If anyone has mastered the art of playing memorably eccentric characters, it's Billy Bob Thornton.
Though initially a struggling character actor upon his entry in the film industry, Thornton has long since become one of the most talented dramatic performers of his generations.
Disappearing into such roles as a sociopathic hitman in Fargo to a tough-talking oil baron in Paramount+'s Landman, the 70-year-old actor has experienced an accolade-filled career the likes of which few actors are able to enjoy.
Yet in an interesting turn of events, a chance encounter between Thornton and a Golden Age Hollywood legend wound up changing the course of Thornton's career for the better, putting him down the path of career prominence we associate with the actor today.
During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbertin 2024, the Sling Blade star reminisced about his days as a struggling actor. As he fought to break into the film industry, Thornton wound up volunteering to work as a waiter at a party frequented by several prominent guests from Hollywood's past.
"This guy I knew knew that I was starving and he worked for a catering company," Thornton recalled. "He said, 'Listen, I'm doing a Christmas Eve party in 'rich town,' and since it's Christmas Eve, normally [the pay] is $150, but tonight it's $300."
Quickly accepting the offer, Thornton wound up coming face to face with several recognizable filmmakers and actors, including director Stanley Donen, Debbie Reynolds, Dudley Moore and several others.
As he circled around serving the guests, Thornton said he struck up a conversation with director Billy Wilder, the accomplished filmmaker behind such hits as Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, The Apartment andSome Like It Hot.
"He said, 'So, you want to be an actor?'" Thornton remembered Wilder saying. "I said, 'Yeah, how'd you know that?' He goes, 'Eh, you all want to be actors.' He goes, 'Forget about it.' I said, 'Why?' And he said, 'You're too ugly to be a leading man and you're too pretty to be a character actor.'"
Rather than growing offended, Thornton said he and Wilder instead talked about alternative ways Thornton could break into the film industry, such as writing and starring in his own scripts.
"He said, 'Can you write at all?'" Thornton continued. "I said, 'Actually, I have been writing, and I used to write short stories and stuff like that.' He said, 'That's what you do. You write your own stories, create your own characters, make your own way. Otherwise you're standing on the sidewalk with everyone else. That's how you get noticed.'"
Taking Wilder's advice, Thornton ended up penning the script to his breakthrough film Sling Blade, propelling him to the forefront of the film industry by the mid 1990s.
Hence then, the article about billy bob thornton remembers legendary director who told him he was too ugly to be a leading man was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Billy Bob Thornton Remembers Legendary Director Who Told Him He Was 'Too Ugly to Be a Leading Man' )
Also on site :
- TTW Announces Top 50 Nightlife Travel Destinations in the World for 2026
- 'Barbie' Star Shares Emotional Tribute to Eric Dane
- This Terrible New Olympic Event Must Be Exiled From the Games Forever