Thornton Buys House Near Daughter's College to Avoid Empty Nest

Veteran actor Billy Bob Thornton, 70, is making headlines for his unconventional parenting tactics as his 21-year-old daughter Bella heads off to college. In a recent interview, Thornton openly acknowledged that he and his wife Connie Angland are "what they call helicopter parents" when it comes to their daughter.

Rather than letting Bella experience the full independence of college life, the couple has purchased a house just 12 minutes away from her campus at Cal Poly. Thornton explained that this allows Bella to "come home and do her laundry and stuff like that," essentially avoiding the traditional "empty nester" phase.

Thornton is father to a total of 5 children, including daughters Amanda, 45, and Bella, as well as sons William, 31, and Harry, 30, from previous relationships. Despite his busy acting career, the 70-year-old actor has remained deeply involved in his children's lives, drawing inspiration from his relationship with Bella for his role in the show Landman.

As Bella embarks on this new chapter, it's clear that Thornton and Angland are determined to maintain a close bond, even if it means taking their parenting to unprecedented heights.