Billy Bob Thornton Says Sam Elliott Is “a Dream Come True”

Billy Bob Thornton and Sam Elliott may play father and son on Taylor Sheridan’s hit series Landman, but their real-life connection runs far deeper — and much longer — than viewers might expect.

Despite being only 11 years apart in age, the two Hollywood veterans share a friendship that stretches back more than four decades. It’s a bond built on admiration, shared history and a genuine respect that has only grown stronger with time. Now, as they finally work together in a major way, Thornton says the experience feels almost unreal.

Here’s how one of Hollywood’s most enduring friendships began — and why it still matters today.

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A friendship that started in the 1980s

Thornton and Elliott first crossed paths in the 1980s, after being introduced by a producer at a party. At the time, Thornton was still early in his career, far from the household name he would later become.

Looking back on that first meeting, Thornton recently told We Live Entertainment that he isn’t even sure Elliott knew who he was.

“I don’t know for sure if the first time I ever met Sam, he even knew who the hell I was,” Thornton said. “I was just some little buck-tooth kid over at some party.”

What stuck, though, was Thornton’s immediate admiration for Elliott — an actor whose voice, presence and screen authority had already made him a legend of the Western genre.

“I’ve loved Sam from the moment I met him,” Thornton said. “He’s been an inspiration to me. He’s been a role model for me. And to be able to do this every day with him is a dream come true for me.”

Now 70, Thornton described the experience of acting alongside Elliott as something he once only imagined.

“When you want to be Sam Elliott, and then all of a sudden you get to sit in the scenes with him and everything,” he said, trailing off with clear awe.

Tombstone and a cast for the ages

Their first on-screen collaboration came in 1993 with the Western classic Tombstone. The film followed the Earp brothers as they attempted to leave their gunslinger past behind and settle in Tombstone, Arizona.

Elliott was among the film’s leads, while Thornton appeared in a smaller role. Even so, the production helped cement their off-screen bond.

Elliott later reflected on the film’s remarkable cast in a 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly, praising both the project and the people involved.

“That cast, I believe, was assembled by Kevin [Jarre, the writer],” Elliott said. “Billy Paxton. Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer. I mean, it’s just endless. Michael Biehn. Best fckng thing he’s ever done. Best thing Val Kilmer’s ever done. Ever.”

He didn’t forget Thornton either.

“Billy Bob Thornton, he came in and played a little bit,” Elliott said. “Amazing cast. It just had all the elements to make a great Western.”

While Tombstone didn’t lead to immediate future collaborations, it laid the groundwork for a lasting friendship that continued long after filming wrapped.

Separate paths, lasting connection

Following Tombstone, Thornton and Elliott remained close but didn’t work together for many years. Both actors built acclaimed careers, often moving in different creative directions while staying connected personally.

Their paths finally crossed again thanks to Taylor Sheridan — the creator behind Yellowstone and its expanding television universe.

In 2021, Sheridan cast Elliott in 1883, the Yellowstone prequel series. Thornton also appeared in the show, making a cameo that reunited the longtime friends on set.

Thornton later explained to Deadline how that reunion came about.

“I had done a cameo for Taylor in 1883,” he said in December 2024. “I played the Marshal of Fort Worth and had a couple of scenes with my old buddies, Sam Elliott and Tim McGraw.”

That appearance would quietly set the stage for something much bigger.

Enter Landman

At the 1883 premiere in Las Vegas, Thornton found himself seated next to Sheridan at dinner. It was there that Sheridan revealed his next idea.

“He said, ‘Listen, I’m writing this show called Landman. You’re the landman. I’m going to write it in your voice,’” Thornton recalled.

The project intrigued Thornton immediately. He explained that stories exploring the oil industry from the inside are rarely seen on screen, particularly from the perspective of people working in the fields.

“It interested me because you don’t really see the oil industry from the inside,” he said. “And you don’t see the people out there in the fields in movies very often.”

Thornton also cited the classic film Giant as a long-time favourite, adding to his interest in exploring that world. Production delays followed, including industry strikes, but when scripts eventually arrived, Thornton felt Sheridan had captured something authentic.

“The [scripts] he sent me, it’s like, wow,” he said. “He did kind of get my voice. If I were a landman, it’d be kind of like that.”

A full-circle moment in Season 2

Landman premiered three years after 1883, with Thornton leading the cast in Season 1. Elliott did not appear initially, but that changed when Season 2 debuted in Winter 2025.

This time, Elliott joined the series as Thornton’s on-screen father — a casting choice that resonated with audiences and quickly turned his character into a fan favourite.

For Elliott, the opportunity carried personal meaning.

“I’ve known Billy for a long, long time,” he told Woman’s World. “We worked briefly a couple of times. Having an opportunity to come and see him on a daily basis and try to do something special with Taylor’s work together, it’s just a great opportunity.”

He didn’t hesitate to sum it up simply.

“A real gift.”

More than just another role

For Australian viewers, Landman offers more than compelling television. It’s also a rare glimpse into the power of long-term creative relationships — ones built on trust, respect and shared experience.

After 40 years of friendship, Thornton and Elliott aren’t just acting opposite each other. They’re bringing decades of history to the screen, enriching every scene with something that can’t be scripted.

For Thornton, the feeling hasn’t faded.

Working with Sam Elliott, he says, is still a dream come true.

Billy Bob Thornton Says Sam Elliott Is “a Dream Come True” — Inside Their 40-Year Bond