Who can forget the moment Matt Damon took to the stage to accept his Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with best bud Ben Affleck? Since then he has become a respected name in Hollywood, veering smoothly between comedy, drama and action.
Today he turns 45 and M-Net Movies is celebrating by looking at Matt Damon’s life and career roles.
The Actor
His acting career began in the late ‘80s, but it was his acclaimed role in Courage Under Fire which brought him to critics’ attention. Damon continued carving out an impressive résumé with his performances in Good Will Hunting and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Further securing his place in the annals of Hollywood, was his place amongst Ocean’s 11 in the movie of the same name; and as  the titular hero in the Bourne movies. In 2010 he starred as our very own rugby legend, Francois Pienaar, in Invictus, earning an Oscar nomination for the part.
The Singer
He’s never appeared in a bona-fide musical, but he did deliver a haunting rendition of My Funny Valentine in The Talented Mr. Ripley.Â
The Writer
For a long time his name was synonymous with Ben Affleck’s; not only did they grow up in Massachusetts and appear in Kevin Smith films together, they also co-wrote Good Will Hunting. The rest, as the cliché, goes, is history.
The King of Cameos
If there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-him part in your movie, Matt Damon’s your guy. He’s happily, and memorably, made cameos and uncredited appearances in Interstellar, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Chasing Amy, Jersey Girl and Entourage. In Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Damon and Affleck appear together as themselves making a sequel to Good Will Hunting. Another unforgettable cameo, and arguably his best, is in Eurotrip as Donny, the rock band front man who steals Scotty’s girlfriend.
The Father
In a whirl of fairy-tale romance, Damon married Argentine bartender Luciana Bozán Barroso. They have three daughters together; and Damon has a stepdaughter, who is from Luciana's previous marriage.
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