Biography
Despite his all-American persona, actor Matt Damon thrived in roles that ran counter to his mom-and-apple pie image. Whether playing a combative mathematics genius, a serial killer hunting the rich and famous, or a lethal spy unable to recall his identity, Damon built a strong and respected career tackling characters that went against type. After appearing in several supporting roles, Damon forged his own path with best friend Ben Affleck by …
Matt Damon SlideShow
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Career Milestones
| Acted with the prestigious American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge and with various Harvard theatre groups | ||
| Formed LivePlanet with Affleck and producers Sean Bailey and Chris Moore | ||
| Lived in a commune-like house in Cambridge with his mother and older brother | ||
| Raised in Newton and Cambridge, MA | ||
| With Ben Affleck, formed Pearl Street Productions | ||
1981 | Met and became friends with Ben Affleck, who lived two blocks away (date approximate) | |
1988 | Made feature film debut in "Mystic Pizza"; had one line | |
1990 | TV acting debut in the TV-movie "Rising Son" (TNT) | |
1992 | Played first prominent screen role in "School Ties," also featuring Affleck | |
1995 | Appeared in the TNT movie "The Good Old Boys," directed by Tommy Lee Jones | |
1996 | Landed a supporting role in "Courage Under Fire" | |
1996 | Sold script co-written with Ben Affleck, "Good Will Hunting"; Damon and Affleck co-starred in the feature which was released in 1997; received Oscar for Best Original Screenplay; had also been nominated as Best Actor | |
1997 | Made cameo appearance in "Chasing Amy," starring Affleck and directed by Kevin Smith | |
1997 | Starred in "John Grisham's 'The Rainmaker,'" directed by Francis Ford Coppola | |
1998 | Had titular role in Steven Spielberg's WWII drama "Saving Private Ryan" | |
1998 | Played leading role of a reformed gambler in "Rounders" | |
1999 | Co-starred with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law in "The Talented Mr Ripley," scripted and directed by Anthony Minghella | |
1999 | Reteamed with Affleck to play a pair of renegade angels in Kevin Smith's "Dogma" | |
2000 | LivePlanet sponsored Project Greenlight, an Internet screenwriting competition created in partnership with HBO and Miramax | |
2000 | Portrayed a 1930s golfer in "The Legend of Bagger Vance," directed by Robert Redford | |
2000 | Starred in the film version of "All the Pretty Horses," scripted and directed by Billy Bob Thornton | |
2001 | Appeared in the ensemble of "Ocean's Eleven" | |
2001 | Was an executive producer (with Ben Affleck and others) and appeared in the HBO series "Project Greenlight" which followed the making of the film "Stolen Summer" (2002) | |
2002 | Guest starred on the NBC sitcom "Will & Grace," playing a heterosexual who poses as a gay man to land a spot in a chorale group | |
2002 | With Casey Affleck, co-wrote and co-starred in the Sundance-screened "Gerry" | |
2002 | Won lead role of Jason Bourne, a spy with amnesia, in "The Bourne Identity," based on the Robert Ludlum novel | |
2003 | Co-starred with Greg Kinnear in the comedy "Stuck on You," directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly | |
2004 | Reprised role of Jason Bourne in "The Bourne Supremacy" based on the Robert Ludlum novel | |
2004 | Returned with the original cast for "Ocean's Twelve," directed by Steven Soderbergh | |
2005 | Cast as an oil executive in the geopolitical thriller "Syriana," based on the real-life memoirs of CIA agent Robert Baer; produced by George Clooney | |
2005 | Cast in Terry Gilliam's "The Brothers Grimm" opposite Heath Ledger | |
2006 | Cast as a criminal who has infiltrated the police department in Martin Scorsese's mob drama "The Departed" | |
2006 | Executive produced "Feast" a horror film, which is a result of the third season of the Project Greenlight contest | |
2006 | Portrayed CIA agent Edward Wilson in Robert De Niro's long-anticipated "The Good Shepherd," which recounts the history of the CIA from World War II through its involvement in the Bay of Pigs | |
2007 | Re-teamed with the original cast for "Ocean's 13" | |
2007 | Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame | |
2007 | Reprised role of Jason Bourne in "The Bourne Ultimatum" | |
2009 | Portrayed Francois Pienaar, the South African Rugby team captain, opposite Morgan Freeman as former President Mandela in Clint Eastwood's "Invictus" | |
2009 | Portrayed Mark Whitacre, the ADM executive turned whistle-blower in Steven Soderbergh's "The Informant" | |
2010 | Guest starred as a pilot named Carol on the season finale of "30 Rock," starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin | |
2010 | Played Texas Ranger La Boeuf in the Western written and directed by the Coen brothers, "True Grit" | |
2010 | Played an American factory worker who communicates with the dead in "Hereafter," a film written by Peter Morgan and directed by Clint Eastwood | |
2010 | Re-teamed with director Paul Greengrass for the war thriller "Green Zone" | |
2011 | Co-starred with Anna Paquin and Mark Ruffalo in "Margaret"; filming began in 2005, but spent five years in post-production | |
2011 | Joined an ensemble cast for Steven Soderbergh's "Contagion" | |
2011 | Played a father who moves his family to the countryside to renovate a struggling zoo in "We Bought a Zoo," directed by Cameron Crowe and co-starring Scarlett Johansson | |
2011 | Starred opposite Emily Blunt in the science fiction thriller "The Adjustment Bureau" | |
2011 | Voiced the character of Bill the Krill in the animated sequel "Happy Feet Two" | |
2012 | Co-wrote screenplay for "Promised Land" with John Krasinski; film based on a story by Dave Eggers and directed by Gus van Sant; also starred as a corporate salesperson | |
Awards
1997 | Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in Good Will Hunting |
1997 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen) in Good Will Hunting |
1997 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Original Screenplay in Good Will Hunting |
1997 | Critics' Choice Award for Breakthrough Performer in Good Will Hunting |
1997 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Good Will Hunting |
1997 | Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture in Good Will Hunting |
1998 | Berlin International Film Festival for Silver Bear for an Outstanding Single Achievement in Good Will Hunting |
1998 | MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss in Good Will Hunting |
1998 | MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in Good Will Hunting |
1998 | MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo in Good Will Hunting |
1998 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in Good Will Hunting |
1998 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in Good Will Hunting |
1999 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Talented Mr. Ripley |
1999 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in Saving Private Ryan |
2000 | MTV Movie Award for Best Musical Performance in The Talented Mr. Ripley |
2000 | MTV Movie Award for Best Villain in The Talented Mr. Ripley |
2002 | MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team in Ocean's Eleven |
2002 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Reality) in Project Greenlight |
2004 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program in Project Greenlight |
2005 | MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in The Bourne Supremacy |
2005 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program in Project Greenlight |
2007 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in The Departed |
2008 | MTV Movie Award for Best Fight in The Bourne Ultimatum |
2008 | MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in The Bourne Ultimatum |
2009 | Academy Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Invictus |
2009 | Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in Invictus |
2009 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in The Informant! |
2009 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Invictus |
2010 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Invictus |
2011 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Comedy Series in 30 Rock |