Matthew McConaughey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthew McConaughey
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McConaughey in 2019
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Matthew David McConaughey
November 4, 1969 Uvalde, Texas, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin (BS) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1991–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Camila Alves
(m. 2012) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Full list |
Matthew David McConaughey (born November 4, 1969) is a famous American actor. He became well-known after his role in the movie Dazed and Confused (1993). He then starred in the legal drama A Time to Kill (1996).
His career grew with lead roles in films like Contact (1997) and Amistad (1997). He also appeared in the war film U-571 (2000). After a break, he started taking on more serious roles in 2011. This included the movie The Lincoln Lawyer.
McConaughey won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Dallas Buyers Club (2013). He played a cowboy with a serious illness. He also appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). Later, he starred in the TV series True Detective (2014). He was nominated for an Emmy Award for this role. His other notable films include Interstellar (2014) and The Gentlemen (2019). He has also done voice work for animated movies like Sing (2016) and Sing 2 (2021).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Matthew David McConaughey was born on November 4, 1969. His birthplace was Uvalde, Texas. His family has roots in Ireland. His mother, Mary Kathleen, was a writer and teacher. His father, James Donald, ran an oil business. His father also played college football. He was even drafted by the Green Bay Packers.
Matthew's parents married three times. They divorced twice before getting back together. He has two older brothers. One of his brothers, Michael, is known as "Rooster."
Moving and Studying
In 1980, Matthew moved to Longview, Texas. He attended Longview High School. In 1988, he spent a year in Australia. He was a student exchange participant. He lived in Warnervale, New South Wales. There, he went to Gorokan High School. He also worked as a bank teller.
He later attended the University of Texas at Austin. He studied Radio-Television-Film. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1993. Matthew had planned to go to law school. However, he realized he wasn't interested in becoming a lawyer.
Acting Career
Matthew McConaughey started his acting career in the early 1990s. He appeared in television commercials.
First Roles and Breakthrough
In 1992, he was in a music video. It was for the song "Walkaway Joe" by Trisha Yearwood. He also appeared in an episode of Unsolved Mysteries.
His first movie role was in My Boyfriend's Back (1993). Later that year, he got a bigger role. He played Wooderson in Dazed and Confused. He was a film student at the time. The director, Richard Linklater, liked his performance. Much of his role was made up on the spot. The film was well-liked by critics. It helped McConaughey become known.
In 1994, he appeared in Angels in the Outfield. He also acted in The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Rising to Stardom
McConaughey starred in A Time to Kill (1996). This legal drama was based on a popular novel. He played the lawyer Jake Brigance. The movie was a big success. It made over $108 million in the U.S. He won an award for Best Breakthrough Performance.
In 1997, he starred in Contact. This science fiction film was based on a book by Carl Sagan. He also played a lawyer in Steven Spielberg's Amistad. In 1998, he was in The Newton Boys. This film was about a real-life bank robber family. In 2000, he starred in the submarine film U-571.
Romantic Comedies and New Directions
In the early 2000s, McConaughey often starred in romantic comedies. These included The Wedding Planner and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Both movies were very popular. He also appeared in more serious films. These included Frailty and Two for the Money.
In 2005, he starred in Sahara. He even sailed down the Amazon River to promote it. In 2006, he was in Failure to Launch. He also played a football coach in We Are Marshall.
McConaughey realized he was often cast in similar roles. He wanted to try more challenging parts. This change in his career is sometimes called the "McConaissance." This period happened between 2011 and 2014.
Acclaimed Performances
In 2012, McConaughey starred in Magic Mike. This film was based on his co-star Channing Tatum's early life. He also earned praise for his role in Mud.
In 2013, he played Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club. For this role, he lost a lot of weight. His performance earned him many awards. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor. He also won a Golden Globe.
He was also in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). In 2014, he starred in the TV series True Detective. He played the detective Rust Cohle. He won an award for Best Actor for this role.
In 2014, McConaughey received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located on Hollywood Boulevard. That same year, he starred in Christopher Nolan's science fiction film Interstellar. He played a father and astronaut named Cooper.
Recent Work
After 2015, McConaughey continued to act in various films. In 2016, he starred in Free State of Jones and Gold. He also voiced characters in animated movies. These included Kubo and the Two Strings and Sing.
In 2017, he was in The Dark Tower. In 2018, he starred in White Boy Rick. He also appeared in The Beach Bum in 2019.
In 2020, McConaughey published his memoir, Greenlights. In 2023, he voiced an animated version of Elvis Presley. This was for the Netflix series Agent Elvis. He is also expected to star in a new series related to Yellowstone.
Personal Life
Matthew McConaughey met Camila Alves in 2006. They got engaged in 2011. They married in 2012 in Austin, Texas. They live in Austin with their three children.
McConaughey is a Christian. He often talks about his faith. In 2019, he became a part-owner of Austin FC. This is a soccer team in Major League Soccer. He is also a big fan of the Washington Commanders football team.
In 2023, McConaughey shared an interesting fact. He and his friend Woody Harrelson might be brothers. His mother said she knew Woody's father.
Politics and Public Service
Matthew McConaughey has shown interest in politics. In 2021, he thought about running for governor of Texas. However, he later decided not to run.
In June 2022, he spoke at the White House. He talked about the school shooting in his hometown of Uvalde, Texas. He asked for "commonsense gun laws." He spoke about needing background checks for guns. He also mentioned raising the age to buy certain rifles. His speech was very emotional.
In July 2024, he spoke at a meeting for governors. He said he was still learning about politics. He also said he was still interested in running for office.
Philanthropy and Teaching
McConaughey started the "just keep livin foundation." This group helps teenagers. It encourages them to be active and make healthy choices. In 2016, he received an award for his work with the foundation.
In 2019, he became a professor at the University of Texas at Austin. He teaches in the Radio-Television-Film department. He had been a visiting teacher since 2015.
Filmography and Awards
Images for kids
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McConaughey in 2019
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McConaughey in 2008, at a triathlon
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McConaughey at the 83rd Academy Awards in 2011
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McConaughey at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival
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McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves, in 2010
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McConaughey speaking at the White House in 2022
See also
In Spanish: Matthew McConaughey para niños
