MATT DAMON – THE TOUGHEST ACTOR/PRODUCER/WRITER

Matthew Paige Damon, or better known to fans as Matt Damon was born in Boston Massachusetts, USA to Kent Delfer Damon, a stockbroker, Realtor and tax preparer, and Nancy Carlsson-Paige, an early childhood education professor at Lesley University. Matt has an older brother named Kyle who is now a sculptor. Unfortunately for Matt and his brother, their parents divorced in the year 1973.

The 5’10” star is of English, Finnish and Scottish ancestry. While his parents were still together, their family lived in Newton, before eventually settling for a divorce, where Damon and his brother moved with his mother to Cambridge. He grew up in a stable community back in Massachusetts. Matt also grew up near actor Ben Affleck, when he was younger.

Matt attended Cambridge Ridge and Latin School which is located in Cambridge and he performed in a number of theater productions during his time there. Later on, he was accepted into Harvard University as an English major in the fall of 1988 and was supposed to graduate with the class of 1992. While in Harvard, he kept on skipping classes to pursue acting projects, which included the TNT original film, Rising Sun (1993), and prep-school drama, School Ties (1992). It was until his film, Geronimo: An American Legend (1993), was expected to be a big success that he decided to drop out of university completely.

Arriving in Hollywood, Matt managed to get his first break with a part in the romantic comedy, Mystic Pizza (1988). However, the film did not do too well and his film career failed to take off. Not letting failure discourage him from acting, he went for another audition, and managed to get a starring role in School Ties (1992).

Up next for Matt was a role as a soldier who had problems with drug-addiction in the movie, Courage Under Fire (1996). Matt had, in fact, lost forty pounds for his role which resulted in health problems. The following year, his garnered accolades for Good Will Hunting (1997), a screenplay he had originally written for an English class at Harvard University. Good Will Hunting (1997) was nominated for 9 Academy Awards, one of which, Matt won for Best Original Screenplay along with Ben Affleck.

In the year 1998, Matt played the title role in Steven Spielberg’s film, Saving Private Ryan (1998), which was one of the most acclaimed films in that year. Matt had the opportunity of working with Tom Hanks and Vin Diesel while filming that movie. That same year, he starred as an earnest law student and reformed poker player in Rounders (1998), starring opposite Edward Norton and John Malkovich.

The next year, Matt rejoined his childhood friend, Ben Affleck and fellow comedian, Chris Rock, in the comedy Dogma (1999). Towards the end of 1999, Matt played “Tom Ripley”, a working-class young man who tastes the good life and will do anything to live it. Both Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow also starred in the movie. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) earned mixed reviews from critics, but even so, Matt earned praise for his performance.

Matt lent his voice to the animated movie, Titan A.E. (2000) in the year 2000, which also earned mixed reviews from the public. He also starred in two other movies, All the Pretty Horses (2000) and the golf comedy-drama, The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000), starring alongside Will Smith. In the year 2003, he signed on to star in The Informant! (2009) by Steven Soderbergh and the Farrelly Brothers’ Stuck on You (2003). He also starred in Gerry (2002), a film he co-wrote with his friends, Gus Van Sant and Casey Affleck. One of Matt’s most recognizable work to date is his role in the “Bourne” movie franchise. He plays an amnesiac assassin, “Jason Bourne”, in The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).

Another praised role is that as “Linus Caldwell” in the “Ocean’s” movie franchise. He had the opportunity to star opposite George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Don Cheadle in Ocean’s Eleven (2001). The successful crime comedy-drama eventually had two other sequels, Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007). Among other highly acclaimed movies that Matt managed to be a part of was in Terry Gilliam’s The Brothers Grimm (2005), George Clooney’s Syriana (2005), Martin Scorsese’s The Departed (2006) and Robert De Niro’s The Good Shepherd (2006).

In his personal life, Matt is now happily married to Argentine-born Luciana Barroso, whom he met in Miami, where she was working as a bartender. They married in a private civil ceremony on December 9, 2005, at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau. The couple have three children Alexia, Luciana’s daughter from a previous relationship, as well as Isabella and Gia Zavala, both Matt’s and Luciana’s child together.

Matt is a big fan of the Boston Red Sox and he tries to attend their games whenever possible. He has also formed great friendships with his Ocean’s co-stars, George Clooney and Brad Pitt, whom he works on charity projects with. He and actor Ben Affleck, together with Ben’s wife, Jennifer Garner, are also good family friends and can be often seen going out together with Matt’s wife, Luciana Barroso.ACTOR

Green Zone (2010)- Miller
The Informant! (2009)- Mark Whitacre
Gake no ue no Ponyo (2009)- Koichi (voice in the English version). The film is also known as ‘Ponyo’ or ‘Ponyo on the Cliff’.
Che: Part Two (2008)- Fr. Schwartz. The film is also known as ‘Guerilla’
Youth Without Youth (2007)- Life Magazine Reporter (uncredited)
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)- Jason Bourne
Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)- Linus Caldwell
The Good Shepherd (2006)- Edward Wilson
The Departed (2006)- Colin Sullivan
Syriana (2005)- Bryan Woodman
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005)- Al Shepard (voice)
The Brothers Grimm (2005)- Wilhelm Grimm
Ocean’s Twelve (2004)- Linus Caldwell
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)- Jason Bourne
Jersey Girl (2004)- PR Executive #2
EuroTrip (2004)- Donny
Stuck on You (2003)- Bob Tenor
The Bourne Identity (2002)- Jason Bourne
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)- Matt, Batchelor #2
The Third Wheel (2002)- Kevin (uncredited)
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)- Spirit (voice)
Gerry (2002)- Gerry
The Majestic (2002)- Luke Trimble (voice)
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)- Linus Caldwell
All the Pretty Horses (2000)- John Grady Cole
Finding Forrester (2000)- Steven Sanderson
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)- Rannulph Junuh
Titan A.E (2000)- Cale Tucker (voice)
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)- Tom Ripley
Dogma (1999)- Loki
Rounders (1998)- Mike McDermott
Saving Private Ryan (1998)- Private James Francis Ryan
Good Will Hunting (1997)- Will Hunting
The Rainmaker (1997)- Rudy Baylor. The complete title is ‘John Grisham’s The Rainmaker’.
Chasing Amy (1997)- Shawn Oran
Courage Under Fire (1996)- Ilario
Glory Daze (1995)- Edgar Pudwhacker
Geronimo: An American Legend (1993)- 2nd Lt. Britton Davis
School Ties (1992)- Charlie Dillon
Field of Dreams (1989)- Baseball Fan at Fenway Park (unconfirmed and uncredited)
The Good Mother (1988)- Extra (unconfirmed and uncredited)
Mystic Pizza (1988)- Steamer

WRITER

Gerry (2002)
Good Will Hunting (1997)

PRODUCER

Running the Sahara (2008)- executive producer
Feast (2005)- executive producer
The Battle of Shaker Heights (2003)- executive producer
The Third Wheel (2002)- executive producer
Speakeasy (2002)- executive producer
Stolen Summer (2002)

AWARDS

Matt Damon Awards in 1997

• Won – National Board of Review, Special Achievement in Filmmaking for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck.

Matt Damon Awards in 2010

• Nominated – Academy Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Invictus (2009).
• Nominated – Critics Choice Award, Best Supporting Actor for Invictus (2009)
• Nominated – Golden Globe Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for The Informant! (2009).
• Nominated – Golden Globe Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for Invictus (2009).
• Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Invictus (2009).

Matt Damon Awards in 2009

• Nominated – Chicago Film Critics, Best Actor for The Informant! (2009)
• Nominated – Satellite Award, Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical for The Informant! (2009).

Matt Damon Awards in 2008

• Nominated – Empire Award, Best Actor for The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).
• Nominated – MTV Movie Award, Best Fight for The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), shared with Joey Ansah.
• Nominated – MTV Movie Award, Best Male Performance for The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
• Won – People’s Choice Award, Favorite Male Action Star

Matt Damon Awards in 2007

• Nominated – People’s Choice Award, Favorite Leading Man
• Nominated – People’s Choice Award, Favorite On-Screen Match-Up for The Departed (2006) with Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson.
• Nominated – Screen Actors Guild, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for: The Departed (2006).
• Nominated – Teen Choice Award, Choice Movie Chemistry for Ocean’s Thirteen (2007).

Matt Damon Awards in 2006

• Won – National Board of Review, Best Ensemble for The Departed (2006).

Matt Damon Awards in 2005

• Nominated – Critics Choice Award, Best Acting Ensemble for Ocean’s Twelve (2004)
• Nominated – Emmy Award, Outstanding Reality Program for “Project Greenlight 3” (2005).
• Won – Empire Award, Best Actor for The Bourne Supremacy (2004).
• Nominated – MTV Movie Award, Best Male Performance for The Bourne Supremacy (2004).
• Nominated – People’s Choice Award, Favorite Male Action Movie Star.
• Won – ShoWest Award, Male Star of the Year.
• Nominated – Teen Choice Award, Choice Movie Actor: Action/Adventure/Thriller for The Bourne Supremacy (2004).

Matt Damon Awards in 2004

• Nominated – Emmy Award, Outstanding Reality Program for “Project Greenlight 2” (2003)
• Nominated – Producers Guild of America, TV Producer of the Year Award in Reality / Game /Informational Series for “Project Greenlight 2” (2003)

Matt Damon Awards in 2003

• Nominated – DVD Premiere Award, Best Audio Commentary, New Release for: Ocean’s Eleven (2001).
• Nominated – Kid’s Choice: Blimp Award, Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie for Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
• Nominated – Producers Guild of America, TV Producer of the Year Award in Reality / Game /Informational Series for: “Project Greenlight 2” (2001)

Matt Damon Awards in 2002

• Nominated – Emmy Award, Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Reality) for “Project Greenlight” (2001)
• Nominated – MTV Movie Award, Best On-Screen Team for Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Matt Damon Awards in 2001

• Nominated – Blockbuster Award, Favorite Actor – Drama/Romance for All the Pretty Horses (2000).

Matt Damon Awards in 2000

• Nominated – Blockbuster Award, Favorite Actor – Suspense for The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
• Nominated – Sierra Award, Best Actor for All the Pretty Horses (2000)
• Nominated – Sierra Award, Best Actor for The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
• Nominated – MTV Movie Award, Best Musical Performance, The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) shared with Jude Law and Fiorello
• Nominated – MTV Movie Award, Best Villain for The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
• Nominated – Teen Choice Award, Choice Film Actor for The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
• Nominated – Teen Choice Award, Film – Choice Liar for The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Matt Damon Awards in 1999

• Won – Blockbuster Award, Favorite Actor – Video, Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Nominated – London Critics Circle, Actor of the Year for Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Nominated – London Critics Circle, Screenwriter of the Year Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck
• Won – Online Film Critics Society, Best Ensemble Cast Performance for Saving Private Ryan (1998)
• Nominated – Teen Choice Award, Film – Choice Actor

Matt Damon Awards in 1998

• Won – Academy Award, Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck
• Nominated – Academy Award, Best Actor in a Leading Role Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Won – Silver Berlin Bear Award, Outstanding Single Achievement for Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Nominated – Blockbuster Award, Favorite Actor – Drama for The Rainmaker (1997)
• Won – Critics Choice Award, Best Screenplay, Original for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck
• Won – Critics Choice Award, Breakthrough Artist for Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Won – Chicago Film Critics, Most Promising Actor for Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Nominated – Chlotrudis Award, Best Screenplay for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck
• Won – Florida Film Critics, Newcomer of the Year for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck
• Won – Golden Globe Award, Best Screenplay – Motion Picture for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck
• Nominated – Golden Globe Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Won – Humanitas Prize, Feature Film Category for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck
• Won – Sierra Award, Most Promising Actor for Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Nominated – MTV Movie Award, Best Kiss for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Minnie Driver
• Nominated – MTV Movie Award, Best Male Performance for Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Nominated – MTV Movie Award, Best On-Screen Duo for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck
• Nominated – Online Film Critics Society, Best Screenplay for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck
• Won – Golden Satellite Award, Best Motion Picture Screenplay – Original for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck
• Nominated – Golden Satellite Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award, Outstanding Performance by a Cast for Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Won – ShoWest Award, Male Star of Tomorrow
• Nominated – Writers Guild of America, Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for Good Will Hunting (1997) shared with Ben Affleck

Checkout the ASCII Art of Matt Damon in the below link. Please use Lucida Console font to view the art in Notepad. Before that in Notepad go to Format and Uncheck the Word Warp and then Go to Font and Reduce the Font Size to 3 to 4 pt. Use only Lucida Console Font.

http://www.4shared.com/document/RzQaBr3r/Matt_Damon_1.html

http://www.4shared.com/document/tKd_Q7M1/Matt_Damon_2.html

http://www.4shared.com/document/nEBpN96u/Matt_Damon_3.html

http://www.4shared.com/document/0SkUzPsr/Matt_Damon_4.html