Actor Matt Damon earned his way to fame playing difficult roles and writing a film that blew critics and audiences out of the water. Since breaking onto the scene he’s starred in tons of blockbusters (like The Bourne Supremacy and Ocean's 11) and his new feel-good family film We Bought A Zoo is in theaters now. Find out more in his Kidzworld bio!
Matt Damon
Made in Massachusetts
Matthew Paige Damon was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His father was a stockbroker and realtor and his mother taught at a university, but both he and his older brother Kyle are artists, Matt as an actor and his brother as a sculptor. When they were young their parents separated and they moved to Cambridge, MA. It was there that Matt first realized he was interested in acting. He took part in as many theater productions as he could as a kid, but he was talented at both theater and academic subjects and was accepted into the prestigious Harvard University to study English .
Matt starred as Jason Bourne is the spy thriller blockbuster series The Bourne Identity
Harvard Hottie
At Harvard Matt continued to pursue acting. In fact, he had to skip lots of classes for auditions, but it paid off. He scored roles in small films like the TV movie Rising Sun and the prep school drama School Ties. When he landed a part in Geronimo: An American Tale, Matt decided it was time to quit school for good and try to act full time. Although Matt was getting roles and working hard, he still hadn’t broken into the mainstream, even after playing a difficult (and critically applauded role) as a soldier in Courage Under Fire. Matt went so far as to lose 40 pounds for the part, which was not only hard but led to health problems.
Good Will and Private Ryan
One of Matt’s closest friends is fellow actor and Massachusetts-native Ben Affleck, and this friendship turned out to be the key to stardom for both of them. The friends co-wrote the script for the film Good Will Hunting, about a genius from a poor neighborhood who encounters two professors determined to help him. The movie was an unprecedented success, earning nine Academy Award nominations! They won that year for Best Original Screenplay. After the success of Good Will Hunting, doors opened for Matt everywhere. But he wasn’t content to play easy roles - he continued to pick challenging, artistic and meaningful roles. His next project was Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. More recently he has dominated the blockbuster genre with The Bourne Trilogy films as well as political thrillers like The Informant and even comedies!
Matt starred as Jason Bourne is the spy thriller blockbuster series The Bourne Identity
Did You Know…
- Matt is married and has four daughters
- He is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan
- Matt originally wrote the screenplay for Good Will Hunting for one of his classes at Harvard
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