Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Matt Damon
Discover the career path of Matt Damon, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Matt Damon is a highly successful American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. Recognized as one of Forbes' most bankable stars, he's also among the highest-grossing actors of all time. His accolades include an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards, alongside multiple nominations for British Academy Film Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards, marking him as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
1988: Entrance to Harvard University
In 1988, Matt Damon entered Harvard University, where he appeared in student theater plays.
1988: Acting Debut in Mystic Pizza
In 1988, Matt Damon made his acting debut in the film Mystic Pizza.
1992: Leaving Harvard for Acting
In 1992, Matt Damon left Harvard University a semester short of graduating to feature in Geronimo: An American Legend.
1992: Departure from Harvard University
In 1992, Matt Damon left Harvard University before receiving his degree to take a lead role in the film Geronimo: An American Legend.
1994: Selling Good Will Hunting Screenplay
In 1994, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck sold the screenplay for Good Will Hunting to Castle Rock, later convincing Miramax to purchase it after a conflict.
1996: Role in Courage Under Fire
In 1996, Matt Damon appeared as an opiate-addicted soldier in Courage Under Fire, losing 40 pounds for the role.
1997: Good Will Hunting Success
In 1997, Good Will Hunting, written and starred in by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, was released, earning critical praise and multiple Academy Award nominations. Damon and Affleck won the Oscar and Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay.
1997: Success with Good Will Hunting
In 1997, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck gained prominence after writing and starring in Good Will Hunting, for which they won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay. He also acted in The Rainmaker in 1997.
1997: The Rainmaker
In 1997, Matt Damon played the lead in the critically acclaimed drama The Rainmaker, receiving recognition as a talented young actor.
1998: Roles in Saving Private Ryan and Rounders
In 1998, Matt Damon appeared in Saving Private Ryan and co-starred with Edward Norton in the poker film Rounders.
1999: Roles in The Talented Mr. Ripley and Dogma
In 1999, Matt Damon portrayed antihero Tom Ripley in The Talented Mr. Ripley and played a fallen angel in Dogma.
1999: Starring in The Talented Mr. Ripley
In 1999, Matt Damon starred as Tom Ripley in The Talented Mr. Ripley, establishing himself as a leading man.
2000: Unsuccessful Romantic Dramas
In 2000, Matt Damon's attempts at leading roles in romantic dramas such as All the Pretty Horses and The Legend of Bagger Vance were commercially and critically unsuccessful.
2000: Founding LivePlanet
In 2000, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and producers Chris Moore and Sean Bailey founded the production company LivePlanet to create Project Greenlight.
2001: Producing Project Greenlight
From 2001 to 2015, Matt Damon produced the reality series Project Greenlight.
2001: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Parody
In 2001, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck parodied their roles from Good Will Hunting in Kevin Smith's movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
2001: Ocean's Trilogy
In 2001, Matt Damon began starring as Linus Caldwell in the Ocean's trilogy.
2002: Bourne series
From 2002 to 2016, Matt Damon starred in the Bourne series.
2002: Releases of Gerry and The Bourne Identity
In 2002, Matt Damon co-wrote and starred in Gerry, and played Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity.
2002: Voice role in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
In 2002, Matt Damon voiced the role of Spirit in the animated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.
2003: Acting in Stuck on You
In 2003, Matt Damon played a conjoined twin in Stuck on You.
2003: Word "fag" used in movie dialogue
In 2003, the word "fag" was used as dialogue in one of Matt Damon's movies.
2004: Starring in The Bourne Supremacy and Ocean's Twelve
In 2004, Matt Damon starred in the sequels The Bourne Supremacy and Ocean's Twelve.
2004: Emmy Nomination for Project Greenlight
In 2004, Project Greenlight, produced by Matt Damon, was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program.
2005: Project Greenlight Television Series
From 2001 to 2005, and again in 2015, Matt Damon produced the television series Project Greenlight.
2005: Starring in The Brothers Grimm
In 2005, Matt Damon played a fictionalized version of Wilhelm Grimm in The Brothers Grimm.
2005: Syriana
Later in 2005, Matt Damon appeared as an energy analyst in the geopolitical thriller Syriana.
2006: Roles in The Good Shepherd and The Departed
In 2006, Matt Damon joined Robert De Niro in The Good Shepherd and played an undercover mobster in Martin Scorsese's The Departed.
August 2007: Most Bankable Star
In August 2007, Forbes declared Matt Damon the most bankable star among actors reviewed, with his last three films averaging US$29 at the box office for every dollar he earned.
2007: Ocean's Trilogy
From 2001 to 2007, Matt Damon starred in Ocean's Trilogy.
2007: Continued Bourne and Ocean's Roles
In 2007, Matt Damon continued to star as Jason Bourne in the Bourne franchise and as Linus Caldwell in the Ocean's trilogy.
2007: Forbes' Most Bankable Stars
In 2007, Matt Damon was ranked among Forbes' most bankable stars.
2007: Narrated Boston Red Sox Commemorative DVD
In 2007, Matt Damon, a fan of the Boston Red Sox, narrated the commemorative DVD release after the team won the 2007 World Series.
2008: Cameos in Che and Birth of Daughters
In 2008, Matt Damon had a cameo in the Che Guevara biopic Che. Damon and his wife welcomed their second daughter in August of 2008.
2008: Publication of Playing the Enemy
In 2008, the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation was published, which would later form the basis for the film Invictus, starring Matt Damon.
2008: 2008 Financial Crisis and Inside Job
In 2008, the global financial crisis took place, the effects of which were examined in the documentary film Inside Job, narrated by Matt Damon in 2010.
July 2009: Creation of Water.org
In July 2009, the H2O Africa Foundation, the charitable arm of the Running the Sahara expedition which Matt Damon founded, merged with WaterPartners to create Water.org.
August 2009: US Release of Ponyo and Involvement with ONEXONE
In August 2009, Matt Damon lent his voice to the English version of the animated film Ponyo, which was released in the United States. Also in 2009, Damon made a guest appearance on Entourage as himself, pressuring Vincent Chase into donating to his foundation ONEXONE.
2009: Roles in The Informant! and Invictus
In 2009, Matt Damon acted in The Informant! and Invictus.
March 2010: Formation of Pearl Street Films
In March 2010, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck established Pearl Street Films, a Warner Bros.-based production company.
2010: Ranked as Highest-Grossing Actor
In 2010, Matt Damon was ranked as one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, placing 37th.
October 2011: Water.org Received Grant from PepsiCo Foundation
In October 2011, Water.org received an $8 million grant from the PepsiCo Foundation to scale up WaterCredit in India. Matt Damon promoted these efforts, linking them with Aquafina and Ethos Water brands.
2011: Starred in Multiple Movies and Narrated Documentary
In 2011, Matt Damon starred in The Adjustment Bureau, Contagion, and We Bought a Zoo. He also narrated the documentary American Teacher, which opened in New York that year.
2011: Emmy Nomination for 30 Rock
In 2011, Matt Damon was Emmy-nominated for his guest role in 30 Rock.
January 2012: TD Ameritrade Spokesman
In January 2012, Matt Damon became the voice of TD Ameritrade advertisements, replacing Sam Waterston. He donated all fees from the advertisements to charity.
April 2012: Filming Promised Land
In April 2012, Matt Damon filmed Promised Land, directed by Gus Van Sant, a film he co-wrote with John Krasinski.
2012: Hosted fundraiser for Elizabeth Warren
In 2012, Matt Damon, along with Ben Affleck and John Krasinski, hosted a fundraiser for Democratic Senate nominee Elizabeth Warren.
May 26, 2013: Behind the Candelabra Premieres on HBO
On May 26, 2013, Behind the Candelabra, starring Michael Douglas as Liberace and Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, premiered on HBO.
2013: HBO Biopic Behind the Candelabra
In 2013, Matt Damon portrayed Scott Thorson in the HBO biopic Behind the Candelabra, receiving a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
2013: Starring in Elysium, The Zero Theorem and Nespresso Advertisement
In 2013, Matt Damon starred in the science fiction film Elysium as Max DeCosta and also appeared in The Zero Theorem. Damon was also featured in a Nespresso advertisement, earning him $3 million. He also did a voice over for United Airlines.
2014: Starring in The Monuments Men and Interstellar
In 2014, Matt Damon starred in The Monuments Men and played Dr. Mann in Interstellar. He also appeared as a celebrity correspondent for Years of Living Dangerously.
2015: Project Greenlight Television Series
From 2001 to 2005, and again in 2015, Matt Damon produced the television series Project Greenlight.
2015: Producing Project Greenlight
From 2001 to 2015, Matt Damon produced the reality series Project Greenlight.
2015: Golden Globe for The Martian
In 2015, Matt Damon received a nomination for an Academy Award and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance as an astronaut in The Martian.
2015: Starring in The Martian
In 2015, Matt Damon starred as Mark Watney in Ridley Scott's The Martian, earning him a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination.
2015: Promotion of Stella Artois for Water.org
Since 2015, Matt Damon has promoted Anheuser-Busch InBev's Stella Artois beer brand as a Water.org partner, including selling limited-edition glasses.
2016: Bourne series
From 2002 to 2016, Matt Damon starred in the Bourne series.
2016: Endorsed Hillary Clinton in presidential election
In 2016, Matt Damon endorsed Hillary Clinton in the presidential election.
2016: Producing Manchester by the Sea
In 2016, Matt Damon produced the film Manchester by the Sea.
2016: Return to the Bourne Franchise
In 2016, Matt Damon reprised his role as Jason Bourne in the Bourne franchise.
2016: Reprising Role in Jason Bourne
In 2016, Matt Damon reprised his role in Jason Bourne, reuniting with Paul Greengrass.
2017: Starring in The Great Wall, Suburbicon, and Downsizing
In 2017, Matt Damon played the lead role in The Great Wall. Later in 2017, he starred in Suburbicon and Downsizing.
September 2018: Portrayal of Brett Kavanaugh on Saturday Night Live
In September 2018, Matt Damon portrayed Brett Kavanaugh on Saturday Night Live.
2018: Super Bowl Ad Promoting Water.org and Stella Artois
In 2018, Matt Damon promoted Water.org and Stella Artois's role in supporting its work in a television advertisement during the Super Bowl.
2019: Acting in Ford v Ferrari
In 2019, Matt Damon acted in Ford v Ferrari.
2019: Hosting Saturday Night Live
In 2019, Matt Damon hosted Saturday Night Live, earning another Emmy nomination.
2019: Portrayal of Carroll Shelby in Ford v Ferrari
In 2019, Matt Damon portrayed Carroll Shelby in Ford v Ferrari.
October 2021: Partnership with Crypto.com
In October 2021, Matt Damon announced a partnership with the cryptocurrency trading platform Crypto.com, with Crypto.com donating $1 million to Water.org, and Damon donating his commercial earnings to the same.
2021: Starred in Stillwater and The Last Duel
In 2021, Matt Damon starred in Stillwater, playing an unemployed oil rig worker. He also starred in and co-wrote The Last Duel, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.
2022: Formed Artists Equity
In 2022, Matt Damon formed Artists Equity, an independent production company, with Ben Affleck.
2023: Roles in Air and Oppenheimer
In 2023, Matt Damon acted in Air and Oppenheimer, the last of which became his highest-grossing feature.
2024: Starred in and Produced The Instigators
In 2024, Matt Damon starred in and produced The Instigators alongside Casey Affleck, for Apple TV+.
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