Billy Bob Thornton's willingness to hop on a flight led to a role of a lifetime. During a Q&A session at a Landman screening in Nashville, Tenn., the actor, 69, revealed how series creator Taylor Sheridan wrote the series with him in mind after he agreed to film a brief cameo in 1883.

Billy Bob Thornton has been a force in Hollywood for over three decades. The 69-year-old Arkansas native got his start in movies such as as “One False Move,” “Tombstone” and “On Deadly Ground.” But it wasn’t until 1996’s “Sling Blade” that Thornton found critical and commercial success.

Set in the world of West Texas oil rigs, "Landman" explores big oil's impact on communities and the complex relationship between Angela and Tommy, played by Ali Larter and Billy Bob Thornton.