Billy Bob Thornton Says Food Allergies Force Him to Follow a Strict Diet

Actor and musician Billy Bob Thornton says he follows a very restrictive diet because of severe food allergies.

During a recent appearance on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, the 70-year-old Landman star said he is allergic to many common foods, including dairy, wheat, shellfish, and meat. Thornton believes his health issues are connected to his rare blood type, AB negative.

“I have type AB negative blood, which is the rarest type in the world,” Thornton said. “Less than 1% of the population has it.”

Thornton explained that he has struggled with food allergies since childhood while growing up in Arkansas and East Texas.

“I ate everything,” he said. “I just assumed everybody felt bad after they ate. I didn’t know.”

When podcast host Howie Mandel asked what he had eaten that day, Thornton replied, “A bowl of blueberries.”

He later shared that he also planned to eat gluten-free chips with dairy-free cream cheese.

Thornton said finding food he can safely eat is often difficult, especially while traveling or attending events. He recalled visiting a green room where most of the food available contained meat, dairy, or wheat.

“There was salami and prosciutto and crackers and stuff that I couldn’t have,” he said.

Looking for something he could eat, Thornton noticed grapes on the snack table and decided to dip them in spicy Dijon mustard.

“It was one of the best things I’ve ever had in my lifetime,” he said. “Now it’s become a thing for me.”

Thornton is currently promoting the Paramount+ drama Landman, created by Taylor Sheridan. The series follows oil executive Tommy Norris as he works in the West Texas oil industry.

The show is expected to begin filming its third season in August. Thornton recently told Entertainment Weekly that viewers may see growing tension between his character and Cami, played by Demi Moore.

“Will she become the nemesis? I don’t know,” he said. “There’s got to be some kind of major competition there.”