MAIN Art & ... Pop Culture Actors Matt Damon

Born Matthew Paige Damon on October 8, 1970, the future Oscar winner grew up in a well-to-do household in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he later met a lifelong friend, Ben Affleck, who lived down the street.

Later accepted at Harvard University, Damon eventually dropped out to pursue a career in acting, although he held on to a completed assignment he wrote for a college English class - a screenplay which would eventually become the basis for his first major hit, Good Will Hunting.

Damon's first Hollywood break came with a bit part in Mystic Pizza in 1988 featuring a relatively unknown actress, Julia Roberts.

He continued to struggle for good roles when he contacted Affleck to dust off his old screenplay for a shot at making it into a film. After hawking the idea around Hollywood, the two young actors eventually got a call from Miramax who not only showed interest, but eventually secured Gus Van Sant to direct and Robin Williams to co-star. And the rest, as they say, is Hollywood history.

With an Oscar for both Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay, Damon's acting days in Hollywood were now secure. Next came a starring role in Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, and in successive years was featured in lead performances in The Talented Mr. Ripley with Jude Law and reunited with Ben Affleck in the dark comedy hit, Dogma.

Other film credits have also included The Legend of Beggar Vance; All the Pretty Horses; the remake of the 60's classic, Oceans 11; and the hit espionage thriller, The Bourne Identity.

Damon went on to star in two blockbuster sequels, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum.

He has also reprised his role in the "Oceans" franchise co-starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

The actor's 2005 screen appearances have included The Brother's Grimm alongside Heath Ledger, and in the political thriller Syriana with George Clooney.

Offscreen, Damon married girlfriend, Luciana Barroso, in 2005. It was Damon's first marriage and Barroso's second. Damon and Barroso exchanged vows in a secret ceremony in New York witnessed by Barroso's daughter, 7-year old Alexa, from a previous marriage. Barroso gave birth to the couple's first child, Isabella, in June, 2006. She is now pregnant with the couple's second expectant arrival, due in

2007 was a banner year for the actor who was named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive and was a leading nominee at the People's Choice Awards. Matt and wife Luciana are now expecting the couple's second baby arrival, due in fall 2008.

MattDamon.com - Extensive fansite featuring photo galleries, audio clips, a complete biography and film listing, news and updates, chats, messageboard and more.

Matt Damon - Yahoo! Movies - Biography, photo gallery, film reviews with links to related sites, messageboards and groups.

Matt Damon - Wikipedia - Photo, brief factoids on his life, complete filmography and related links.

Matt Damon Current Month TV Schedule - Where to catch the actor in movie appearances around the cable TV dial.

Also see -> Christian Bale | Orlando Bloom | Pierce Brosnan

Tom Cruise | Johnny Depp | Leonardo DiCaprio | Colin Farrell

Harrison Ford | Mel Gibson | Jake Gyllenhaal | Hugh Jackman

Ashton Kutcher | Jude Law | Heath Ledger | Joaquin Phoenix

Keanu Reeves | Brandon Routh | Will Smith