Bio: Matt Dillon's successful film career has spanned over three decades and has showcased his wide range of dramatic and comedic talents. Dillon displayed his versatility with an arresting performance co-starring as a racist cop in the critically acclaimed Paul Haggis film Crash. This role earned him nominations for an Academy award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Critics Choice Award, BAFTA Award and won him an Independent Spirit Award. In addition, the film earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Critics Choice Award for Best Ensemble. As the New York Times' Film Critic A.O. Scott put it, "He seems to be getting better with every film."He starred opposite Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson in Universal Pictures' comedy, You, Me and Dupree and in Factotum for which he received glowing reviews for portraying Charles Bukowski's alter ego when the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. From his breakthrough performance in The Outsiders to his hilarious turn as an obsessed private investigator in There's Something About Mary, he has proven himself to be one of the most diverse actors of his generation.In 1990 Dillon won an IFP Spirit Award for his gritty performance as a drug addict in Gus Van Sant's Drugstore Cowboy. From there he went on to star in such films as Ted Demme's Beautiful Girls opposite Uma Thurman and Natalie Portman, Cameron Crowe's Singles, In & Out with Kevin Kline, Kevin Spacey's Albino Alligator, Francis Ford Coppola's Rumble Fish, Garry Marshall's Flamingo Kid, Van Sant's To Die For with Nicole Kidman, and John McNaughton's Wild Things. He starred in Nothing But The Truth, opposite Kate Beckinsale and Vera Farmiga, Disney's Old Dogs, opposite John Travolta, Robin Williams and Kelly Preston, and the Screen Gems films Armored and Takers.Aside from being an accomplished actor, Dillon wrote, and made his feature film directorial debut with City of Ghosts, in which he also starred with G��rard Depardieu, Stellan Skarsg?rd, and James Caan. Prior to City of Ghosts, Dillon made his television directorial debut in 1997 with an episode of HBO's gritty prison drama Oz.Dillon's achievements continued with television appearances in an HBO adaptation of Irwin Shaw's Return To Kansas City and a part co-narrating the documentary Dear America: Letters From Home.Dillon's multi-talents have also landed him on stage starring on Broadway in The Boys In Winter as well as the PBS/American Playhouse production of The Great American Fourth Of July And Other Disasters.His recent film credits include the comedy Girl Most Likely opposite Annette Bening and Kristen Wiig; the drama Sunlight, Jr. opposite Naomi Watts, and the heist comedy The Art Of The Steal opposite Kurt Russell. Dillon most recently starred in M. Night Shyamalan's hit television event series Wayward Pines for FOX.
Tivia: Cites Gene Hackman as a major idol and influence on his work, especially after working with him in Target (1985).Original choice for "Butch Coolidge" in Pulp Fiction (1994).Won the role of Michael Richard "Dicky" Reynolds as an adolescent in The Blue Lagoon (1980) after hundreds of boys were auditioned but turned the role down because of the nudity.Is a runner, and regularly runs through Central Park in New York, where he lives. Usually he is not recognized.Is a big fan of Cuban music.He traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo to work with Amani Global Works, which aims to provide better health care to the most impoverished, forgotten areas of Africa. (2012)Was in a relationship with Cameron Diaz (January 1996-December 1998).Quit smoking cigarettes in 1996.Played a lead role in three of author S.E. Hinton's books made into movies consecutively: Tex (1982), The Outsiders (1983) and Rumble Fish (1983).He is of almost entirely Irish descent, with a small amount of German and Scottish, ancestry.He is the second child of six. His brothers and sisters are: Paul (born 1962), Kevin (born 1965), Katy (born 1966), Timothy (born 1969) and Brian (born 1972).Has a large vinyl record collection.His grandmother, Bea Dillon, is the sister of two famous artists: Alex Raymond and Jim Raymond. Alex Raymond was the creator of the cartoon strip, Flash Gordon; and also Jungle Jim and Rip Kirby. Jim Raymond drew Blondie for Chic Young for about 40 years.Enjoys frequenting flea markets.Has been good friends with Fisher Stevens since filming The Flamingo Kid (1984) together.Brother of Kevin Dillon and Paul Dillon.Is a New York Mets baseball fan and collects Mookie Wilson baseball cards."Matt Dillon" is also the fictional name of the hero of Gunsmoke (1955), television's longest-running ever western series (20 years from 1955 to 1975). The hero, a U.S. Marshal for Dodge City, was played by James Arness.Has traveled extensively in Southeast Asia.Original choice for Frank Sangster role in Novocaine (2001).Attended the The 3rd Annual amfAR Cinema Against AIDS in Dubai, UAE. (December 2009)His parents are Mary Ellen and Paul DillonAttended the The Irish Film & Television Awards in Dublin, Ireland. (February 2010)Attended the She Hate Me special screening and dinner party in Rome, Italy on Oct. 10th. (October 2004)Spent New Year 2005 in Brazil.Attended the San Sebastian Film Festival 2006 in Spain. (September 2006)Attended the 10th Annual Marrakech Film Festival in Marrakech, Morocco. (January 2010)Uncle of Kevin Dillon's daughters Amy Dillon and Ava Dillon.Attended the 2005 Cannes Film Festival in France. (May 2005)Attended the Ischia Global Film & Music Fest 2008 in Italy. (July 2008)Attended the Cannes Film Festival in France. (May 1998)Attended the Deauville Film Festival 2002 in France to promote City of Ghosts. (September 2002)Attended The Orange British Academy Film Awards 2006 in London, England. (February 2006)Attended The Orange British Academy Film Awards 2010 in London, England. (February 2010)