Most Famous Matts in the World
It’s a name that shows up all over movie credits, TV casts, festival lineups, and award shows. From box-office headliners to chart-topping musicians and powerhouse creators behind the camera, people named Matt have left an unmistakable mark across entertainment. You’ll find them writing and directing global hits, voicing beloved characters, and fronting bands that fill arenas.
Below is a friendly, fact-packed tour of the most widely known Matts in film, television, and music. Each entry highlights what they’re best known for, the roles or projects that made them fixtures in pop culture, and notable awards or milestones that demonstrate just how far the name has traveled in the arts.
Matt Damon
Matt Damon is an Academy Award–winning screenwriter for ‘Good Will Hunting’ and a leading actor known for franchises like ‘The Bourne Identity’ and ‘Ocean’s Eleven’. His filmography spans action, drama, and sci-fi, with acclaimed turns in ‘The Martian’, ‘Saving Private Ryan’, and ‘Ford v Ferrari’. He has received multiple Oscar and Golden Globe nominations across acting and producing categories.
Beyond acting, Damon co-founded the production company Pearl Street Films and the nonprofit Water.org alongside Gary White. He served as a producer on ‘Manchester by the Sea’, which received a Best Picture nomination, and he frequently collaborates with directors including Steven Soderbergh, Ridley Scott, and Christopher Nolan.
Matt LeBlanc
Matt LeBlanc became globally known for playing Joey Tribbiani on ‘Friends’, one of television’s most-watched sitcoms. He later led ‘Joey’ and earned a Golden Globe for ‘Episodes’, where he played a fictionalized version of himself. His TV work also includes the family comedy ‘Man with a Plan’ and a stint as a co-host on ‘Top Gear’.
LeBlanc’s performances have earned multiple Emmy nominations, and he remains closely associated with international syndication that keeps ‘Friends’ in constant rotation around the world. He continues to appear in television projects and specials tied to the series’ enduring popularity.
Matt Smith
Matt Smith gained international recognition as the Eleventh Doctor on ‘Doctor Who’, becoming one of the youngest actors to take on the role. He later portrayed Prince Philip in ‘The Crown’, earning an Emmy nomination for his performance. His screen credits also include the fantasy prequel series ‘House of the Dragon’.
Smith’s stage background includes prominent roles with the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre. His career spans television, film, and theatre, with recurring work in genre storytelling that attracts large global audiences.
Matt Groening
Matt Groening created ‘The Simpsons’, the long-running animated sitcom that became a cornerstone of modern television. He followed with ‘Futurama’ and later ‘Disenchantment’, building an animation portfolio recognized with numerous Emmy Awards. His shows have influenced generations of writers and animators and continue to air internationally.
Groening’s work extends to publishing and strip cartooning, including the ‘Life in Hell’ comics that preceded his TV creations. He has overseen expansive voice ensembles and writing rooms that helped define contemporary animated satire.
Matt Stone
Matt Stone co-created ‘South Park’ with Trey Parker, a series known for rapid-turnaround episodes and topical satire. The duo expanded to film with ‘South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut’ and ‘Team America: World Police’. Stone has earned multiple Emmys and a Peabody Award for his television work.
On stage, Stone co-created the hit musical ‘The Book of Mormon’, which won multiple Tony Awards. He also co-founded important production ventures supporting animation pipelines that enable fast, current-event storytelling.
Matt Reeves
Matt Reeves is a filmmaker known for ‘Cloverfield’, ‘Let Me In’, ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’, and ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’. He wrote and directed ‘The Batman’, launching a fresh iteration of the iconic character and overseeing connected projects in development.
Reeves’s production company, 6th & Idaho, develops film and television across genres. His career includes early TV work like ‘Felicity’ and frequent collaborations with major studios on large-scale, effects-driven storytelling.
Matt Dillon
Matt Dillon emerged as a prominent actor with early roles in dramas like ‘The Outsiders’ and ‘Drugstore Cowboy’. He received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Crash’ and appeared in hit comedies such as ‘There’s Something About Mary’. His filmography spans independent cinema and mainstream releases.
Dillon has also directed, including the feature ‘City of Ghosts’. He continues to work across film and television, taking on supporting and lead roles that range from crime stories to character-driven dramas.
Matt Bomer
Matt Bomer starred as con artist Neal Caffrey in ‘White Collar’, building a large television following. He won a Golden Globe for his work in ‘The Normal Heart’ and has appeared in ensemble films like ‘Magic Mike’. His TV credits include ‘The Sinner’ and ‘Doom Patrol’.
Bomer is active on stage and in voice work, including animated and superhero projects. He has also produced, balancing roles in network, cable, and streaming series with features and limited series.
Matt Lucas
Matt Lucas is a comedian, actor, and writer best known for co-creating ‘Little Britain’ with David Walliams. He later joined ‘Doctor Who’ as Nardole and co-hosted ‘The Great British Bake Off’. His film appearances include ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and its sequel.
Lucas has released music and written for stage and screen, often combining sketch comedy with character-driven humor. His projects have toured internationally and aired across major broadcasters and streaming services.
Matt Berry
Matt Berry is an actor, musician, and writer recognized for ‘The IT Crowd’, ‘Toast of London’, and ‘What We Do in the Shadows’. He won a BAFTA for his performance in ‘Toast of London’, where he also contributed to writing and music.
Berry releases albums as a recording artist and frequently composes music for his screen projects. His voice work spans animation, advertisements, and narrations, adding a distinct sound to various British and international productions.
Matt Heafy
Matt Heafy is the guitarist and lead vocalist of the metal band Trivium, known for albums that regularly chart across multiple countries. Heafy’s guitar work and vocal range have been featured on extensive world tours and major festival stages.
Heafy is also a prolific streamer and educator, sharing guitar techniques and live performances online. He collaborates with equipment makers on signature instruments and accessories used by fans and fellow musicians.
Matt Skiba
Matt Skiba co-founded Alkaline Trio as guitarist and vocalist, releasing albums that helped define a strand of punk and alternative rock. He later joined Blink-182 for touring and recording, contributing to singles and international tours.
Skiba continues to release music with Alkaline Trio and pursue solo and collaborative projects. His songwriting credits span themes and styles that cross punk subgenres, and he remains an active touring artist.
Matt Duffer
Matt Duffer, one half of the Duffer Brothers, co-created ‘Stranger Things’, a global streaming phenomenon. The series revived interest in genre storytelling with a mix of adventure, sci-fi, and horror influences and has garnered major industry awards and nominations.
Duffer and his brother formed Upside Down Pictures to develop additional series and adaptations. Their work includes writing, showrunning, and executive producing responsibilities across multiple seasons and spin-off plans.
Matt Lanter
Matt Lanter voiced Anakin Skywalker in ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ across multiple seasons and features. He also starred in the time-travel series ‘Timeless’ and appeared in superhero and teen dramas on network television.
Lanter’s voice acting extends to video games and animated features tied to major franchises. He balances voice roles with on-camera work in television movies and series, maintaining a presence in genre storytelling with dedicated fan communities.
Matt Walsh
Matt Walsh is an actor and comedian best known for playing Mike McLintock on ‘Veep’, a performance that earned multiple ensemble awards and individual nominations. He co-founded the Upright Citizens Brigade, which helped develop numerous performers and writers in comedy.
Walsh has appeared in films and television comedies, frequently collaborating with improvisational ensembles. He also directs and produces, contributing to projects across streaming and cable networks.
Share your picks: which Matts would you add to the list, and what roles or songs made them unforgettable to you—drop your thoughts in the comments!