They met on the set of U Turn in 1997. Oliver Stone directed that movie, which automatically makes it chaotic. Throw these two in the desert and boom—instant chemistry.
Laura was already a serious, acclaimed actress. Billy Bob was the eccentric from Arkansas who wore a lobster claw as a necklace. I mean, come on. How could you not be curious?
They got married in 2000. It was fast, it was furious, and it was weird in the best way. They seemed like two planets orbiting each other in a very specific, weird galaxy.
What Made Them Tick?
They were both deeply weird in a way that meshed perfectly. She grew up in a Hollywood dynasty; he grew up dirt-poor in Arkansas. Opposites attract, but also, weirdos recognize each other.
They wrote songs together. Actual songs. He’s a musician, and she sang on his album. Imagine Laura Dern singing a country-blues song, “Long Way Home.” It’s haunting. And strangely sweet.
They also made a movie together called Daddy and Them. He wrote and directed it. It’s about a dysfunctional family—basically, their comfort zone. It’s not a blockbuster, but it feels like a home movie.
