Pietra Dawn Cherniak is an American former model best known as the fourth wife of actor Billy Bob Thornton. The couple married in 1993 and had two sons, William Langston Thornton and Harry James Thornton, before divorcing in 1997.
Cherniak also became known for her work as a model, including an appearance in Playboy. After her divorce, she largely stepped away from Hollywood and has kept much of her personal life private.
Pietra Dawn Cherniak’s Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Pietra Dawn Cherniak |
| Date of birth | February 9, 1970 |
| Age | 56 years old as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Santa Monica, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Former model |
| Known for | Being Billy Bob Thornton’s fourth wife |
| Ex-husband | Billy Bob Thornton |
| Marriage | 1993–1997 |
| Children | William Langston Thornton and Harry James Thornton |
Pietra Dawn Cherniak’s Early Life
Pietra Dawn Cherniak was born on February 9, 1970, in Santa Monica, California.
Very little reliable information is available about her childhood. Some reports claim her family moved to Russia when she was young, but this has not been confirmed by a strong source.
Information about her parents and siblings is also not publicly available.
Her educational background has not been reliably documented.
Pietra Dawn Cherniak’s Career
Cherniak worked as a model and gained public attention during the 1990s.
She is most closely associated with Playboy. Reports say she appeared in the magazine in January 1998, after the end of her marriage to Billy Bob Thornton.
She reportedly said that the appearance was a way to declare her independence and bring attention to women leaving abusive relationships.
Some sources also describe Cherniak as an actress and mention an appearance on E! True Hollywood Story. However, there is little evidence of a major acting career.
More recent reports claim she has worked in real estate in Malibu and the wider Los Angeles area. This information has not been independently confirmed.
How Did Pietra Dawn Cherniak Meet Billy Bob Thornton?
Cherniak reportedly met Billy Bob Thornton outside an Italian restaurant in Los Angeles.
Sources disagree slightly about the year. Some say they met in 1991, while others place the meeting in 1992.
They began a relationship and married on February 18, 1993.
Cherniak was 23 years old at the time, while Thornton was 37.
The couple reportedly lived in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles.
Her Marriage to Billy Bob Thornton
Pietra was Billy Bob Thornton’s fourth wife.
During their marriage, she often attended public events with him. She was seen at the Sling Blade premiere in November 1996 and attended several Hollywood events with Thornton in 1997.
She also accompanied him during the 69th Academy Awards, when Thornton received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Sling Blade.
The marriage lasted about four years.
Pietra Dawn Cherniak and Billy Bob Thornton’s Divorce
Cherniak filed for divorce on April 11, 1997, citing irreconcilable differences.
The divorce attracted major media attention because she also accused Thornton of domestic abuse and requested a restraining order.
According to reports about her court filing, she accused Thornton of hitting, pushing, punching and biting her, sometimes in front of their children.
Thornton denied the allegations.
Because the accusations were disputed, they should be described as allegations rather than proven facts.
There were also rumors in 1997 that Thornton had been involved with actress Laura Dern. Thornton denied the affair reports. He later had a public relationship with Dern, and the two became engaged before separating in 1999.
Pietra and Billy Bob Later Became Friends
Their relationship appears to have improved after the divorce.
In a 2003 Playboy interview, Thornton said Pietra had become one of his closest friends and that they were getting along well while raising their children.
Cherniak also attended Thornton’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on October 7, 2004. Their sons and other family members were present at the event.
Pietra Dawn Cherniak’s Children
Pietra and Billy Bob Thornton have two sons.
Their first son, William Langston Thornton, was born on June 27, 1993.
William has generally stayed away from the public eye. Reports say he worked as his father’s assistant during the production of Bad Santa 2 in 2016.
Their second son, Harry James Thornton, was born on June 19, 1994.
Harry has worked in real estate and in the film industry. He has been described as a luxury real estate agent and has also worked in property and prop departments on entertainment projects.
In 2022, Harry appeared on the E! reality series Relatively Famous: Ranch Rules.
Harry reportedly has two daughters, Mia and Nikita, with his fiancée, Magi Monet. This makes Pietra a grandmother.
Who Is Billy Bob Thornton?
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, writer, director and musician.
He is known for movies such as Sling Blade, Armageddon, A Simple Plan and Bad Santa.
Thornton has been married six times. His wives have included Melissa Lee Gatlin, Toni Lawrence, Cynda Williams, Pietra Dawn Cherniak, Angelina Jolie and Connie Angland.
He married Connie Angland in 2014. They have a daughter named Bella Thornton.
Where Is Pietra Dawn Cherniak Now?
Cherniak has mostly stayed away from Hollywood publicity since the end of her marriage.
Several reports say she currently lives in Malibu, California, and has worked in real estate. However, details about her present career and daily life are limited.
She does not regularly give public interviews or make frequent celebrity appearances.
Pietra Dawn Cherniak’s Net Worth
Pietra Dawn Cherniak’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some celebrity websites estimate it at between $500,000 and $1 million, but there is no public financial evidence confirming that figure.
Is Pietra Dawn Cherniak on Social Media?
Her social media presence is unclear.
Some reports mention a profile identifying her as a Malibu Realtor. Other sources say she does not have any verified public Instagram, Facebook or X account.
No widely confirmed official account is currently associated with her.
Interesting Facts
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She was born on February 9, 1970, in Santa Monica, California.
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She was Billy Bob Thornton’s fourth wife.
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They married on February 18, 1993.
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Their marriage ended in 1997.
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They have two sons, William Langston and Harry James Thornton.
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Cherniak worked as a model and appeared in Playboy.
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She accused Thornton of domestic abuse during their divorce, which he denied.
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Thornton later said they had become close friends and were successfully co-parenting.
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She attended his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2004.
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Her son Harry appeared on Relatively Famous: Ranch Rules in 2022.
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Pietra reportedly has two granddaughters, Mia and Nikita.
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She has kept a low public profile for many years.
