Matt Dillon is an American actor, director, and screenwriter whose career spans more than four decades. Emerging in the early 1980s as a prominent teen idol, he later reinvented himself as a serious dramatic performer, earning critical acclaim for his intense, psychologically layered roles. Known for balancing independent films with major studio productions, Dillon has remained a distinctive and respected figure in American cinema.

Early Life and Family Background

Matt Dillon was born on February 18, 1964, in New Rochelle, New York, United States. His full name is Matthew Raymond Dillon. He grew up in a large family with five siblings: Paul Dillon (b. 1962), Kevin Dillon (b. 1965), Katy Dillon (b. 1966), Timothy Dillon (b. 1969), and Brian Dillon (b. 1972). His mother, Mary Ellen, was a homemaker, while his father, Paul Dillon, worked as a sales manager at Union Camp and was also a portrait painter.

Raised in a creative yet grounded household, Dillon developed an early interest in acting. His natural screen presence and maturity at a young age helped him transition quickly from adolescent roles into more demanding dramatic performances.

Career Beginnings and Early Recognition

Matt Dillon gained early attention in the late 1970s and early 1980s, becoming one of the defining young actors of his generation. A major turning point came in 1983 when he appeared in Francis Ford Coppola’s Rumble Fish alongside Mickey Rourke, Nicolas Cage, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishburne. The film established Dillon as more than a teen star, highlighting his ability to handle stylized and emotionally complex material.

Throughout the 1980s, Dillon carefully avoided being typecast, choosing roles that allowed him to explore darker and more conflicted characters, a pattern that would define his long-term career.

Critical Acclaim and Career Expansion

In 1995, Matt Dillon delivered one of his most celebrated performances in Gus Van Sant’s To Die For . Starring opposite Nicole Kidman, and alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Casey Affleck, Dillon portrayed a manipulative and morally compromised character, earning widespread critical praise for his controlled yet unsettling performance.

During this period, Dillon solidified his reputation as an actor willing to take creative risks, frequently collaborating with auteur directors and favoring character-driven narratives over conventional leading-man roles.

Personal Life and Public Relationships

In 1998, Matt Dillon entered a high-profile romantic relationship with Cameron Diaz, whom he met while working on There’s Something About Mary. The couple began dating in January 1996 and remained together for approximately three years. They separated shortly after completing the film, with their relationship ending in late 1998.

Despite periodic media attention, Dillon has generally maintained a private personal life, keeping his focus on his work rather than public celebrity culture.

Directorial Work and Creative Control

In 2002, Matt Dillon expanded his creative role in cinema by writing, directing, and starring in City of Ghosts. The film featured Gérard Depardieu and James Caan and marked Dillon’s debut as a director. The project reflected his interest in morally complex narratives and international settings, further demonstrating his ambition beyond acting alone.

Awards Recognition and Major Ensemble Films

One of the most significant milestones in Matt Dillon’s career came in 2004 with his role in Crash . Appearing alongside Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Brendan Fraser, Ryan Phillippe, and others, Dillon delivered a deeply conflicted performance that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

The film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, cementing its place in cinematic history and reinforcing Dillon’s standing as a serious dramatic actor capable of anchoring ensemble casts.

Later Career and Continued Screen Presence

In the following years, Matt Dillon continued to work steadily across film genres. In 2013, he appeared in Bad Country alongside Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger, portraying a gritty law-enforcement narrative rooted in real events.

In 2017, Dillon joined veteran actors Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Alan Arkin, and Ann-Margret in the comedy-drama Going in Style , demonstrating his continued versatility and ability to adapt to both dramatic and lighthearted ensemble projects.

Films and Television

Director
2002 – City of Ghosts – (Feature Film)

Screenwriter
2002 – City of Ghosts – (Feature Film)

Actor
2018 – The House That Jack Built – (Jack) – (Feature Film)
2017 – Going in Style – (Hamer) – (Feature Film)
2016 – The Preppie Connection – (Trey) – (Feature Film)
2015 – Wayward Pines – (Ethan Burke) – (TV Series)
2014 – Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart – (Larry Maretto – archive footage) – (Feature Film)
2013 – The Art of the Steal – (Nicky Calhoun) – (Feature Film)
2013 – Pawn Shop Chronicles – (Feature Film)
2013 – Bad Country – (Jesse Weiland) – (Feature Film)
2012 – Sunlight Jr. – (Richie) – (Feature Film)
2012 – Seconds of Pleasure – (Feature Film)
2012 – Girl Most Likely – (George) – (Feature Film)
2010 – In Search of Ted Demme – (Himself) – (Feature Film)
2010 – Takers – (Jack Welles) – (Feature Film)
2009 – Single Fathers – (Feature Film)
2009 – Armored – (Feature Film)
2008 – Nothing But the Truth – (Dubois) – (Feature Film)
2007 – Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten – (Himself) – (Feature Film)
2006 – You, Me and Dupree – (Carl Peterson) – (Feature Film)
2006 – Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos – (Narrator) – (Feature Film)
2006 – ...So Goes the Nation – (Himself) – (Feature Film)
2005 – Loverboy – (Mark) – (Feature Film)
2005 – Herbie: Fully Loaded – (Trip Murphy) – (Feature Film)
2005 – Factotum – (Henry Chinaski) – (Feature Film)
2004 – Crash – (Officer John Ryan) – (Feature Film)
2004 – Employee of the Month – (David Walsh) – (Feature Film)
2002 – City of Ghosts – (Jimmy) – (Feature Film)
2002 – Deuces Wild – (Fritzy) – (Feature Film)
2001 – One Night at McCool’s – (Randy) – (Feature Film)
2000 – Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years – (Pat Healy – archive footage) – (TV Movie)
1998 – Wild Things – (Sam Lombardo) – (Feature Film)
1998 – The 70th Annual Academy Awards – (Himself) – (TV Special)
1998 – There’s Something About Mary – (Pat Healy) – (Feature Film)
1997 – Body Language – (Cameron Drake) – (Feature Film)
1997 – Pitch – (Himself) – (Feature Film)
1996 – Grace of My Heart – (Jay Phillips) – (Feature Film)
1996 – Beautiful Girls – (Tommy Rowland) – (Feature Film)
1996 – Albino Alligator – (Dova) – (Feature Film)
1995 – To Die For – (Larry Maretto) – (Feature Film)
1994 – Golden Gate – (Kevin Walker) – (Feature Film)
1993 – The Saint of Fort Washington – (Matthew) – (Feature Film)
1993 – Mr. Wonderful – (Gus) – (Feature Film)
1992 – Malcolm X – (Harlem DJ) – (Feature Film)
1992 – Singles – (Cliff Poncier) – (Feature Film)
1991 – A Kiss Before Dying – (Jonathan Corliss) – (Feature Film)
1989 – Drugstore Cowboy – (Bob) – (Feature Film)
1989 – Bloodhounds of Broadway – (Regret) – (Feature Film)
1988 – Kansas – (Doyle Kennedy) – (Feature Film)
1987 – The Big Town – (J.C. Cullen) – (Feature Film)
1986 – Native Son – (Jan) – (Feature Film)
1985 – Target – (Chris Lloyd) – (Feature Film)
1984 – The Flamingo Kid – (Jeffrey Willis) – (Feature Film)
1983 – The Outsiders – (Dallas “Dally” Winston) – (Feature Film)
1983 – The 55th Annual Academy Awards – (Himself) – (TV Special)
1983 – Rumble Fish – (Rusty James) – (Feature Film)
1982 – Liar’s Moon – (Jack Duncan) – (Feature Film)
1982 – Tex – (Tex McCormick) – (Feature Film)
1980 – My Bodyguard – (Melvin Moody) – (Feature Film)
1980 – Little Darlings – (Randy) – (Feature Film)
1979 – Over the Edge – (Richie White) – (Feature Film)

Source: Biyografiler.com