Who Is Pietra Dawn Cherniak? Billy Bob Thornton’s Fourth Wife, Her Age, Sons, Marriage and Life Today
Pietra Dawn Cherniak is an American model who became widely known as the fourth wife of actor and director Billy Bob Thornton. The two married in 1993 and divorced in 1997, and their marriage got a lot of attention in the news. Since then, she has stayed away from the spotlight. This article explains what is known about her early life, her work, her marriage, her sons, and where things stand today. Many websites repeat the same short facts, and some mix in rumors, so this guide separates the details that appear often from the ones that are unclear.
Quick Bio of Pietra Dawn Cherniak
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Pietra Dawn Cherniak |
| Also written as | Pietra Dawn Thornton (during her marriage) |
| Date of birth | February 9, 1970 |
| Age | 56 years old (October 2026) |
| Birthplace | Santa Monica, California, USA |
| Grew up in | Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Model, sometimes listed as an actress |
| Known for | Being Billy Bob Thornton’s fourth wife |
| Ex-husband | Billy Bob Thornton |
| Wedding date | February 18, 1993 |
| Divorce | 1997 |
| Children | Two sons: William Langston Thornton and Harry James Thornton |
Who Is Pietra Dawn Cherniak?
Pietra Dawn Cherniak is a former model from California who is best known for her marriage to Billy Bob Thornton. Most pages about her describe her as the fourth wife of the Oscar-winning actor. She is not a famous actress herself, and she has never been a regular face on television or in big films. People search for her name mostly because of her link to Thornton and because their marriage ended in a public and painful way.
How Old Is Pietra Dawn Cherniak?
Pietra Dawn Cherniak is 56 years old as of October 2026. Most biography pages say she was born on February 9, 1970. A few sites show slightly different ages because they never updated their pages, but the 1970 date is the one that appears most often. Her zodiac sign is Aquarius, which fits that birthday.
Where Did Pietra Dawn Cherniak Grow Up?
Pietra Dawn Cherniak was born in Santa Monica, California, and grew up in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Some websites call her a Russian model, probably because of her last name. However, trusted entertainment pages note that she was born in the United States, so she is American. Very little is public about her parents, brothers, or sisters, and she has not given many interviews about her childhood.
What Did Pietra Dawn Cherniak Do for Work?
She worked as a model, and some sites also call her an actress. Several biography pages say she posed for Playboy magazine in January 1998, which was after her marriage ended. Other than that, there is no long list of films or shows linked to her name. She did not build a large public career, and her fame came mainly from her relationship with Thornton.
It is worth being careful here. A few low-quality websites make bigger or darker claims about her past work, and those claims have no solid proof. This article only uses facts that appear in more than one place and that sound reasonable.
How Did Pietra Dawn Cherniak Meet Billy Bob Thornton?
She met Billy Bob Thornton around 1992 in Los Angeles. At that time, Thornton was still working to become a well-known actor. He had finished his third marriage, to Cynda Williams, in 1992. Reports say the two started dating soon after they met, and their relationship moved fast.
Thornton was not yet the big star he later became. His breakthrough came in 1996 with the film Sling Blade, which he wrote, directed, and starred in. That movie brought him an Academy Award for best adapted screenplay. This means the marriage to Pietra happened mostly before his biggest fame, and the divorce came just as his career was rising.
When Did Pietra Dawn Cherniak Marry Billy Bob Thornton?
Pietra Dawn Cherniak married Billy Bob Thornton on February 18, 1993. It was his fourth marriage. They stayed married for about four years, and the marriage ended in 1997. During those years, the couple lived in California and were often in the news.
Here is a simple timeline of the relationship:
- 1992: The couple meet in Los Angeles.
- February 18, 1993: They get married.
- June 27, 1993: Their first son, William Langston Thornton, is born.
- Mid 1990s: Their second son, Harry James Thornton, is born.
- 1997: The marriage ends in divorce.
Who Are the Sons of Pietra Dawn Cherniak?
Pietra Dawn Cherniak has two sons with Billy Bob Thornton. Their first son, William Langston Thornton, was born on June 27, 1993, only a few months after the wedding. Their second son is Harry James Thornton. Both are now adults.
Thornton has said in interviews over the years that he is a father of four children in total. His other two children are Amanda, from an earlier relationship, and Bella, from his current marriage. The two sons from his marriage to Pietra grew up mostly out of the public eye. Their daily lives are private, so it is best not to look for more details than they have shared themselves.
Why Did Pietra Dawn Cherniak and Billy Bob Thornton Divorce?
The marriage ended because of serious problems that came out during the divorce case. In her divorce petition, Pietra accused Thornton of physical abuse, and she said some of it happened in front of their children. A court reportedly gave her a temporary restraining order against him. Thornton later said in interviews that his early marriages were not healthy and that he was not ready for family life at the time.
This is a sensitive topic. These claims were made in court papers, and they were widely reported by the media at that time. Because of that, it is fair to say she made the accusations, but readers should not add details that were never shared in a reliable source. Both sides have lived many years since then, and the case is now part of the past.
Who Else Was Billy Bob Thornton Married To?
Billy Bob Thornton has been married six times to five different women. Understanding his full marriage history helps explain why Pietra’s name is often listed among several others. Here is the full list:
- Melissa Lee Gatlin (1978 to 1980)
- Toni Lawrence (1986 to 1988)
- Cynda Williams (1990 to 1992)
- Pietra Dawn Cherniak (1993 to 1997)
- Angelina Jolie (2000 to 2003)
- Connie Angland (2014 to now)
His marriage to Angelina Jolie became the most famous because both were big stars. His current marriage to Connie Angland, which began in 2014, is his longest so far. Pietra fits between the early marriages and the Hollywood years that followed.
What Is Pietra Dawn Cherniak Doing Now?
There is no confirmed public news about what Pietra Dawn Cherniak is doing today. She keeps her personal life private and does not appear to share much on social media or in the press. Some websites say she is a single mother and lives a quiet life, but those pages do not name a trusted source, so those claims cannot be confirmed.
Because she is a private person, it is better not to search for her address, workplace, or family details. Writing or sharing such information can put a person at risk, and she has never invited that kind of attention.
What Is Pietra Dawn Cherniak’s Net Worth?
Pietra Dawn Cherniak’s net worth is often listed at about 1 million dollars, but this number is not confirmed. It appears on several celebrity pages that copy each other, and none of them show where the figure comes from. For comparison, Billy Bob Thornton’s net worth is often given as around 45 million dollars. Treat both numbers as rough guesses, not facts.
Why Is It Hard to Find Facts About Her?
It is hard because she has never been a public figure in her own right. Most stories about her are tied to Thornton, and many of those pages are short, copied from one another, or full of small mistakes. For example, you may see her first name written wrongly, her age shown incorrectly, or her job described in different ways.
If you want to check facts about her, here are a few simple tips:
- Look for details that appear on several different pages, not just one.
- Be careful with pages that give a net worth or private details with no source.
- Prefer news stories from the 1990s and interviews with Thornton over fan sites.
- Remember that she has chosen privacy, and that choice should be respected.
Conclusion
Pietra Dawn Cherniak is a California-born model who became known through her marriage to Billy Bob Thornton from 1993 to 1997. She was born on February 9, 1970, and she is the mother of two sons, William Langston and Harry James. Her marriage ended in a painful divorce, and she has stayed out of the public eye since then. While the web is full of short pages about her, only a few basic facts are clear, and the rest is guesswork. Sticking to the confirmed facts is the best way to understand her story fairly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Pietra Dawn Cherniak?
Pietra Dawn Cherniak was born on February 9, 1970, so she is 56 years old as of October 2026. She was born in Santa Monica, California. Some websites list different ages, but the 1970 birth date appears most often across biography pages.
Was Pietra Dawn Cherniak married to Billy Bob Thornton?
Yes. She was the fourth wife of actor Billy Bob Thornton. They married on February 18, 1993, and the marriage ended in 1997. They had two sons together, William and Harry James. Their marriage got a lot of media attention during those years.
Does Pietra Dawn Cherniak have children?
Yes, she has two sons with Billy Bob Thornton. Their names are William Langston Thornton, born on June 27, 1993, and Harry James Thornton. Both are now adults. Not much is public about their daily lives, and it is kind to respect their privacy.
What was Pietra Dawn Cherniak’s job?
She worked as a model, and some sites also describe her as an actress. Several biography pages say she posed for Playboy magazine in January 1998. Because she shares little about her career, many details come from older news stories and fan sites, so they may not be complete.
What is Pietra Dawn Cherniak doing now?
There is no confirmed public news about her current work or daily life. She keeps her personal life private and does not appear to be active in the media. Some sites say she is a single mother, but that is not confirmed by a trusted source.
