Feb 18, 1964
Aquarius
New Rochelle, NY
61 years old
N/A
N/A
Movie Actor
Full Name & Vital Stats
Name: Matthew Raymond Dillon
Birthdate & Age: Born on February 18, 1964 (currently 61)
Place of Birth: New Rochelle, New York, USA
Early Life & Family
Raised in a close-knit Catholic family of Irish descent by mother Mary Ellen and father Paul Dillon, a portrait painter and toy‐bear sales manager.
Grew up in Mamaroneck, New York, second of six children, including brother Kevin Dillon (actor) .
His great‐uncle, Alex Raymond, created the Flash Gordon comic strip.
Breakthrough & Acting Career
Debut at 14: Cast in Over the Edge (1979) after auditioning at school—kick‑started his film career .
Teen idol in the '80s: Starred in My Bodyguard and Little Darlings (both 1980), followed by Tex (1982), Rumble Fish and The Outsiders (1983) under Francis Ford Coppola
Transition to Mature Roles
Moved into deeper characters in Drugstore Cowboy (1989), earning critical acclaim
Excelled in dramas (The Saint of Fort Washington, Beautiful Girls) and comedies (In & Out, There's Something About Mary, Wild Things)
Awards & Achievements
Independent Spirit Award: Best Male Lead for Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
Academy Award & Golden Globe: Nominated (Best Supporting Actor) for Crash (2004), also won an Independent Spirit Award
Grammy-nominated: For spoken-word album On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Other Creative Endeavors
Directorial debut: City of Ghosts (2002), which he also wrote and starred in
Narration & voice work: Led audiobook narration and music video direction; voice role on The Simpsons (2006) .
Continued acting roles in Factotum (2005), Asteroid City (2023), The House That Jack Built (2018), and Being Maria (2024)
Personal Life & Interests
Was in a relationship with actress Cameron Diaz from 1996–1998; she once called him her “muse”
A passionate collector of Latin music, especially Cuban vinyl records
Involved in art and photography, reflecting a creative spirit beyond acting
Legacy & Persona
Matt Dillon’s career spans rebel youth roles, gritty dramas, comedic turns, and creative ventures behind the camera. Noted for his enigmatic screen presence—what Le Monde described as “a strangeness in his gaze”, being “both here and elsewhere” —he remains a respected, multifaceted presence in Hollywood.