter." But it’s more than just gratitude. It’s about comfort.
He’s admitted to feeling insecure in his past high-profile relationships. With Angelina, he felt like he didn't belong in the world of "rich and important people." He wanted to stay home and watch baseball; she wanted to save the world.
With Connie, he found someone who shares his frequency.
They moved to a house in Pacoima, California, specifically because it had a recording studio. Connie wanted him to have it. Not just because she supports his music with The Boxmasters, but because it keeps him at home. He joked to Jimmy Kimmel that he doesn't have to drive to a hotel when she kicks him out—he just goes down the hill to the studio.
Navigating the "Ex" Factor in 2026
Even now, things aren't always perfectly quiet. Recent reports have suggested that Billy's ongoing, very close friendship with Angelina Jolie can cause a bit of friction.
He’s called his time with Jolie "the greatest time of my life." He says they’re still "very, very close friends." For any spouse, that’s a lot to handle. But Connie seems to have a level of security that his previous wives lacked.
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She knows the man he is today isn't the guy from the 90s.
They’ve built a life around their daughter, Bella, who is now an adult. They’ve prioritized stability over the "eccentric" displays of affection that defined his younger years. No blood vials. Just a quiet life in the Valley.
The Takeaway on the "Thornton Curse"
If there's a lesson in Billy Bob Thornton's love life, it's about timing and temperament. He didn't need a co-star; he needed a partner who understood the grind of the industry but didn't need the spotlight.
- Privacy matters: They didn't announce their wedding for months.
- Shared interests: Having a home that caters to his creative needs (the studio) helped bridge the gap between his work and his home life.
- Breaking patterns: He waited until the relationship was "unbreakable" before involving the law.
The "billy bob thornton wife" saga seems to have reached its final chapter with Connie Angland. She isn't a "number six" in his mind; she’s the one who redefined what marriage meant for a man who thought he wasn't built for it.
To keep up with how the couple is doing today, look for recent red carpet appearances from his latest projects like Landman. While they remain homebodies, they still step out for the big premieres, proving that after 20-plus years, the bond is as solid as ever.
Focus on the person who meets you where you are, rather than where you think you should be.