Matthew McConaughey – biography, photos, facts, family, best performances, height and weight 2020

Matthew McConaughey’s biography

Matthew McConaughey is an actor, feeling equally good in both comedy and drama. His attractive look provided him with roles for a long period in romantic comedies («The Wedding Planner», «How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days») and his talent really revealed in horror films and dramas: «A Time to Kill». «The Lincoln Lawyer». «Dallas Buyers Club». «Interstellar», also the «True Detective» sensational series.

Childhood and family

Matthew David McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas and was the youngest of three sons of Jim, a former professional football player who ran a gas station by that time and Kim, a kindergarten teacher .

The oil pipe supply business was thriving and when Matthew became 10 the family moved to the «oil» city Longview, Texas. Exactly there Matthew grew up as a personality of strong character, honest and hardworking. He studied well at school and was a very shattered guy in his free time. All the money he earned at his father’s gas station he let down in bars and looked for adventures at every opportunity.

In 1988 he graduated from High school in Longview (he was awarded the «Chief handsome of the school» at the graduation ball) and enrolled in the student exchange program. The next year he lived in New South Wales, Australia. An open and kind guy by nature he, somehow, couldn’t get along with people at the new place. Loneliness made him ponder much about the meaning of life and the way forward.

McConaughey – the most handsome at school

Unlike older brothers, who became part of the family business, Matthew didn’t want to trade gasoline all his life. First he was attracted by Law and returning home he entered the University of Texas at Austin. The next two years McConaughey skillfully balanced between Law and Philosophy studies and student parties.

Matthew McConaughey at young age and nowadays

At the end of the second year, preparing for the examines McConaughey read the book «The Greatest Salesman in the World» by Og Mandino. As the actor confessed later, it had changed his life. He realized he wasn’t doing what he liked at all. McConaughey thought about his feelings and realized that all the time he had secretly envied his friend, a student and actor. Then he changed his specialization at the University, which the American system of higher education allowed and began studying drama and stage skills and finally felt himself like a duck takes to water.

McConaughey’s acting career

During those years Austin could boast of well-developed film industry and McConaughey easily debuted in some commercials. An occasion helped him to get into the big movie. One evening he met producer Don Philips at the bar, who was recruiting actors for the «Dazed and Confused» youth drama. The five-hour conversation ended by the new friends being kicked out of the bar and McConaughey got the role of Wooderson, who was «too old to party with the schoolkids».

McConaughey’s first role – Wooderson from the «Dazed and Confused»

Due to the elaborated scenario and stunning stylization of the mid-70's, the film received the status of an iconic one. By the way Quentin Tarantino put the film into the sixth position of his favorite films. Star McConaughey shined brightly after.

In 1996 he received his first role of a lawyer defensing a black who had shot the members of the Ku Klux Klan who had raped his daughter. Alas, the action was taking place in a south state where people haven’t got rid of racial prejudice yet which let McConaughey fully disclose his dramatic talent and work alongside Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey.

McConaughey's speech from «A Time to Kill»

In the early 2000’s mostly romantic comedies filled his filmography. During that period critics started calling him the male equivalent of Jennifer Aniston – he played mostly handsome loners who unwillingly fall in love: «The Wedding Planner» with Jennifer Lopez, «How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days» with Kate Hudson, «Tiptoes» with Kate Beckinsale.

A shot from the «How to lose a guy in 10 days»

The «Sahara» adventure film was released in 2005. McConaughey became executive producer and played the leading role - adventurer Dirk Pitt, who was seeking treasure in Africa.

McConaughey trained a lot preparing for the set of «Sahara»

The actor played alongside Jessica Parker in the «Failure to Launch» which was released in 2006. Three pictures right away were released with McConaughey in 2008 – the «Surfer, Dude», the «Fool's Gold» and the «Tropic Thunder».

In 2011 McConaughey, who had earned fame of a hero and macho appears before the audience in the image of a hitman from the «Killer Joe» black comedy crime. His character is hired by a young drug addict who owed his dealer money to kill his mother and receive insurance money.

Top 10 films with Matthew McConaughey

In 2013 McConaughey played in the «Dallas Buyers Club». The role of an AIDs patient cowboy Ron brought him the first «Oscar» for his entire career and the «Golden Globe». The audience was amazed by his tandem with Jared Leto, who played an HIV-infected transvestite. The preparation for the role wasn’t easy for the actor: he had to lose 22 kilograms.

Matthew McConaughey in the «Dallas Buyers Club»

The same year the actor could be seen in «The Wolf of Wall Street» by Martin Scorsese playing the beginning stockbroker’s first boss, who advised his ward to live in a dissolute way. It’s interesting that the scene where McConaughy teaches Leonardo Di Caprio the mind and then hits himself in the chest was the purest improvisation born from McConaughey’s warm-up before the play.

In 2014 the premiere of the «True Detective», works on which had begun yet in 2012 took place on the HBO channel. The first season was dedicated to the story of disclosing the mysterious murder of a prostitute from Louisiana, which lasted many years. Detectives Rustin Cohle and Martin Hart were in the center of the plot played by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. The project director was inspired by McConaughey’s play in «The Lincoln Lawyer» and approved him for the role with no doubt.

»True Detective»: Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle

The same year the «Interstellar» science fiction film by Christopher Nolan was released with McConaughey and Anne Hathaway in the leading roles, welcomed by the audience with amazement. The role of farmer Cooper who was sent by the NASA into the space in search of the salvation of mankind, was claimed by McConaughey’s fans one of the best in his filmography and the picture was nominated for the «Oscar».

McConaughey played the leading role in the «Interstellar»

The actor causes respect for the readiness to change for the seek of the roles. In order to show the character maximal truthfully he can extremely starve or sweat at the gym till full exhaustion.

How McConaughey changes for roles

Matthew McConaughey’s personal life

For a long time the actor was considered a real womanizer. In 1994 Matthew for a short period was in a romantic relationship with famous from the «Medium» series actress Patricia Arquette. But between McConaughey and Nicolas Cage she chose the latter.

In the photo: Matthew McConaughey and Patricia Arquette

McConaughey quickly licked his wounds and span a romance with his partner on the set of «A Time to Kill» Ashley Judd. Their relationship was bright but short – the girl’s steel character frightened off McConaughey who preferred more gentle and appeasable companions.

In young age McConaughey was a heartbreaker

Later Matthew began a relationship with Sandra Bullock who was also his colleague in the «A Time To Kill». The relationship lasted almost two years. The couple disputed several times with grandiose scandals but put up again not less effective until once the pregnancy test showed two stripes for Sandra. McConaughey quailed, apparently not ready for the child. Later the test turned out to be false, but the actress could no longer live with the betrayer and went to Robert Schneider. Her former beloved begged forgiveness literally on his knees but the reunion turned out to be short, Bullock was hurt too deeply.

Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock (1997)

After that the actor was afraid of serious relationships and twisted intrigues with girls out of the show business. In 2004 he came to the Academy Awards ceremony with waitress Michelle Smith. However life with a non-public person quickly bored him: «She knows everything about me, I know nothing about her», - shared the actor in an interview.

While working on the picture «Sahara» Matt noticed free by that time Penélope Cruz. Initially Tom Cruise was to play in the project but he refused the role after breaking up with Penelope. McConaughey took his place in the picture and in the heart of the actress. Already not a reckless youth, the actor approached developing the relations seriously and things went to marriage but they separated two years later stating the press that they almost don’t see each other because of the permanent sets.

Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz (2005)

Once in 2006 McConaughey was walking down the streets in Los Angeles and suddenly wanted to try Cuban kitchen. Entering the first caught topical restaurant he got to a party in honor of Brazilian model Camila Alves whom he fell in love with at first sight. Their age difference is 13 years.

Currently McConaughey is married to Brazilian model Camila Alves

After a year and a half the couple gave birth to their first-born boy Levi. After another year and a half baby Vida was born. After Camila told her beloved she was pregnant for the third time he at last made her an offer.

The happy family: McConaughey with his wife and children

The wedding ceremony took place in 2012 at the actor’s estate in Texas and soon their third child was born – a boy who was named Livingston.

The actor owns a production company named «j. k. livin». The decoding of the name says «just keep living». McConaughey calls this phrase his motto. He gave the same name to the charity fund the purpose of which is to help teenagers to find their way in life.

The former Don Juan became an exemplary family man

The actor adores pets. He had a few dogs at home and later they were joined by a cat which he had snatched from the clutches of street lusters.

Matthew McConaughey now

In 2017 the screening of the romance by Stephen King «The Dark Tower» was released. McConaughey was given the role of an antihero, a man in black. His rival was a gunner, a character by Idris Elba.