Name: Matt Dillon

Birth Name: Matthew Raymond Dillon

Birthdate: Feb. 18, 1964

Birthplace: New Rochelle, NY

Dillon was discovered by mistake, but quickly became Hollywood's go-to actor for brooding, young hunk roles. He cut his teeth playing bad-boy heartthrobs in Little Darlings, Liar's Moon and Rumble Fish and led a pack of soon-to-be stars (including Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze) in The Outsiders. Working alongside Gene Hackman in Target upped his credo, and critics went crazy for his performance of a drug-addicted family man in Drugstore Cowboy. Indie To Die For, sexy Wild Things and comedy smash There's Something About Mary kept Dillon in the public eye, albeit without any awards recognition. Cut to 2005's Crash. Dillon's portrayal of a racist cop with an eventual conscience earned him his first Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations.


1. Talent scouts spotted Dillon roaming the halls of Hommocks School and cast him in his first film.
2. His younger brother, Kevin Dillon stars on HBO's Entourage
3. Dillon was initially cast as Butch Coolidge in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. The role eventually went to Bruce Willis.
4. He was also slated to swim naked with Brooke Shields in The Blue Lagoon, but turned down the role because of the nudity.
5. The actor collects vinyl records, Mookie Wilson baseball cards and crap he finds at flea markets.


On his career: "There were certain perceptions that people had of me, you know...'He's dumb,' or 'he's just got a pretty face,' or 'he's a thug,' or 'he can only do one thing.' I'm not so concerned with that now. Longevity's what it's about."


Brother: Paul; born 1962
Brother: Kevin, actor; born 1965
Sister: Katy; born 1966
Brother: Timothy; born 1969
Brother: Brian; born 1972

2006: Academy Award nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Crash; Golden Globe nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Crash

 

FILMS

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten - (2007) - Featured
Factotum - (2006) - Actor
Loverboy - (2006) - Actor
You, Me and Dupree - (2006) - Actor
Once in a Lifetime - (2006) - Narrator
Employee of the Month - (2005) - Actor
Crash - (2005) - Actor
Herbie: Fully Loaded - (2005) - Actor
City of Ghosts - (2003) - Actor, Director, Screenwriter
Deuces Wild - (2002) - Actor
One Night at McCool's - (2001) - Actor
Wild Things - (1998) - Actor
There's Something About Mary - (1998) - Actor
Fishing With John Vol. 2 - (1998) - Actor
In & Out - (1997) - Actor
Pitch - (1997) - Featured
Beautiful Girls - (1996) - Actor
Grace of My Heart - (1996) - Actor
Albino Alligator - (1996) - Actor
To Die For - (1995) - Actor
Frankie Starlight - (1995) - Actor
Golden Gate - (1994) - Actor
Mr. Wonderful - (1993) - Actor
The Saint of Fort Washington - (1993) - Actor
Singles - (1992) - Actor
Fishing with John - (1992) - Guest
A Kiss Before Dying - (1991) - Actor
Women and Men 2 - (1991) - Actor
Bloodhounds of Broadway - (1990) - Actor
Drugstore Cowboy - (1989) - Actor
Kansas - (1988) - Actor
The Big Town - (1987) - Actor
Native Son - (1987) - Actor
Target - (1985) - Actor
The Flamingo Kid - (1984) - Actor
The Outsiders - (1983) - Actor
Rumble Fish - (1983) - Actor
Tex - (1982) - Actor
Liar's Moon - (1981) - Actor
Little Darlings - (1980) - Actor
My Bodyguard - (1980) - Actor
Over the Edge - (1979) - Actor