Reveals: Robert Redford's Life Changed Conversation With Billy Bob Thornton

Robert Redford Changed Billy Bob's Career

A conversation with Robert Redford changed Billy Bob Thornton's career trajectory.

Three years before taking Hollywood by storm with Sling Blade (1996), his blistering drama about a mentally disabled man with a mysterious past for which he won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar, Thornton, 66, filmed a small part in Indecent Proposal (1993).

Adrian Lyne's thriller starred Redford, 85, as a millionaire who offers a couple, David and Diana, $1 million for a night with Diana.

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Robert Redford Indecent Proposal Movie

Discussing key moments that had a significant influence on his life, Thornton recalls that he was in the scene in a movie where Robert Redford starred in Indecent Proposal. During a break, he came up to me and said, 'This is an amazing article.'

He was holding a publication with an article praising One False Move Thornton's 1992 directorial debut."

Robert Redford said; that Thornton continues that this is a great film. You have a career because of this. People are going to take notice.

But then he said here's what you don't do. Do these kinds of movies and take supporting roles, and then do your own thing before you take a big movie. Now that you've done this don't take the next big film.

And he was right because a few years later, we made Sling Blade," Thornton concludes.

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The Gray Man Co-Stars With Similar Advice From Director

The actor, who can be seen co-starring opposite Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling in Netflix's The Gray Man, says he got similar advice from legendary director Billy Wilder, whom he met while working as a waiter.

He said to do my things, Thornton remembers. He did this with Sling Blade.

Robert certainly didn't write it as a calling card, he says of the breakthrough film. Initially, I just thought it would probably be something my mom and my brothers would see and my aunts, uncles, and a few people.

He had no idea that it was going to have the impact that it had. Once you get nominated for an Academy Award, it creates this cachet, and it doesn't go away. You are known for being in that club or something, you know? So it was completely unexpected, and it changed my life. It did.