Family
- father Billy Ray Thornton: Died of lung cancer c. 1973
- mother Virginia Thornton:
- brother Jimmy Don Thornton: Born c. 1958; died in 1988 of heart problems
- brother John David Thornton: Born c. 1969
- daughter Amanda Thornton: Born June 30, 1979; mother, Melissa Lee Gatlin; indicted on several charges – including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter – in connection with the October 2008 death of a 1-year-old girl she was baby sitting
- son William Langston Thornton: Born June 27, 1993; mother, Pietra Thornton
- son Harry Thornton: Born June 19, 1994; mother, Pietra Thornton
- daughter Bella Thornton: Born Sept. 22, 2004; mother, Connie Angland
- son Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt: Adopted from Cambodia in 2002 with then wife Angelina Jolie; gave up parental rights after their divorce in 2003
Companions
- Companion Connie Angland: Mother of Thornton's daughter Bella
- Danielle Dotzenrod: dating as of September 2002; engaged as of March 2003; no longer together as of March 2003
- Laura Dern: began dating in March 1997; announced plans to marry in 1999 but had separated before the end of the year
