- Billy Wayne is famous as the first husband of Anna Nicole Smith; a model and actress
- The former couple met while working together at Jim’s Krispy Fried Chicken in Mexia, Texas during their teenage years
- Billy currently maintains privacy from the media and notable information about him was last recorded after the death of his son and ex-wife in 2006 and 2007 respectively
Billy Wayne Smith is an American restaurant cook who is best known as the ex-husband of Anna Nicole Smith. Though they were ordinary Americans at the time of their marriage, Anna soon found fame through her modeling career and second marriage to James Howard Marshall; a billionaire businessman and government official.
Apparently, Billy got captured in the complex life of his ex-wife and the controversies that accompanied it. Although Anna is long dead, questions about Billy’s whereabouts have continued to attract public interest. Here’s all you should know.
A Brief Biography of Anna Nichole Smith’s Ex-Husband
Billy Wayne Smith was born to his parents sometime in 1968 which means that he is currently 56 years old. Though details about his early life and family background are elusive to the media, we garnered that he holds American nationality.
After Billy’s elementary education, he proceeded to high school but soon dropped out. There are speculations that just like his ex-wife, his family also struggled financially. Hence, he dabbled in several jobs until he settled as a fry cook for Jim’s Krispy Fried Chicken in Mexia, Texas.
Billy Wayne Smith and Anna Nichole Met While Working at a Restaurant
As you would easily find, Billy was the first husband of Anna Nicole who was born Vickie Lynn Hogan. The pair first met at Jim’s Krispy Fried Chicken; a restaurant in Mexia where they were both working after dropping out from school.
As hinted, Billy was the restaurant’s fry cook while Anna was a waitress. The pair started a romantic relationship sometime in May 1984 and decided to get married on the 4th of April precisely 1985. At the time, Billy was only 16 years old while Anna was 17. Their wedding ceremony was witnessed by a small circle of friends and family members.
A year into the marriage, the pair welcomed their first and only child Daniel Wayne Smith. He was born on January 22 1986 in Mexia, Texas.
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The Former Couple Officially Divorced After 6 Years of Separation
Barely 2 years after Billy and Anna got married, trouble began to brew in their marriage which saw them go separate ways in 1987. It is said that the teenage couple had a hard time coping with the birth of their son as their jobs took the best of their time. Also, Anna had earlier complained that her husband wasn’t paying so much attention to her.
Anna moved to Houston with their child Daniel who was still an infant. He was raised by his maternal grandmother, Virgie Arthur. Be it as it may, Billy’s ex-wife dabbled in several odd jobs to sustain a livelihood. She worked at Walmart and Red Lobster before switching to entertainment.
Even though she was legally married to Billy Smith, she allegedly started dating Howard Marshall; a billionaire businessman who was 63 years older than her, and they got married in 1994.
Notably, Billy and Anna’s marriage legally ended in 1993 after being separated for 6 years. This happened a year before she married her billionaire husband Marshall. At the time she was in her 26 while Marshall was 83.
Billy’s ex-wife, Anna became known after her marriage to Marshall and the controversies that proceeded after his death. Anna’s fame is often branded to her modeling career. The height of it being her appearance on Playboy and Playmate of 1993.
What is Billy Wayne Smith Up To?
Billy Smith, you would agree is only in the media face for his marriage to Anna Nicole Smith. Since their divorce, nothing much has been heard about him. As such, it’s assumed that he probably continued as a fry cook with Jim’s Krispy restaurant.
The father of one was last seen at his son’s memorial service in the Bahamas in 2006. Daniel Wayne Smith was 21 years old when he tragically died at Doctors Hospital in Nassau, Bahamas after reportedly taking an overdose of methadone.
Apprehensively, Billy’s absence at his ex-wife’s funeral in 2007 five months after his son’s death garnered questions of concern. While many worried over Billy’s health, others simply acknowledged that they probably didn’t maintain a great relationship after parting ways.
Notwithstanding, it was asserted that Billy Wayne Smith approved that his ex-wife should be buried in the Bahamas by their son’s side as per her wish even though this was against her mother’s wishes of bringing her corpse to Texas. Anna was 39 years at the time of her death. She died of a drug overdose on February 8. 2007.
At present, there are no hints as regards Billy’s whereabouts. His current career pursuit is also not known. However, we can only presume that he may have started a new family and is probably still in the food business line. Whatever the case, Billy Wayne Smith will always be known as the first husband of Anna Nichole Smith.
