Birth Name: Matthew David McConaughey
Birthdate: November 4, 1969
Birthplace: Uvalde, Texas
Occupations: Actor, Director, Writer, Producer
Quote: "You have certain things that you think about when you set out to make a life for yourself. You have your family name, for one. And if you're an American, you've got your patriotism--that's the reason you have to do things right. Another one is 'under God,' whatever that means to you. Well, Texas is the only state where you've got a fourth thing slapping you on the ass, saying 'Do right.' It's a state of mind. You can't explain it." - Premiere Magazine, August 1996
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Claim to Fame:
Played Wooderson in Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused (1993)
Significant Other(s):
Sandra Bullock, actress; reportedly dating, neither confirms romantic relationship
Ashley Judd, actress; involved during filming of A Time to Kill
Patricia Arquette, actress; dated 1994
Family:
Father: Jim McConaughey; salesman; played football with the Green Bay Packers; died 1992
Mother: Kay McConaughey, substitute teacher; born 1930
Brother: Michael McConaughey (aka Rooster McConaughey), actor, salesman; born 1953
Brother: Pat McConaughey, salesman; born 1962
Biography
With his genial demeanor, blond good looks and strong presence Matthew McConaughey managed to move quickly from featured to leading player. The actor had appeared in only four films ("My Boyfriend's Back" and "Dazed and Confused" both 1993; "Angels in the Outfield" 1994; and "Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre" 1995) before gaining notice for his performance as Drew Barrymore's policeman boyfriend in "Boys on the Side" (1995). The Texas native landed a role in John Sayles' highly acclaimed "Lone Star" (1996), appearing in flashbacks as the father of a sheriff (Chris Cooper) investigating a murder. He was then tapped for a small role in "A Time to Kill" (also 1996), Joel Schumacher's film based on John Grisham's best-seller. Originally cast in a villainous supporting role (eventually played by Kiefer Sutherland), McConaughey lobbied for the leading role when other more established actors (reportedly Brad Pitt, Woody Harrelson and Val Kilmer) failed to impress Grisham, who, as a producer, had casting approval. Schumacher directed McConaughey in a screen test for the part of a young lawyer who defends a black man accused of murder and won over the author. The Hollywood publicity machine went into effect almost as soon as the film began lensing and reached a fever pitch in the summer of 1996 (just prior to the film's release). McConaughey landed on the cover of Vanity Fair, was featured in Newsweek and was the subject of numerous print and TV interviews. He even managed to earn respectable critical reviews for his performance.
Filmography
Frailty (2002)
Reign of Fire (2002)
The Wedding Planner (2001)
13 Conversations About One Thing (2001)
U-571 (2000)
EdTV (1999)
The Newton Boys (1998)
Contact (1997)
Amistad (1997)
Lone Star (1996)
A Time to Kill (1996)
Larger Than Life (1996)
Glory Daze (1996)
Boys on the Side (1995)
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1995)
Scorpion Spring (1995)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)
Angels in the Outfield (1994)
Dazed and Confused (1993)
My Boyfriend's Back (1993)
Awards:
1997: MTV Movie Award: Best Breakthrough Performance, A Time to Kill
Factoids:
McConaughey's production company's name, JKL Productions, comes from Wooderson's life credo: "Just Keep Livin'!"
Education:
Longview High School, Longview, Texas
University of Texas, Austin, Texas; majored in film
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