Billy Bob Thornton‘s rare blood type is his biggest lesson!

The “Landman” star revealed how much he has had to sacrifice when it comes to managing the demanding requirements of his unique blood type, especially relating to diet.

Billy Bob Thornton usually describes himself as “a vegan who cheats” because he occasionally breaks his strictly plant-based diet rule for some good Texas Barbecue.

Billy Bob Thornton’s Big Reveal About His Rare Blood Type

The filmmaker revealed that his AB-negative blood type, which he discovered in 1980, led him to have a restrictive diet that excludes wheat, dairy products, and meat from the lineup.

The AB- negative blood, according to the NHS Blood Donation, is the rarest blood type in the ABO blood group, accounting for 3% of donors. Only people with AB-negative and AB-positive blood cells can receive blood from AB-negative donors.

He noted that having the rare blood type came with stomach issues because he has fewer digestive enzymes. The actor continued on the “Howie Mandel Does Stuff” podcast, saying that he later understood why he had so many allergies. However, he generally assumed people were supposed to feel terrible after eating.

He added that his meals have now changed to healthier options like fruits and gluten-free edibles, revealing that before hopping on the podcast, he had been eating unhealthy foods. Thornton revealed that he had a bowl of blueberries and decaf coffee, and would then explore some dairy-free cream cheese later.

The Hollywood Personality Opened Up About His Eating Habits In 2020

Thornton, in 2020, shared on the “Mental Amanda” podcast that he is “a vegan who cheats,” but with a limit. He added that once in a while, he would have a salmon or halibut to satisfy his cravings for something like that.

In 2025, the actor marked the big 70 milestone and had a lot to say about the feeling of aging gracefully and the subtle fear that comes with it. As stated by The Daily Mail, he noted that through his journey, he has discovered the phenomenon of gaining more respect with age. In his words:

“We’ve all seen each other get older, and when I see that wisdom and see the respect that people have for them, it just kind of makes everything melt away somehow.”

He concluded that all his successful endeavors, as an actor and as a musician, make him wake up every day feeling immensely grateful for such an opportunity to create a legacy.

Billy Bob Thornton Battled A Series Of Health Issues In The Past

As stated by The List, the Hollywood icon shared during an interview that in 1998, he experienced an eating disorder while filming “U Turn” after he shed 59 pounds and became anorexic. He tied the outcome to his feeding on canned tuna and Twizzlers in order to appear gaunt for his role.

Two years after his eating disorder, he was rushed to Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Hospital following a viral infection. The health scare was followed up with several rumors circulating in public, from claims that he actually had a heart attack, to another theory that he could only eat orange-colored foods.

The actor was also diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD years down the line due to his history of a tough childhood laced with abuse from his father. He also experienced peculiar phobias, such as being uncomfortable when sitting in a quiet, dark place during a play or speech, and he would have to suppress the urge to hop on stage.

The 70-Year-Old Got Candid About The Effects Of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The Blast shared that during an interview with Ann Curry in 2004, the actor revisited the unpleasant memories from his childhood, where he suffered physical and emotional abuse. He continued that his experiences may have triggered his OCD because he is constantly in flight mode, always calculating in his head, making it emotionally and mentally exhausting.

“I would hear the car pull in the driveway around 4 o’clock usually, and I would, in my head, I would say if I can count to a hundred five times before I hear the car come in the driveway, everything’s going to be okay,” he explained further.

The actor’s OCD has also made him do some wild stuff, like touching an older gentleman with a leathery wrinkly neck with lots of blackheads. He confessed that while he felt the urge to pop it, he made do with just getting a feel of it by pretending to use a magazine rack near him.

Billy Bob Thornton Reminisced About His Time With Angelina Jolie

The Blast noted that the actor was previously married to the “Salt” actress, and it was a union filled with intense attention from the media. Beyond the glitz surrounding their marriage, Thornton revealed that their time together was filled with warmth and happiness.

Describing it as one of the greatest times of his life, he noted that they remain really good friends. He added that their split was also very calm because the separation stemmed from clashes in their personal lives and careers, not from arguments.

He continued that the attention on their marriage became overwhelming for him, and he could not go anywhere without being chased by cameras, so much so that some comments he made were turned into sound bites.

Rooting for Billy Bob Thornton to always get away with more cheat days!