Matt Dillon

8FnM...nem8

14 Feb 2024

Matt Dillon

Matthew Raymond Dillon, born on February 18, 1964, is an esteemed American actor who has garnered significant recognition throughout his career, including an Academy Award nomination and a Grammy nomination.
Dillon began his illustrious career with his feature film debut in "Over the Edge" (1979), quickly establishing himself as a teen idol with roles in films such as "My Bodyguard" (1980), "Little Darlings" (1980), and "Liar's Moon" (1982). He further solidified his status as a prominent actor with appearances in adaptations of S. E. Hinton's novels, including "Tex" (1982), "Rumble Fish" (1983), and "The Outsiders" (1983), as well as "The Flamingo Kid" (1984).
Throughout the late 1980s and beyond, Dillon continued to excel in his craft, starring in acclaimed films such as "Drugstore Cowboy" (1989), "Singles" (1992), "To Die For" (1995), "Beautiful Girls" (1996), "There's Something About Mary" (1998), and "Wild Things" (1998). Renowned movie critic Roger Ebert once referred to him as the best actor in his age group, alongside Sean Penn.

In the 2000s, Dillon expanded his repertoire by making his directing debut with "City of Ghosts" (2002) and delivering memorable performances in films like "Factotum" (2005), "You, Me and Dupree" (2006), "Nothing but the Truth" (2008), "Sunlight Jr." (2013), and "The House That Jack Built" (2018). Notably, he won an Independent Spirit Award for his role in "Crash" (2004) and received nominations for a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the same film. Additionally, Dillon was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for narrating Jack Kerouac's "On the Road".
In 2015, Dillon showcased his talent on the small screen by starring in the first season of the FOX television series "Wayward Pines", earning himself a nomination for a Saturn Award. Throughout his career, Dillon has consistently demonstrated his versatility and prowess as an actor, earning him widespread acclaim and admiration from audiences and critics alike.

Matthew Raymond Dillon was born and raised in Mamaroneck, New York, in a loving and close-knit family. His parents, Mary Ellen and Paul Dillon, provided a nurturing environment for him and his five siblings. Paul Dillon was not only a portrait painter but also served as a sales manager for a toy bear manufacturer, Union Camp. Additionally, he was well-known as the long-time golf coach at Fordham University, earning induction into the school's Hall of Fame in 2019.
Dillon's family heritage included a connection to comic strip artist Alex Raymond, the creator of Flash Gordon, as his paternal grandmother was Raymond's sister. Growing up in a Roman Catholic household of Irish descent, Dillon shared his upbringing with one sister and four brothers, one of whom is fellow actor Kevin Dillon. The Dillon family fostered a strong sense of community and faith, contributing to Matthew's upbringing in Mamaroneck, where he spent his formative years.

Matthew Raymond Dillon's acting career began in 1978 when he was discovered by Jane Bernstein and a friend while cutting class at Hommocks Middle School in Larchmont. He auditioned for a role and made his debut in the teen drama "Over the Edge." Despite its limited release, Dillon's performance was well-received, leading to roles in two successful films the following year: the teenage sex comedy "Little Darlings" and the teen dramedy "My Bodyguard." These roles raised Dillon's profile among teen audiences.
In the early 1980s, Dillon continued to establish himself as a versatile actor with roles in various projects. He appeared in the Jean Shepherd PBS special "The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters" and played Jack Duncan in "Liar's Moon." Dillon had prominent roles in three adaptations of S. E. Hinton novels: "Tex," "The Outsiders," and "Rumble Fish," all shot in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He followed these up with "The Flamingo Kid" in 1984 and made his Broadway debut in "The Boys of Winter" in 1985.

Dillon's talent and versatility were further showcased in the 1989 film "Drugstore Cowboy," for which he received critical acclaim for his performance as a drug addict. He continued to work in the early 1990s with roles in films like "Singles" and experienced a resurgence with roles in "To Die For," "Wild Things," and "There's Something About Mary," for which he received an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain.
Throughout his career, Dillon has demonstrated his ability to tackle diverse roles across different genres, earning recognition for his performances and solidifying his status as a respected actor in the industry.

In 2002, Matthew Raymond Dillon ventured into writing and directing with the film "City of Ghosts," in which he also starred alongside James Caan and Gérard Depardieu. Three years later, he appeared in "Factotum," a film adaptation of Charles Bukowski's autobiographical work. Dillon's career reached new heights in 2007 when he received critical acclaim and earned nominations for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globe Awards and Academy Awards for his role in "Crash," a film co-written and directed by Paul Haggis.

In addition to his film work, Dillon starred in Disney's "Herbie: Fully Loaded" in 2005 and hosted "Saturday Night Live" on March 11, 2006, where he showcased his comedic talent by impersonating Greg Anderson and Rod Serling in sketches. He was honored with the Premio Donostia prize at the San Sebastián International Film Festival on September 29, 2006.
Dillon also contributed his voice as the narrator, Sal Paradise, in an audiobook version of Jack Kerouac's novel "On the Road" and narrated "Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos" in 2006.

Throughout his career, Dillon has made appearances in various music videos, including Madonna's "Bad Girl" and The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York." In 2007, he directed the music video for Dinosaur Jr.'s single "Been There All The Time." Dillon also guest-starred on "The Simpsons" in the episode "Midnight Towboy."
In 2015, he played the role of a Secret Service agent in the FOX 10-episode series "Wayward Pines." Dillon continued to showcase his versatility as an actor in 2018 when he played the lead role in Lars von Trier's thriller "The House That Jack Built."
Looking ahead, Dillon is set to portray Marlon Brando in the upcoming biopic "Maria," adding another notable character portrayal to his impressive resume.