Biography of Matt Dillon
Matt Dillon is a celebrated American actor who launched his career early and became a genuine teen heartthrob in the 80s and 90s. He's best known for playing tough guys with criminal backgrounds—both past and present. Over time, he successfully broke free from that typecast and tackled a wide range of characters.
Early Life
Matthew Raymond Dillon was born in New Rochelle, New York, on February 18, 1964. His mother, Mary Ellen, ran the household while raising six children—one daughter and five sons—as his father, Paul, balanced portrait painting with his job as a sales manager. The family has Irish, German, and Scottish ancestry.
Acting Career
Matt's debut film was the teenage drama "Over the Edge" (1979). This was followed by "Little Darlings" (1980) and "My Bodyguard" (1980). At that time, the actor caught Francis Ford Coppola's attention, who soon invited him to star in a film.




In 2002, Matt Dillon stepped behind the camera to direct the crime drama "City of Ghosts" while also taking on the lead role. The film featured Rose Byrne, Stellan Skarsgård, and Gérard Depardieu, and earned solid critical reviews.

In 2011, Matt made a guest appearance on "Modern Family." In 2015, he returned to television, starring in the dystopian series "Wayward Pines."

Matt Dillon's Personal Life
Matt has always kept his personal relationships out of the spotlight. It's known that he dated Cameron Diaz for three years. The couple announced their breakup in 1998.
In a 2014 interview, Dillon said he was ready for a serious relationship and had already met "the one." He didn't mention her name but clarified that she wasn't a public figure. Media reports soon identified his girlfriend as Italian actress Roberta Mastromichele....Listen, I loved her, and we were very close, but everything just ran its course. We were both actors, she lived in Los Angeles, and I lived in New York, and I didn't want to commit to moving there. But I don't want to say it was because of any of that. Everything just ran its course

Matt Dillon Now
Matt Dillon has been selective with his screen appearances in recent years, taking on roles in the biographical drama "Capone" (2020) as mobster Johnny Torrio, Al Capone's mentor, and "Asteroid City" by Wes Anderson.
Interesting Facts
- Matt landed the role in "The Blue Lagoon" (1980) alongside Brooke Shields but ultimately turned it down because he didn't want to do nude scenes. He also passed on roles in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" (1994) and "Novocaine" (2001), with Steve Martin eventually taking the latter role.
- Among the actor's hobbies are baseball, Cuban music, visiting flea markets, and traveling.
- Matt's brother, Kevin Dillon, is also an actor.