Biography
Who is Matt Dillon?
Early life and real name
Matt Dillon: Matthew Raymond Dillon was born on February 18, 1964, in New Rochelle, New York. His parents were Mary Ellen, a homemaker, and Paul Dillon, a portrait painter and sales manager. He grew up in a large family in Mamaroneck, New York, as the second of six children. His brother Kevin Dillon also pursued an acting career.
As a student at Hommocks Middle School in Larchmont, Matt was discovered cutting class by casting agents for a teen drama. This chance encounter led directly to his first professional acting audition and subsequent film debut.
Rise to teen idol status
Matt made his feature film debut in the 1979 drama Over the Edge. He quickly established himself as a prominent teen idol during the early 1980s by starring in several youth-oriented movies.
He gained widespread recognition for his roles in Little Darlings and My Bodyguard in 1980. He also starred in three cinematic adaptations of novels by S. E. Hinton, including Tex, Rumble Fish, and The Outsiders, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
Career highlights and adult roles
Transitioning into adult roles, Matt delivered a critically acclaimed performance as a drug addict in Gus Van Sant's 1989 film Drugstore Cowboy. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, he appeared in diverse projects such as Singles, To Die For, There's Something About Mary, and Wild Things.
In 2002, he made his directorial debut with the film City of Ghosts. He earned significant critical praise for his role in the 2004 film Crash, receiving nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Personal life
Outside of acting, Matt has maintained relationships that received public attention. He was in a relationship with actress Cameron Diaz from 1995 until 1998. Later, he was in a relationship with Italian actress and dancer Roberta Mastromichele from 2014 to 2023.
He is also known as a passionate collector of Latin music, maintaining an extensive vinyl collection that features a well-known library of Cuban 78 records.
Birthday and age
Matt Dillon was born on February 18, 1964, which makes Matt 62 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Matt shares the date with 28 other famous people.
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