Eccentric actor Billy Bob Thornton has vowed never to be content again - fearing his happiness cursed his brother, leading to his death in 1988.

The LOVE ACTUALLY star still feels guilty about being cheerful just before JIMMY DON passed away, and believes he could prompt anther tragedy if he allowed himself to be happy again.

He says, "I got a job on the TV series The Outsiders. It was my first regular job. I was living in LA, I had a hot rod and I was footloose and fancy free. It was the first time in years I had allowed myself to be happy and then my brother Jimmy Don died from heart problems.

"We had talked about writing songs and making an album together, and when he died, I felt guilty because I was happy. Since then, I haven't been wholly happy a day in my life because I know that as soon as I am, the walls cave in. I've never got over his death and frankly, I never want to."

01/09/2004 02:39