Billy Bob Thornton married Connie Angland in secret last year.

The 59-year-old actor tied the knot with his 49-year-old girlfriend on October 22 2014 after 12 years of dating, People magazine has confirmed.

A representative said last night (21.02.15): ''Billy Bob Thornton, 59, and longtime girlfriend Connie Angland, 49, were wed on Oct. 22, 2014 at their home in Los Angeles during a private ceremony before family.''

The 'Fargo' star - who has a 10-year-old daughter, Bella, with Connie - started dating her shortly after his divorce from Angelina Jolie in 2003.

The marriage is his sixth overall having previously been wed to Melissa Lee Gatlin for two years in 1978, actress Toni Lawrence from 1986 until 1988, actress Cynda Williams from 1990 to 1992, and Playboy model Pietra Dawn Cherniak, from 1993 to 1997, before his romance with the 'Tomb Raider' actress began in 2000.

He also has three other children, the eldest, Amanda, from his relationship with Melissa, and Harry James and William from his marriage to Pietra.

Billy Bob has previously spoken of the difficulties of being married in the public eye.

He said last year: ''Particularly like when you're in a celebrity marriage...I had one of those periods, and during that time I found celebrity to be difficult just because of privacy issues.

''I'm in a good relationship now and have been for 10 years, we have a beautiful daughter.''