• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Irish America

Irish America

        • Who We Are
          • About Us
          • Irish America Team
        • The Lists
          • Business 100
          • Hall of Fame
          • Health and Life Sciences 50
          • Wall Street 50
        • Highlights
          • History
          • In This Issue
          • Music
          • Politics
          • Sports
          • Travel
        • Columns
          • First Word
          • Hibernia
          • Quote Unquote
          • Slainte
          • Those we Lost
          • What are you like?
          • Wild Irish Women
          • Window on The Past
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • About This Magazine
    • Irish America Team
  • In This Issue
  • Hall of Fame
  • The Lists
    • Business 100
    • Hall of Fame
    • Health and Life Sciences 50
    • Wall Street 50
  • Archives
    • Magazine
    • Highlights
  • Travel
  • Events

Bad Boy Billy Bob

Sean O'Driscoll, Contibutor
October / November 2005

October 1, 2005 by Leave a Comment

Johnny Depp isn’t the only Hollywood star who is interested in his Irish lineage. Bad boy Billy Bob Thornton has been looking into tracing his ancestry as well.

Thornton, star of this summer’s remake The Bad News Bears, recently spoke to Sean O’Driscoll of the Irish Voice about his new film and his Irish roots.

Thorton’s father’s family is Irish, while his mother’s side is part Irish, Italian and Native American.

“That’s the side [his mother’s] we know quite a bit about. That’s the Italian-Choctaw Indian side. So ethnically, I was screwed from the beginning. Italian, Choctaw and Irish. Boy oh boy. My uncle used to say, ‘Lock up the liquor, the firearms and white women!'” he jokes.

Thornton began his search for blood relatives in 2003. His assistant has been extensively searching the Internet and genealogy records in Ireland. The search has led him to the West of Ireland and the Galway area.

Thornton has only been to the Dublin area while touring with his country rock band, but now he wants to go to the West of Ireland to search for his family.

“It turns out that most of my people were from around the Galway area which is beautiful. I do want to get there. It’s something I’m real proud of and now I want to find out more.” ♦

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Matthew Guy says

    December 18, 2017 at 9:25 pm

    Dear Mr. Thornton,
    I do genealogy on my material Thornton family.
    I see that your interested in your Thornton family and Native American ancestry, so am I. My great grandmother, Dora Agnes Thornton, was full blood Cherokee from Jumping Branch, WV.. Her family has a very interesting story which would be an interesting period piece for a play or movie. I would love to share their story with you if you’re interested.
    Best wishes and Happy holidays,
    Matthew Guy

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Highlights

News
Articles and stories from Irish America.....
MORE

Hibernia
News from Ireland and happenings in Irish America.....
MORE

Those We Lost
Remembering some of the great Irish Americans who have passed.....
MORE

Slainte!
Discover Irish ancestry, predilections, and recipes.....
MORE

Photo Album
Irish America readers share the stories of their ancestors....
MORE

More Articles

  • <b>20 Great Interviews:  John Huston</b>20 Great Interviews: John Huston
    Was it good for you?" asked the legendary director John Huston, his distinctive voice bellowing acro...

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Give a Gift
  • Newsletter
  • Customer Service

Additional

  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · IrishAmerica Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in