In 1999, the surprising marriage of Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie shocked the world. Their significant 20-year age difference and the fact that they were both committed to other partners at the time made it even more intriguing.
Laura Dern, Billy Bob’s fiancée at the time, was among those blindsided by the news. According to Laura, she found out about her partner’s wedding to Angelina at the same time as the public did, throwing their relationship plans into disarray.
Billy Bob and Laura had started dating in 1997, shortly after Laura’s split from Jeff Goldblum and Billy Bob’s ongoing divorce from his fourth wife. After two years together, they were engaged and getting ready for their wedding when Billy Bob crossed paths with Angelina on the set of Pushing Tin in 1999.
Their whirlwind romance led to a spontaneous wedding in Las Vegas in May 2000, leaving Laura completely caught off guard. Reflecting on the sudden turn of events, Laura shared her feelings of shock and confusion, saying, “I left our home to work on a movie, and while I was away, my boyfriend got married and I’ve never heard from him again.” The situation left her with a sense of loss and no closure.
While Billy Bob has never explicitly acknowledged any wrongdoing, he did express regret in a 2001 interview, saying, “Others may say that you left our girl and married someone else. But it made me happy and somebody else happy. I’m sorry it caused pain.”
To add to the complexity of the situation, Laura and Angelina had a prior connection. Laura had actually babysat Angelina when they were children. Laura’s father, Bruce Dern, reminisced about that time, mentioning that Laura babysat for Angelina when she was 2 years old and Laura was about 8. This connection adds an interesting twist to the story.
After the breakup, Laura received support from her friend Melissa Etheridge, who helped her move out of her shared home with Billy Bob. Melissa recalled the difficult situation, saying, “I was around when Angelina was not doing nice things with Billy Bob to Laura Dern. I went through that on a personal level, and then to know the side of Jennifer and Brad. I helped Laura move out of her house with Billy Bob — I like broke into their home to get their stuff out because it was so nasty.”
In the years that followed, everyone involved moved on with their lives. Laura eventually married Ben Harper, with whom she has two children, and has been linked to former NBA player Baron Davis. On the other hand, Billy Bob retreated from dating celebrities and married a puppeteer in 2014, seeking a quieter life away from the spotlight.
This situation highlights the complexities of relationships and the unexpected turns they can take. It’s a reminder that even in the world of celebrities, love and heartbreak are universal experiences.
