Matthew Raymond "Matt" Dillon (born February 18, 1964) is an American actor and film director. He began his acting career in the late 1970s and quickly rose to fame as a teenage idol in the 1980s. Dillon made his feature film debut in Over the Edge (1979) and gained recognition with roles in My Bodyguard (1980), Little Darlings (1980), and The Outsiders (1983).
As his career progressed, he took on more diverse roles, starring in critically acclaimed films such as Drugstore Cowboy (1989), Singles (1992), There's Something About Mary (1998), and Crash (2004), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Beyond acting, Dillon made his directorial debut with City of Ghosts (2002) and has continued to work in film and television, including starring in the series Wayward Pines (2015). His career spans decades, showcasing his versatility in both dramatic and comedic roles.
Known For
Being Maria
Marlon Brando
2024
Asteroid City
The Mechanic
2023
American Dreamer
Dell
2022
The Man Who Built Cambodia
Narrator (voice)
2017
Girl Most Likely
George
2012
Takers
Jack Welles
2010
Armored
Mike Cochrane
2009
Old Dogs
Yancy Devlin
2009
Nothing But the Truth
Patton Dubois
2008
Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten
Self
2007
...So Goes the Nation
Self
2006
Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos
Narrator (Voice)
2006
You, Me and Dupree
Carl
2006
Herbie Fully Loaded
Trip Murphy
2005
Crash
Officer John Ryan
2005
Factotum
Henry Chinaski
2005
Loverboy
Mark
2005
Employee of the Month
David Walsh
2004
Breakfast with Hunter
Self
2003
City of Ghosts
Jimmy
2002
One Night at McCool's
Randy
2001
Madonna: The Video Collection 93:99
Detective (segment "Bad Girl")
1999
There's Something About Mary
Pat Healy
1998
Wild Things
Sam Lombardo
1998
In & Out
Cameron Drake
1997
Pitch
Self
1997
Albino Alligator
Dova
1997
Grace of My Heart
Jay Phillips
1996
Beautiful Girls
Tommy "Birdman" Rowland
1996
Frankie Starlight
Terry Klout
1995
To Die For
Larry Maretto
1995
Golden Gate
Agent Kevin David Walker
1994
The Saint of Fort Washington
Matthew
1993
Mr. Wonderful
Gus
1993
Singles
Cliff Poncier
1992
A Kiss Before Dying
Jonathan Corliss
1991
Bloodhounds of Broadway
Regret
1989
Drugstore Cowboy
Bob
1989
Kansas
Doyle Kennedy
1988
Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam
Mike (voice)
1987
The Big Town
J.C. Cullen
1987
Target
Chris Lloyd
1985
The Flamingo Kid
Jeffrey Willis
1984
Rumble Fish
Rusty James
1983
The Outsiders
Dallas Winston
1983
Tex
Tex McCormick
1982
Liar's Moon
Andrew Jackson "Jack" Duncan
1982
My Bodyguard
Melvin Moody
1980
Little Darlings
Randy
1980
Over the Edge
Richie
1979
An Ocean Apart
Kerouac's Road: The Beat of a Nation
Self
2025
Haunted Heart
Max
2024
High Desert
Denny · (8 episodes)
2023
Land of Dreams
Alan
2022
Capone
Johnny
2020
Roy's World: Barry Gifford's Chicago
2020
Nimic
Father
2020
Proxima
Mike Shannon
2019
Head Full of Honey
Nick
2018
Running for Grace
Doc
2018
The House That Jack Built
Jack
2018
Going in Style
Arlen Hamer
2017
Uncle Howard
Self (archive footage)
2017
Quotidien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2016
Rock Dog
Trey (voice)
2016
Wayward Pines
Ethan Burke · (10 episodes)
2015
Bad Country
Jesse Weiland
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Captivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart
Larry Maretto (archive footage)
2014
The Art of the Steal
Nicky Calhoun
2013
Pawn Shop Chronicles
Richard
2013
Sunlight Jr.
Richie
2013
Modern Family
Robbie Sullivan · (1 episode)
2009
The Story of ‘Fairytale of New York’
Self
2005
Staying Gold: A Look Back at 'The Outsiders'
Self
2005
Abby Singer
Matt Dillon (uncredited)
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Rockets Redglare!
Self
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Deuces Wild
Fritzy
2002
The Making of Drugstore Cowboy
1999
Teen Choice Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1999
The View
Self · (1 episode)
1997
Leute heute
Self · (1 episode)
1997
The Daily Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996
Inside the Actors Studio
Self · (1 episode)
1994
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (4 episodes)
1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(2 episodes)
1992
Fishing with John
Self · (1 episode)
1991
Women & Men 2: In Love There Are No Rules
Eddie
1991
The Simpsons
Louie (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
Native Son
Jan
1986
Rebel
Rebel
1985
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
1985
The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters
Ralph
1982
Wild Rides
Himself
1982
The Fence
Horn
Domenica In
Self · (1 episode)
1976
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1975
The Oscars
Self · (3 episodes)
1953