August 20, 2007 - Billy Bob Thornton is a man of many faces--from the mentally-handicapped murderer in Sling Blade to the inspirational high-school coach in Friday Night Lights. But one role that has really struck a chord with cinematic audiences is his persona as the snarky, mean-spirited grinch, who offers a jaded dose of edgy comedic relief.

Thornton will wear that venerable jerk-hat once again in Mr. Woodcock, playing a cruel, sadistic coach who traumatizes Jr. High School kids for kicks. Rising from the undies-exposing humiliation is the grown-up John Farley (Seann William Scott), who once again faces his old nemesis after discovering that his own mom is dating the scathing gym teacher.

In light of Thornton's reprisal of this niche, we take a look at the memorable mean-streaks of his past movies:

Waking Up in Reno
One of his more overlooked black comedies, this film arguably put Billy Bob Thornton on the radar for directors' looking to fill the "middle-aged trashy sleezeball" roles. His classless persona is immediately established as Lonnie Earl, a gruff, curt, and unabashed redneck. Lonnie and his wife embark on a road trip with their best-friend couple, Roy and Candy. Hillbilly drama ensues as Lonnie's affair with Candy becomes known, setting the pace for sinister humor in what normally ought to be a tragic tale.

Bad Santa
The antithesis to Miracle on 34th Street's Santa, Billy Bob Thornton plays Willie T. Stokes, an embittered, cursing mall Santa who loots the mall safe every Christmas eve--only to squander the money on booze. Unreliable and drunk, he and his filching dwarf cohort face a series of setbacks for their latest heist. But in the midst of his womanizing, crude quips and suicidal reckless abandon, Willie surprisingly shows a soft spot for a bullied, slow-witted kid called Therman Merman. Showing a complex, strangely heart-warming side to what is otherwise a miserable loser, Thornton proves that he can play a multi-dimensioned grump--creating a mold for movies to come.

Bad News Bears
Once again filling the shoes of the cantankerous nobody, Billy Bob Thornton plays Morris Buttermaker, a has-been Minor-League baseball player who's sunk to new lows after getting booted out of baseball for attacking an umpire. Like Bad Santa, Thornton lives for booze and picking up women--all the while coaching a children's baseball league on the side. Inevitably, his repressed paternal underpinnings swell to the surface, as he guides the hopeless motley crew of kids to the championship game.

School for Scoundrels
Based on a British 1960s film with the same name, Thornton shifts gears into harassing older kids, this an aloof social reject named Roger (played by Napolean Dynamite's Jon Heder). Wanting to win the heart of a foreign grad school student, Roger takes a class taught by Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton). Learning hyper-male chauvinistic etiquette reminiscent of Fight Club, Roger seems ready to woo his crush--until Dr. P gets an envy streak and decides to compete for her as well. The two spend the rest of the movie humiliating, degrading and annoying each other in yet another love-to-hate role for the venerable Thornton.

Will Billy Bob Thornton break new sleaze-ball ground with Mr. Woodcock? Find out when the movie hits theaters on October 26. Also, vote for your favorite black-humor role for Thornton below.