Matt Dillon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Matt Dillon
Dillon at the 2010 FICG
Born	Matthew Raymond Dillon (1964-02-18) February 18, 1964 (age 61) New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1979–present
Relatives	Kevin Dillon (brother) Jim Raymond (great uncle) Alex Raymond (great uncle)
Awards	Full list

Matthew Raymond Dillon (born February 18, 1964) is an American actor. He has won several awards, like a Screen Actors Guild Award and two Independent Spirit Awards. He was also nominated for big awards such as an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Matt Dillon started his movie career in Over the Edge (1979). He became a very popular young actor in the 1980s. He starred in movies like My Bodyguard (1980) and The Flamingo Kid (1984). He also appeared in three movies based on S. E. Hinton's books: Tex (1982), Rumble Fish (1983), and The Outsiders (1983).

Later, Dillon continued to have success in films such as Singles (1992), To Die For (1995), Beautiful Girls (1996), and There's Something About Mary (1998). In 2002, he directed his first movie, City of Ghosts. He has also acted in recent films like Asteroid City (2023). For his role in Crash (2004), he won an Independent Spirit Award. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for that film.

Early Life and Family

Matt Dillon grew up in Mamaroneck, New York. He comes from a large family with Irish roots. His mother, Mary Ellen, was a homemaker. His father, Paul Dillon, was a portrait painter and sales manager. Paul Dillon was also a golf coach at Fordham University.

Matt is the second of six children. He has one sister and four brothers. One of his brothers, Kevin Dillon, is also an actor. His family also includes famous comic strip artist Alex Raymond, who created Flash Gordon.

Matt Dillon's Acting Journey

Dillon at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival

In 1978, Matt Dillon was discovered while skipping class at Hommocks Middle School. He was asked to audition for a movie called Over the Edge. This was his first movie role. Even though the movie was not a huge hit, Matt's acting was praised.

This led to more roles for the young actor. In 1980, he starred in My Bodyguard. In this movie, he played a high school bully. This film was popular and helped Matt become well-known among young audiences.

Becoming a Young Star

Matt Dillon became famous for playing Dallas "Dally" Winston in The Outsiders (1983). This movie was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was based on a popular book by S. E. Hinton. Matt shared the screen with many other young stars. These included Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, and Patrick Swayze.

Before The Outsiders, Matt also appeared in another S. E. Hinton movie, Tex (1982). He also worked with director Francis Ford Coppola again in Rumble Fish (1983). All three of these movies were filmed in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After these films, he starred in The Flamingo Kid in 1984.

Later Career and Directing

In 1989, Matt Dillon received great reviews for his role in Drugstore Cowboy. He played a character dealing with difficult challenges. He continued to act in the 1990s in movies like Singles. He also played Nicole Kidman's husband in To Die For (1995).

In 1998, he starred in two popular movies: Wild Things and There's Something About Mary. For his role in There's Something About Mary, he won an MTV Movie Award.

In 2002, Matt Dillon tried something new. He wrote and directed a movie called City of Ghosts. He also starred in it alongside James Caan. In 2005, he received many awards and nominations for his role in the movie Crash. He was nominated for an Academy Award for this role.

He also appeared in the comedy You, Me and Dupree (2006) with Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson. In 2015, he starred in the TV series Wayward Pines on FOX. More recently, he played the main role in the thriller The House That Jack Built. He also played Marlon Brando in the movie Being Maria, which came out in 2024.

Personal Life

Matt Dillon was in a relationship with actress Cameron Diaz from 1995 to 1998.

He is a big fan and collector of Latin music. He has a large collection of vinyl records. This includes many old Cuban records.

Filmography

Dillon at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival

Matt Dillon has appeared in many films and television shows. Here are some of his notable works:

Film Roles

Television Appearances

Awards and Nominations

Matt Dillon has been recognized for his acting with many awards and nominations.

See also

In Spanish: Matt Dillon para niños