Matt Dillon

Matt Dillon – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes

Matt Dillon (born February 18, 1964) is an American actor and director known for his transformation from teen rebel roles to mature dramatic work. Explore his biography, career highlights, style, and some of his notable quotations.

Introduction

Matt Dillon is one of those rare actors whose career has spanned decades—starting as a teenage breakout and evolving into nuanced, respected performances in both mainstream and independent cinema. From Over the Edge (1979) to Crash (2005) and beyond, Dillon has shown range, resilience, and a deep commitment to his craft. This article traces his journey, his artistic choices, and shares some of his candid reflections in his own words.

Early Life & Family

Matthew Raymond Dillon was born on February 18, 1964 in New Rochelle, New York, USA.

He grew up just north of New York City.

His brother is Kevin Dillon, also an actor.

Dillon is also related (by extended family) to comic strip artists Alex Raymond and Jim Raymond.

There is less public detail about his parents’ professions or his childhood schooling, but he displayed an early interest in acting which led to a casting opportunity while he was in junior high school.

Entry into Acting & Early Career

Matt Dillon’s acting career began when he was discovered as a student. He auditioned for Over the Edge (1979), a teenage-rebellion film, which became his film debut.

That role attracted attention and opened doors. In 1980 he appeared in Little Darlings and My Bodyguard, both of which further raised his profile as a young actor.

He also starred in adaptations of S. E. Hinton novels: Tex (1982), Rumble Fish (1983), The Outsiders (1983) among others.

These teenage and young-adult roles often cast him as troubled, intense, or rebellious youths—roles that suited his youthful image and presence.

Mature Career & Evolution

As Dillon matured, he took on roles that challenged and diverged from his early image. Some highlights:

  • Drugstore Cowboy (1989) — this film marked a turning point, giving him a more serious dramatic role.

  • Crash (2005) — Dillon gave a powerful supporting performance, which led to critical acclaim and award nominations for him.

  • There’s Something About Mary (1998) & You, Me and Dupree (2006) — he also ventured into comedy and lighter fare while balancing dramatic work.

  • In The House That Jack Built (2018), directed by Lars von Trier, he plays a controversial and dark role, signaling his willingness to engage in provocative material.

In addition to acting, Dillon has directed and taken part in more independent or artistically ambitious projects.

Style, Strengths & Reputation

Matt Dillon’s career shows several traits and strengths:

  • Versatility: From teenage rebellion to mature roles, he has avoided being pigeonholed entirely.

  • Intensity & internalization: Many of his best roles depend on quiet emotional weight, restrained tension, and a sense of inner conflict.

  • Selective & serious: He has spoken about taking his work seriously, choosing projects based on merit, rather than celebrity.

  • Balance of mainstream & independent: He keeps a foot in both big films and arty, lower-budget or riskier work.

  • Earned respect over time: While his early fame came quickly, his later roles anchor him as a mature, respected actor.

Memorable Quotes by Matt Dillon

Here are some of his more well-known quotes (about films, acting, character) and reflections from interviews:

  • “I don’t worry about whether a character is likable, as long as the character is believable.”

  • “I think anytime you can do something you haven’t seen or done in a film before, it’s always a great day as an actor.”

  • “I think a lot of directors, they come out of film school, they don’t know anything about acting. Or they’re writers that don’t know anything about the process. And I think they’re afraid sometimes to talk to actors and be honest with actors.”

  • “The reason I’ve survived that long is because I’ve taken my work so seriously. Maybe sometimes too seriously, but it’s always been important for me to do my best regardless of the film.”

  • “One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that you only do what you can do as an actor. You do the best job you can, but you have no control over so many elements that are going to determine the outcome of that film. I never pay attention to what happens after.”

  • “I used to make fun of the kids in school who acted or went to dance class.”

These quotations reveal his humility, realism, and focus on craft over image.

Lessons & Takeaways

From Matt Dillon’s journey and philosophy, some lessons emerge:

  1. Early start doesn’t define your whole career
    Dillon leveraged his teenage breakout into a long trajectory that allowed reinvention.

  2. Believability over likability
    Choosing characters that feel real and complex matters more than playing “safe” roles.

  3. Know your limits—but push boundaries
    He acknowledges there are parts you can play, but he also takes risks outside his comfort zone.

  4. Work ethic matters
    He often emphasizes seriousness, dedication, and doing one’s best regardless of external outcomes.

  5. Artistic integrity and flexibility
    Blending mainstream and independent work can preserve both relevance and growth.

Articles by the author

One of my greatest fears is not being able to change, to be caught in a never-ending cycle of sameness. Growth is so important.

Matt Dillon

There were six kids in our family, and I grew up fast. I had to do a lot of things on my own. I was a rebellious teenager. That's why coming into the film business was good for me because it gave me some discipline. Once I became an actor, I had to grow up a little more.

Matt Dillon

The first music I was ever exposed to was Irish folk music, like the Clancy Brothers. My father plays that and Christmas songs.

Matt Dillon

I like doing comedy, I like doing drama. Naturally I like to do, I like doing dramas, I like conflict, and when I do a comedy, you know, I've found that, like, romantic comedy is the trickiest one, because often it's neither: it's not romantic and it's not funny. So, like, I like a comedy that's biting. It's biting humor or really quirky humor.

Matt Dillon

I grew up with the white picket fence. My dad went to work nine to five, and he had a station wagon.

Matt Dillon

I'm not a Buddhist, or a card-carrying member of any religion.

Matt Dillon

Those are the kinds of roles you can really sink your teeth into. Characters with an edge. When you're playing someone who's sort of seedy, there's less limitation, there's so much space you can travel. There's room to move in.

Matt Dillon

I don't know why, but audiences are often sympathetic to thieves. Sometimes they are more sympathetic to thieves then they are to earnest people. What does that say about society?

Matt Dillon

It's important to air your concerns and fears with someone you trust. When you're honest about how you can change and grow, and where your weaknesses are, then you open the door for improvement and change.

Matt Dillon

In politics there are so many holes, so many contradictions, you don't know what's happening.

Matt Dillon

The worst thing I could be accused of is that I'm a one-way dude, only out for myself. But the worst thing a woman can do is not to say anything. Especially when you're starting a relationship.

Matt Dillon