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Matt Damon Biography

Birth Name:
Matthew Paige Damon
Birth Place:
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Profession
Actor, screenwriter

Fast Facts

  • Worked as an extra on Field of Dreams (1989) with friend Ben Affleck
  • During the shoot, he picked a few blades of grass from Boston's Fenway Park as mementos for his father
  • Left Harvard University 12 credits shy of a degree in English to pursue a career in acting
  • Bartended in Tennessee to perfect his Southern accent for a role in The Rainmaker (1997) and hired a customer to be his dialect coach
  • Learned to play the piano for The Talented Mr
  • Ripley (1999)
  • Cofounded the production company LivePlanet with Ben Affleck in 2000
  • Earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007
  • Was also named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive that same year
  • Became the voice of TD Ameritrade commercials in 2012; he donated his entire salary to charity
  • Embroiled in a long-standing "feud" with Jimmy Kimmel, which resulted in Damon taking over an episode of Kimmel's show in 2013
  • Founded the H2O Africa Foundation, which eventually became Water
  • org, which aims to provide aid to countries that do not have access to clean water

Awards

  • 2017Producers Guild Awards-Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures: nominated
  • 2017BAFTA Film Awards-Best Film: nominated
  • 2017Independent Spirit Awards-Best Feature: nominated
  • 2016Oscar-Best Motion Picture of the Year: nominated
  • 2016Emmy-Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program: nominated
  • 2016IFTA Film & Drama Awards-Best International Actor: nominated
  • 2016BAFTA Film Awards-Best Leading Actor: nominated
  • 2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: winner
  • 2015Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2015Critics' Choice Awards-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015National Board of Review-Best Actor: winner
  • 2014BAFTA Film Awards-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2014Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2013Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2013Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2011Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 2010Critics' Choice Movie Awards-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2009Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2009Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2007Critics' Choice Awards-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2006Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2006Critics' Choice Awards-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2005Emmy-Outstanding Reality Program: nominated
  • 2005Critics' Choice Awards-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2004Emmy-Outstanding Reality Program: nominated
  • 2002Emmy-Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Reality): nominated
  • 2002Critics' Choice Awards-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2000Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1998Critics' Choice Awards-Breakthrough Performer: winner
  • 1998Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1998Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 1998Writers Guild Awards-Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 1998Critics' Choice Awards-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 1998Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: winner
  • 1997Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1997Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1997Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 1997Oscar-Best Writing (Original Screenplay): winner
  • 1997National Board of Review-Special Achievement: winner

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