Profile of the Day: Matt Damon

Matt Damon

Happy birthday, Matt Damon! Today the star turns 44. Damon was born Matthew Paige Damon in Cambridge, Massachusetts on October 8, 1970. He is the second son of Kent Telfer Damon, a stockbroker, and Nancy Carisson-Paige, an early childhood education professor at Lesley University.

In 1988, Damon started attending Harvard University. That same year, he made his acting debut with a single line of dialogue in the romantic comedy Mystic Pizza. It wasn’t until 1997 that Damon would catapult to stardom, penning the screenplay for Good Will Hunting with his longtime friend, Ben Affleck. Not only did the pair win the Academy Award for Best Screenplay, but Damon also scored his first Best Actor nomination for his performance in the film. Since then, Damon has starred in a variety of of roles, including the highly successful and action-packed Bourne series.

Did you know the two childhood friends are also related? Ben Affleck is Matt Damon’s 10th cousin once removed!

Explore Matt Damon’s family tree and see how you’re related to the star!

View Matt Damon’s Geni Profile

Image: Nicolas Genin, Wikimedia Commons