Matt Damon is one of best and most prolific actors of his generation. Since earning his big break with the movie Mystic Pizza in 1998, he’s been a regular in some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters.
His film career is well-documented, but how much do we know about the man behind all of those characters?
Biggest Hits
In case you needed a recap, Matt Damon has been involved in some of the most decorated Hollywood movies of the last 25 years. While he began his career with that Mystic Pizza debut in 1988, he really made his name with a release that came along ten years later.
Rounders is a tale of how one man takes on the poker world, as he looks to pay off loans that have been incurred by his best friend. Damon takes the lead role of Mike McDermott as we delve into the world of high stakes poker, casinos and sports betting in New York and beyond.
Since then, Matt Damon’s filmography highlights have included such blockbusters as Good Will Hunting, Saving Private Ryan, The Talented Mr Ripley, the Bourne Identity, Ford vs Ferrari and many more.
It’s an impressive CV, but how did it all begin?
The Early Years
Matt Damon was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on October 8, 1970. Unlike some of his contemporaries, Damon did not have acting in the blood, and both his mother and father had regular, white-collar jobs.
His parents divorced when he was just two years old, and Matt Damon went to live with his mother and brother in communal dwellings. He began to drift and has admitted that he felt that he ‘did not belong’ as a teenager in society.
Damon enjoyed a good education at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School. He thrived academically and experienced his first taste of acting in school productions.
A graduation to Harvard followed, and this is where Matt Damon continued to pursue both acting and academic interests. However, acting would take up all his time, and he would eventually leave Harvard to follow a full-time career.
The Breakthrough
Mystic Pizza was Matt Damon’s first credited production. It’s a classic coming-of-age American comedy and has little following beyond the fact that this was Damon’s first role.
For a time, Matt Damon attempted to combine acting with his studies, but that came to an end in 1992. This was the year that he was offered the significant role of Lt Britton Davis in Geronimo: An American Legend.
That movie was the catalyst for a brilliant career which is now running past 35 years. Matt Damon remains active on the big screen and plays an important role in 2023’s main blockbuster, Oppenheimer.
The Man Behind the Masks
Even busy actors have some downtime, so what does Matt Damon like to do when he isn’t filming his latest release? Like his character in Rounders, Damon has an interest in poker and gambling in general.
He appeared in the World Series of Poker in 2009 where he finished inside the top 35 in a charity event. When he was preparing for his lead role in Rounders. Matt Damon enlisted the help of poker professional Johnny Chan as he looked to develop his skills.
Chan must have taught his pupil well. It’s also suggested that Damon was one of the celebrities involved in the poker ring that inspired the film Molly’s Game.
Many of Matt Damon’s other interests revolve around the acting world. In 2022 he started a production company with his long-time friend and fellow actor Ben Affleck, and they recently delivered a sports-based drama by the name of Air.
What Next for Matt Damon?
Matt Damon recently revealed that he came close to taking a break from acting. Issues with depression made him consider his future, before Christopher Nolan called to offer him a part in 2023’s Oppenheimer.
The role of Leslie Groves was too good to turn down, but could we see Damon take a break from the big screen following Oppenheimer’s release?
If he retains concerns about his health, then a hiatus while he spends some time with his family could be a logical move. It may even offer him some time to relax and pursue other interests, including that impressive poker game.
Matt Damon will celebrate his 53rd birthday in 2023 and, if he stays fit and well, he could have at least another twenty years at the top of his profession. Even if he takes a break, he can return and pick up as one of the busiest men in Hollywood.
If he does decide to take that break, the film industry will wish him well, but they will be eager for him to return. Who knows, we may even see Matt Damon take his poker game to new heights during any future downtime.
