Matt Damon American Actor, Producer, and Screenwriter
Matt Damon (born October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter who has become one of Hollywood’s most bankable and versatile stars.
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Damon first gained fame as the co-writer and star of Good Will Hunting (1997), which won him and Ben Affleck the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. His heartfelt performance also earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Damon went on to achieve international stardom with his role as Jason Bourne in the blockbuster Bourne franchise and as a con artist in the Ocean’s Eleven trilogy. He has worked across drama, action, and comedy with equal skill.
His performance in The Martian (2015) brought him a Golden Globe Award and another Academy Award nomination, cementing his reputation as a leading man with both critical and commercial appeal.
Photo: Bill Ingalls, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (edited)
Date of Birth: October 8, 1970
Place of Birth: Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality: American
Known for: Good Will Hunting, The Bourne Identity, Ocean’s Eleven, The Martian
Career Highlights
Damon’s career has been defined by his ability to balance blockbuster success with critically acclaimed performances. He has collaborated with renowned directors including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, and the Coen brothers.
Philanthropy and Personal Life
Beyond acting, Damon is a co-founder of the water.org initiative, advocating for clean water access worldwide. He is also recognized for his long-standing friendship and collaborations with fellow actor Ben Affleck.
Legacy
Matt Damon remains a beloved figure in Hollywood, celebrated for his talent, humility, and lasting contributions to film. With an enduring career spanning decades, he continues to inspire audiences worldwide.
Filmography & Television Credits (Full)
| Year | Title | Category | Role / Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature Films, Animation, Documentaries (Selected Credit Types Included) | ||||
| 1996 | Courage Under Fire | Film | Specialist Ilario | Early war drama |
| 1997 | Chasing Amy | Film | Shawn Oran | Indie cameo role |
| 1997 | The Rainmaker | Film | Rudy Baylor | Legal lead role |
| 1997 | Good Will Hunting | Film | Will Hunting | Oscar screenplay win |
| 1998 | Saving Private Ryan | Film | Private James Francis Ryan | Spielberg WWII epic |
| 1998 | Rounders | Film | Mike McDermott | Poker cult classic |
| 1999 | Dogma | Film | Loki | Satirical fantasy role |
| 1999 | The Talented Mr. Ripley | Film | Tom Ripley | Psychological thriller lead |
| 2000 | Titan A.E. | Animation | Cale | Voice lead role |
| 2000 | The Legend of Bagger Vance | Film | Rannulph Junuh | Golf period drama |
| 2000 | Finding Forrester | Film | Steven Sanderson | Brief cameo part |
| 2000 | All the Pretty Horses | Film | John Grady Cole | McCarthy adaptation |
| 2001 | Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | Film | Himself | Meta cameo appearance |
| 2001 | Ocean's Eleven | Film | Linus Caldwell | Heist ensemble role |
| 2001 | The Majestic | Film | Luke Trimble | Voice supporting role |
| 2002 | Gerry | Film | Gerry | Also co-writer |
| 2002 | Stolen Summer | Film | Producer | Producer-only credit |
| 2002 | Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron | Animation | Spirit | Voice performance |
| 2002 | The Third Wheel | Film | Kevin | Cameo; exec prod |
| 2002 | The Bourne Identity | Film | Jason Bourne | Franchise lead launch |
| 2002 | Confessions of a Dangerous Mind | Film | Bachelor Matt | Brief cameo role |
| 2002 | Speakeasy | Film | Executive Producer | Exec-producer credit |
| 2003 | The Battle of Shaker Heights | Film | Producer | Producer credit |
| 2003 | Stuck on You | Film | Bob Tenor | Comedy supporting role |
| 2004 | EuroTrip | Film | Donny | Unexpected cameo |
| 2004 | Jersey Girl | Film | PR Exec #2 | Supporting credit |
| 2004 | The Bourne Supremacy | Film | Jason Bourne | Bourne sequel lead |
| 2004 | Ocean's Twelve | Film | Linus Caldwell | Heist sequel ensemble |
| 2004 | Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train | Documentary | Narrator | Doc narration credit |
| 2005 | Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D | Film | Alan Shepard | Astronaut portrayal |
| 2005 | The Brothers Grimm | Film | Wilhelm Grimm | Fantasy adventure role |
| 2005 | Syriana | Film | Bryan Woodman | Political thriller role |
| 2005 | Feast | Film | Executive Producer | Exec-producer credit |
| 2006 | The Departed | Film | Sergeant Colin Sullivan | Crime thriller lead |
| 2006 | The Good Shepherd | Film | Edward Wilson | Spy drama lead |
| 2007 | Ocean's Thirteen | Film | Linus Caldwell | Heist trilogy entry |
| 2007 | The Bourne Ultimatum | Film | Jason Bourne | Bourne trilogy climax |
| 2007 | Youth Without Youth | Film | Ted Jones | Uncredited appearance |
| 2007 | Running the Sahara | Documentary | Narrator | Narration; exec prod |
| 2008 | Che: Part Two | Film | Father Schwarz | Historical supporting role |
| 2008 | Ponyo | Animation | Kōichi | English dub voice |
| 2009 | The Informant! | Film | Mark Whitacre | Corporate whistleblower |
| 2009 | Invictus | Film | Francois Pienaar | Oscar supporting nom |
| 2010 | Teenage Paparazzo | Documentary | Himself | Documentary appearance |
| 2010 | Green Zone | Film | Roy Miller | Iraq war thriller |
| 2010 | Hereafter | Film | George Lonegan | Supernatural drama lead |
| 2010 | True Grit | Film | LaBoeuf | Western supporting role |
| 2010 | Inside Job | Documentary | Narrator | Finance doc narration |
| 2011 | The Adjustment Bureau | Film | David Norris | Sci-fi romance lead |
| 2011 | Contagion | Film | Mitch Emhoff | Pandemic thriller lead |
| 2011 | Margaret | Film | Mr. Aaron | Drama supporting role |
| 2011 | Happy Feet Two | Animation | Bill the Krill | Voice supporting role |
| 2011 | We Bought a Zoo | Film | Benjamin Mee | Family drama lead |
| 2012 | Promised Land | Film | Steve Butler | Also co-writer |
| 2012 | Radioman | Documentary | Himself | Documentary appearance |
| 2013 | Behind the Candelabra | Film | Scott Thorson | Emmy-BAFTA attention |
| 2013 | Elysium | Film | Max Da Costa | Sci-fi action lead |
| 2013 | The Zero Theorem | Film | Management | Supporting role |
| 2014 | The Monuments Men | Film | James Granger | WWII art recovery |
| 2014 | The Man Who Saved the World | Documentary | Himself | Documentary cameo |
| 2014 | Interstellar | Film | Dr. Mann | Sci-fi supporting role |
| 2015 | The Martian | Film | Mark Watney | Oscar actor nom |
| 2016 | Manchester by the Sea | Film | Producer | Best Picture nom |
| 2016 | Jason Bourne | Film | Jason Bourne | Also producer credit |
| 2016 | The Great Wall | Film | William Garin | Action-adventure lead |
| 2017 | Bending the Arc | Documentary | Executive Producer | Global health doc |
| 2017 | Downsizing | Film | Paul Safranek | Satire lead role |
| 2017 | Suburbicon | Film | Gardner Lodge | Dark comedy lead |
| 2017 | Thor: Ragnarok | Film | Loki (actor) | Uncredited cameo |
| 2018 | Unsane | Film | Detective Ferguson | Brief cameo part |
| 2018 | Deadpool 2 | Film | Redneck #1 | Humorous cameo credit |
| 2018 | Ocean's 8 | Film | Linus Caldwell | Deleted-scene cameo |
| 2019 | Ford v Ferrari | Film | Carroll Shelby | Racing drama lead |
| 2019 | Jay and Silent Bob Reboot | Film | Loki | Returning cameo |
| 2021 | No Sudden Move | Film | Mike Lowen / Mr. Big | Uncredited cameo |
| 2021 | Stillwater | Film | Bill Baker | Crime drama lead |
| 2021 | The Last Duel | Film | Jean de Carrouges | Also co-writer |
| 2022 | Thor: Love and Thunder | Film | Loki (actor) | Brief cameo |
| 2023 | Air | Film | Sonny Vaccaro | Also producer credit |
| 2023 | Oppenheimer | Film | General Leslie Groves | Ensemble award win |
| 2024 | Drive-Away Dolls | Film | Senator Gary Channel | Cameo appearance |
| 2024 | IF | Animation | Sunny | Voice role |
| 2024 | Small Things Like These | Film | Producer | Producer-only credit |
| 2024 | The Instigators | Film | Rory | Also producer credit |
| 2024 | Unstoppable | Film | Executive Producer | Exec-producer credit |
| 2025 | Kiss of the Spider Woman | Film | — | Upcoming film credit |
| 2025 | The Accountant 2 | Film | — | Upcoming film credit |
| 2026 | The RIP | Film | Lt. Dane Dumars | Completed; producer |
| 2026 | The Odyssey | Film | Odysseus | Post-production lead |
| TBA | Animals | Film | Producer | Filming; producer-only |
| Television | ||||
| 1990 | Rising Son | TV film | Charlie Robinson | Early TV film |
| 1995 | The Good Old Boys | TV film | Cotton Calloway | TV drama role |
| 2001–2005, 2015 | Project Greenlight | TV series | Himself | Exec producer credit |
| 2002 | Push, Nevada | TV series | — | TV credit listed |
| 2002 | The Bernie Mac Show | TV series | Himself | Single-episode guest |
| 2002 | Will & Grace | TV series | Owen | Guest arc role |
| 2002, 2018 | Saturday Night Live | TV series | Himself / Host; Brett Kavanaugh | Multiple appearances |
| 2003–2014 | Journey to Planet Earth | TV documentary | Narrator | Long-run narration |
| 2006–present | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Talk show | Himself | Recurring guest bit |
| 2007 | Arthur | TV series | Himself (voice) | Animated cameo voice |
| 2009 | Entourage | TV series | Himself | Single-episode cameo |
| 2009 | The People Speak | TV documentary | Narrator | Narration; exec prod |
| 2010 | Cubed | TV series | Himself | Guest appearance |
| 2010–2011 | 30 Rock | TV series | Carol Burnett | Multi-episode guest |
| 2013 | House of Lies | TV series | Himself | Single-episode cameo |
| 2014 | Years of Living Dangerously | TV documentary | — | Documentary episode |
| 2015 | The Leisure Class | TV film | Executive Producer | TV movie credit |
| 2016 | The Runner | TV series | Executive Producer | Exec producer credit |
| 2016 | Incorporated | TV series | Executive Producer | Exec producer credit |
| 2019–2022 | City on a Hill | TV series | Executive Producer | Series producer credit |
| 2024 | We Were the Lucky Ones | TV series | Executive Producer | Limited series credit |
| 2025 | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | TV series | Himself | Water.org charity win |
Awards & Distinctions (SEO-relevant)
- Academy Award — Best Original Screenplay (Good Will Hunting) (won).
- Academy Award nominations — Best Actor (Good Will Hunting), Best Supporting Actor (Invictus).
- Academy Award nomination — Best Actor (The Martian).
- Academy Award nomination — Best Picture (Manchester by the Sea) (producer).
- Critics' Choice — Best Acting Ensemble (Oppenheimer) (won).
References
- Wikipedia — Matt Damon filmography (films & TV tables)
- Wikipedia — Awards and nominations list
- Britannica — Matt Damon (biography overview)
- Oscars.org — 70th Academy Awards (Good Will Hunting results)
- IMDb — Matt Damon (full credits index)