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Matt Dillon:
Date of Birth
18 February 1964, New Rochelle, New York, USA
Birth Name
Matthew Raymond Dillon
Originally a teen star (generally in "troubled youth" roles), who has since matured
into one of Hollywood's most enjoyable actors to watch on screen with a wonderful versatility in his acting range, tall, lean
and handsome Matt Dillon was born in February 1964 in New Rochelle, New York, and was discovered by pure chance. Talent scouts
were roaming the halls of Hommocks School, spied the good-looking Dillon, and asked him to attend a casting call. He showed
up, put on a swagger and petulant attitude for the casting director and landed his first film role, appearing in Over the
Edge (1979), a "troubled-youth" film about bored Colorado teenagers fighting developers, their parents and the police.
His next role was as a teen bully who gets his comeuppance in the "feel-good" movie My Bodyguard (1980). He was the object
of teenage female desire in Little Darlings (1980), and followed that as a poor boy eloping with a rich girl in Liar's Moon
(1982).
Dillon was now a hot property, and his next three film roles were in quality productions of best selling novels
by author S.E. Hinton that cemented him as the US' #1 teen star. First he starred as a fatherless country boy in Tex (1982),
then he headlined a cast of superb young actors, including Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze, in the moving The Outsiders (1983), and finally
he was back in trouble once more in the superb Rumble Fish (1983).
As his looks matured, Dillon moved into broader
roles such as the smooth-talking Brooklyn teenager conning everyone at a posh Florida country club in The Flamingo Kid (1984).
He made his first foray into adult action with Gene Hackman in the thriller _Target (1985/I)_ , followed by several B-grade
romantic efforts, before striking gold with the critics with his performance in the uncompromising 'Gus van Sant' film about
drug addicts, Drugstore Cowboy (1989). Unfortunately, his next few films fell back into a degree of mediocrity until another
intriguing performance as a young schizophrenic in The Saint of Fort Washington (1993), then another romantic comedy role
in Mr. Wonderful (1993). He worked again with van Sant as naive husband Larry Maretto opposite murderous Nicole Kidman in
the icy thriller To Die For (1995).
Dillon remained busy and turned in excellent performances in the sexy thriller
of murder and double-crosses, Wild Things (1998). He was hilarious as a sleazy private eye lovestruck by Cameron Diaz in the
box-office smash There's Something About Mary (1998). He starred in the black comedy One Night at McCool's (2001), made his
feature film directorial debut with City of Ghosts (2002), had a day that goes from bad to worse in Employee of the Month
(2004). And, for his work in the Best Picture Academy Award winner Crash (2004/I), Dillon received a long-overdue Oscar nomination,
as Best Supporting Actor.
Trivia
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.
Brother of Kevin Dillon.
Cites Gene Hackman as a major idol and influence on his work, especially after working with
him in Target (1985).
Dated Cameron Diaz for several years in the late 1990's.
Original choice for Frank Sangster role in Novocaine (2001).
Original choice for "Butch Coolidge" in Pulp Fiction (1994).
Was the original choice for the role of Richard in The Blue Lagoon (1980), but turned the role
down because of the nudity.
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).
His parents are Mary Ellen and Paul Dillon
Enjoys frequenting flea markets.
Has a large vinyl record collection.
Is a big fan of Cuban music.
Has traveled extensively in Southeast Asia.
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.
Is a runner, and regularly runs through Central Park in New York, where he lives. Usually he
is not recognized.
Uncle of Kevin Dillon's daughters Amy and Ava.
Filmography:
Tetro (2008)
Old Dogs (2008)
You,
Me & Dupree (2006)
Factotum (2005)
Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005)
Loverboy (2005)
Crash (2004)
Employee of
the Month (2004)
City of Ghosts (2002)
Dueces Wild (2002)
One Night at McCool's (2001)
There's Something About
Mary
(1998)
Wild Things (1998)
In & Out (1997)
Albino Alligator (1996)
Grace of my Heart (1996)
Beautiful Girls
(1996)
Frankie Starlight (1995)
To Die For (1995)
Golden Gate (1994)
Mr. Wonderful (1993)
Malcolm X (1992)
Singles
(1992)
A Kiss Before Dying (1991)
Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989)
Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
Kansas (1988)
The
Big Town (1987)
Native Son (1986)
Rebel (1985)
Target (1985)
The Flamingo Kid (1984)
Rumble Fish (1983)
The
Outsiders (1983)
Tex (1982)
Liar's Moon (1981)
Little Darlings (1980)
My Bodyguard (1980)
Over the Edge (1979)
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