Matt Damon was born in 1970. His father, Kent Damon, a tax preparer, and his mother, Nancy Carlsson-Paige, a college professor, are now divorced. His older brother, Kyle (b. 1967), is a sculptor. Matt's first film role was a one-line part in Mystic Pizza. Hollywood's power brokers realized his potential as a serious actor when they saw him play a Gulf War vet-turned-heroin addict in Courage Under Fire. One of Matt's closest childhood friends was fellow young thespian Ben Affleck, who starred in Chasing Amy. Damon and Affleck collaborated on the screenplay for Good Will Hunting, in which they co-star.


The Brothers Grimm (2005): $10,000,000
The Bourne Identity (2002): $10,000,000
Ocean's Eleven (2001): $5,000,000
All the Pretty Horses (2000): $5,500,000
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000): $7,000,000
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999): $5,000,000
Rounders (1998): $600,000

Was Winona Ryder's boyfriend from New Year's Eve 1997 until they broke up in May 2000. Chosen as one of "the 50 Most beautiful people in the world" by People magazine (1998). His parents divorced when he was two and he spent part of his childhood in a commune in Boston with his mother, a specialist in child education. To perfect his Southern accent for his role as Rudy Baylor in The Rainmaker (1997), he tended bar in Knoxville, TN, for free. Later he hired one of the customers to serve as his dialect coach. Audtioned for a part in Primal Fear (1996) that was eventually played by Edward Norton. He and Norton starred together two years later in Rounders (1998). Turned down the lead role in The Quick and the Dead (1995). Leonardo DiCaprio ended up with the role. When his baby nephew cries, he sings "Afternoon Delight" for him. His grandfather is Finnish. Started a bowling league in Berlin while making The Bourne Supremacy (2004). Is the real-life best friend of Ben Affleck. Each has starred together or had cameos in some of the other's films. While promoting The Bourne Supremacy (2004) on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992), he revealed that when he was a college freshman his agent from a "ma and pa agency" inadvertently sent him and Ben Affleck to an audition for "The New Mickey Mouse Club" (1977). They were under the impression that they were going to meet the head of Touchstone Pictures. Quit smoking after visiting a hypnotist in L.A. 1998: Formed Pearl Street Productions with Ben Affleck and Chris Moore. Lost 30 pounds for his role in the film The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). Was considered for the role of Matt Murdock/Daredevil in Daredevil (2003). The role eventually went to his best friend Ben Affleck. One of his first movie roles was a one-line part in Mystic Pizza (1988) starring Julia Roberts. Later, he starred with Roberts in Ocean's Eleven (2001). Born on the same day as Sigourney Weaver, Kristanna Loken and Nick Cannon. Became stepfather to girlfriend Luciana Barroso's daughter, Alexia (born in 1998), when he married Luciana at City Hall in New York City (9 December 2005). Met his wife, Luciana Barroso, in Florida, while he was filming Stuck on You (2003) and she was working as a bartender. Was once offered the chance at playing Daredevil when it was in production at Miramax in 1999. This version would have starred Damon and been written by Kevin Smith and directed by Robert Rodriguez. However, Marvel Comics wanted too large a budget for the filmmakers' tastes. He married Luciana Barroso in New York City Hall. Francis Ford Coppola cast him in The Rainmaker (1997) after seeing him in Courage Under Fire (1996). Appears in two of the six summer 2007 "threequels": Ocean's Thirteen (2007) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). He also appeared in the second; movies of the "Bourne" and "Ocean" franchises in the same year (2004). Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (26 July 2007). Lives with his family in Florida (2007). Named "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine in 2007. He gained over 30 pounds to play Mark Whiteacre in The Informant! (2009), which he dieted off as soon as the shoot was complete. Son of Kent Damon and Nancy Carlsson-Paige. Visited Haiti with Wyclef Jean to deliver food to hurricane victims. [September 2008] Participated in the Cape Argus Cycle Tour in Cape Town, South Africa. [March 2009] Lives in Miami Beach, Florida.