Billy Bob Thornton has opened up about living with a rare health condition that requires him to follow a restrictive diet. The 70-year-old star of Landman explained that his rare blood type, AB negative, prevents him from consuming wheat, dairy products, and meat.
Rare Blood Type and Digestive Issues
Thornton claimed that his AB negative blood type leads to stomach problems. 'It means you have less digestive enzymes. That's one of the things that goes along with it,' he said on a recent episode of Howie Mandel's podcast, Howie Mandel Does Stuff.
While there is no strong scientific evidence for the blood type diet, naturopathic doctor Peter J. D’Adamo theorized that people with type AB blood 'tend to have low stomach acid' and 'should avoid caffeine, alcohol and smoked or cured meats,' according to WebMD.
Thornton's Dietary Journey
The actor first learned he had AB negative blood in the late 1980s. He recalled on the podcast that his childhood was marked by allergies, but he 'ate everything.' 'I just assumed everybody felt like s*** after they ate. I didn't know,' he told Mandel.
Thornton listed his dietary restrictions: 'I can't have dairy, wheat ... can't eat meat, like, you know, pork or beef or any of that stuff.' Mandel joked, 'You've just listed the entire pyramid.'
Thornton described his typical daily meals. On the day of the podcast, he had a 'bowl of blueberries' and decaf coffee, planning to eat 'gluten-free chips with some dairy-free cream cheese' afterward.
Vegan Diet and Occasional Cheats
In 2020, Thornton told the Mental Amanda podcast that he follows a vegan diet, calling himself 'a vegan who cheats.' He added, 'Once in a blue moon, I'll have salmon or halibut, or something like that. Simply because every now and then, I kinda feel like I need it for some reason.'
Reflections on Aging
Thornton celebrated his 70th birthday last August. He told CBS News' Sunday Morning in November 2025 that the milestone affected him, requiring 'a few meetings with myself late at night.' Despite this, he feels blessed: 'Every day when I wake up I just say I'm blessed. That's really it.'
The actor, married to his sixth wife Connie Angland and father to four adult children, also spoke about gaining respect with age. 'When I see that wisdom and see the respect that people have for them, it just kind of makes everything melt away somehow,' he said.
