Matt Damon

Biography

Matthew Paige Damon (/ˈdeɪmən/ DAY-mən; born October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. He was ranked among Forbes' most bankable stars in 2007 and, in 2010, was one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. He has received various awards and nominations, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for three British Academy Film Awards and seven Primetime Emmy Awards.

Damon made his acting debut in the film Mystic Pizza (1988) before gaining prominence in 1997 when he and Ben Affleck wrote and starred in Good Will Hunting, which won them the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay. He established himself as a leading man by starring as Tom Ripley in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Jason Bourne in the Bourne franchise (2002–2007; 2016), and Linus Caldwell in the Ocean'strilogy (2001–2007). He received a nomination for an Academy Award. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for playing an astronaut stranded on Mars in The Martian (2015). He also acted in The Rainmaker (1997), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Syriana (2005), The Departed(2006), The Informant! (2009), Invictus (2009), True Grit (2010), Contagion (2011), Ford v Ferrari(2019), Stillwater (2021), Air (2023), and Oppenheimer (2023), the last of which is his highest-grossing feature.

On television, Damon portrayed Scott Thorson in the HBO biopic Behind the Candelabra (2013), for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. He was Emmy-nominated for his guest role in 30 Rock in 2011 and hosting Saturday Night Live in 2019. He also produced the reality series Project Greenlight (2001–2015) and the film Manchester by the Sea (2016). Damon has performed voice-over work in both animated and documentary films and established two production companies with Affleck, Artists Equity, and Pearl Street Films. He has been involved in charitable work with organizations including the One Campaign, H2O Africa Foundation, Feeding America, and Water.org.

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CritifyHub Reviews Featuring Matt Damon

The Gambler’s Gambit: Risk and Redemption in Rounders

on Rounders | Jul 21, 2025

John Dahl’s Rounders (1998) is a deft exploration of risk, loyalty, and the seductive pull of high-stakes poker, where the table becomes a microcosm of human ambition and frailty. The screenplay, penn... Read more

Breathing Ambition: How "Air" Elevates the Corporate Hustle to Cinematic Art

on Air | Jul 13, 2025

Ben Affleck’s Air (2023) transforms a corporate gamble into a pulsating human drama, weaving a narrative that feels both intimate and mythic. The film chronicles Nike’s audacious pursuit of Michael Jo... Read more

"Some people can never believe in themselves, until someone believes in them." This poignant quote encapsulates the central theme of trust and self-acceptance in "Good Will Hunting."

on Good Will Hunting | May 31, 2025

Gus Van Sant’s Good Will Hunting is a deeply moving and insightful drama that explores the complexities of genius, trauma, and the transformative power of human connection. Will Hunting (Matt Damon), ... Read more

"The world will remember this day." This ominous statement foreshadows the world-altering consequences of the events depicted in "Oppenheimer."

on Oppenheimer | May 31, 2025

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a meticulously crafted and intellectually gripping biographical drama that immerses the viewer in the intense and morally complex world of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cil... Read more

"Snitches get stitches." This grim reality underscores the treacherous and violent world of "The Departed."

on The Departed | May 31, 2025

Martin Scorsese’s The Departed isn’t merely a crime thriller set in Boston; it’s a taut, morally complex, and relentlessly suspenseful exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and identity within the intertw... Read more