Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey

McConaughey at the awards of the Goldene Kamera in Berlin, 2014
Born Matthew David McConaughey
November 4, 1969
Uvalde, Texas, U.S.
Residence Austin, Texas
Alma mater University of Texas at Austin
Occupation
Years active 1991–present
Net worth US $75 million (2014)
Religion Christian[1]
Spouse(s) Camila Alves (m. 2012)
Children 3

Matthew David McConaughey (/məˈkɑːnəheɪ/;[2] born November 4, 1969)[3] is an American actor and producer. He first gained notice for his breakout role in the coming-of-age comedy Dazed and Confused (1993), and went on to appear in films such as the slasher Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994), the legal thriller A Time to Kill (1996), Steven Spielberg's historical drama Amistad (1997), the science fiction drama Contact (1997), the comedy EDtv (1999) and the war film U-571 (2000).

In the 2000s, he became best known for starring in romantic comedies,[4] including The Wedding Planner (2001), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Failure to Launch (2006), Fool's Gold (2008) and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009). Since 2010 he has moved away from romantic comedies and has had roles in the films The Lincoln Lawyer (2011), Bernie (2011), Killer Joe (2011), The Paperboy (2012), Mud (2012), Magic Mike (2012), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and Interstellar (2014).

McConaughey achieved much success in 2013 for portraying a cowboy diagnosed with AIDS in the biographical film Dallas Buyers Club, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, among other awards and nominations. In 2014, he also starred as Rustin Cohle in the acclaimed HBO crime anthology series True Detective, for which he won a Critics' Choice Award and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Early life

McConaughey, the youngest of three boys, was born on November 4, 1969 in Uvalde, Texas.[3] His mother, Mary Kathleen "Kay" or "KMac" (née McCabe), is a former kindergarten teacher and a published author, who is originally from Trenton, New Jersey.[5][6][7] His father, James Donald McConaughey, ran an oil pipe supply business and played for the Kentucky Wildcats and the Houston Cougars football teams.[5][8] Jim McConaughey was from Louisiana[5] and was drafted by the NFL football team the Green Bay Packers but never played in the league.[6][9][10][11][12] McConaughey's mother and late father married each other three times (having divorced each other twice).[13][14] His ancestry includes Scottish, English, Irish, Swedish, and German.[15] He is a relative of Confederate brigadier general Dandridge McRae.[16][17][18] McConaughey had a Methodist upbringing.[19][20][21]

McConaughey moved to Longview, Texas in 1980,[5] where he attended Longview High School. He lived for a year in Warnervale, New South Wales, Australia, as a Rotary exchange student in 1988.[22] McConaughey attended the University of Texas at Austin College of Communication, where he joined Delta Tau Delta fraternity.[23] He began in the fall of 1989 and graduated spring of 1993 with a Bachelor's degree in Radio-Television-Film.[24] McConaughey's original plan had changed as he wanted to attend Southern Methodist University until a brother told him that private school tuition would have been a burden on the family finances, and Matthew's plan was to attend law school after graduation from college,[25] but he realized he was not interested in becoming a lawyer.[5]

Career

1991–2000

McConaughey began his acting career in 1991, appearing in television commercials, including one for the Austin, Texas daily newspaper, the Austin American-Statesman, which is credited as his first speaking role. The line, "How else am I gonna keep up with my 'Horns?" – a reference to his beloved Texas Longhorns sports teams – gave the local community a look at the young actor, before he was cast in Richard Linklater's film Dazed and Confused.[26] In 1992, he was cast as "Joe" in Trisha Yearwood's video for her hit song "Walkaway Joe."

After some smaller roles in Angels in the Outfield, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, Boys on the Side, the television series Unsolved Mysteries, and as the male lead in the Trisha Yearwood music video for the song Walkaway Joe, McConaughey's big break came as the lawyer Jake Brigance in the 1996 film A Time to Kill, based on the John Grisham novel of the same name. In the late '90s McConaughey was cast in leading roles in more movies, including Contact, Amistad, The Newton Boys, EDtv, and U-571.[3] During the early start of McConaughey's career he appeared in several movies, rated highly among his peers.

2001–2011

By the early 2000s, he was frequently cast in romantic comedies, including The Wedding Planner and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, both of which were successful at the box office.[27] During this period, he appeared as a firefighter in the low-budget film Tiptoes, with Kate Beckinsale, in Two for the Money as a protégé to Al Pacino's gambling mogul, and in Frailty, with Bill Paxton, who also directed.[3]

McConaughey starred in the 2005 feature film Sahara, along with Steve Zahn and Penélope Cruz.[28] Prior to the release of the film, he promoted it by sailing down the Amazon River and trekking to Mali.[29] That same year, McConaughey was named People magazine's “Sexiest Man Alive” for 2005.[30] In 2006, he co-starred with Sarah Jessica Parker in the romantic comedy Failure to Launch and as Marshall head football coach Jack Lengyal in We Are Marshall. McConaughey also provided voice work in an ad campaign for the Peace Corps in late 2006.[31] He replaced Owen Wilson in Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder after Wilson's suicide attempt.[32] On January 21, 2008, McConaughey became the new spokesman for the national radio campaign, "Beef: It's What's for Dinner", replacing Sam Elliot.[33][34]

2012–present

McConaughey recognized that "my lifestyle, living on the beach, running with my shirt off, doing romantic comedies" had typecast him into certain roles, and sought other work:[35]

I got to feeling like, for a few years, I was doing something that I liked to do with romantic and action comedies. But believe me, I noticed there were other things that were not coming in. And if they were coming in, it was in an independent form with a much smaller paycheck, and nobody really wanting to get behind them ... But I knew I could say no to the things I'd been doing. In saying no to those things, I knew work was going to dry up for awhile ... Year and a half, still nothing. At two years, all of a sudden, in my opinion, I became a new good idea for some good directors.
McConaughey at the premiere of the film Dallas Buyers Club at the Toronto International Film Festival

In 2012, McConaughey starred alongside Channing Tatum in Magic Mike, based on Tatum's early life, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh.[36] He returned to his East Texas roots, by working again with director Richard Linklater on Bernie, the story of a small-town funeral director, played by Jack Black, who kills the town's grande dame, played by Shirley MacLaine. McConaughey played real-life district attorney Danny Buck Davidson, who had prosecuted the real Bernie Tiede in 1998.[37] McConaughey's mother, KayMac, played one of the town gossips in the film. In June 2012, McConaughey was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[38]

In 2013, he played the role of Ron Woodroof in the movie Dallas Buyers Club, which required him to lose 38 pounds.[39] The film gathered wide critical acclaim and earned McConaughey many acting awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Drama and an Academy Award for Best Actor. During this time, he recorded a public service announcement in Austin, Texas for the LBJ Presidential Library.[40]

In April 2014, Time magazine included McConaughey in its annual Time 100 as one of the "Most Influential People in the World."[41]

In August 2014, the Lincoln Motor Company signed a multi-year collaboration with McConaughey for an ad campaign. The commercials, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (“Drive”), featured McConaughey as a storyteller.[42] Shortly after the commercials debuted in September 2014, they were parodied by Ellen DeGeneres, Conan O’Brien, South Park, and Jim Carrey. Overall sales for Lincoln increased by 25 percent one month after the ads debuted.[43]

He shared star billing with Woody Harrelson in HBO's 2014 series True Detective.[44] McConaughey played as Cooper, a widowed father and astronaut alongside Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Mackenzie Foy, and Casey Affleck in Christopher Nolan's science fiction film Interstellar, which was released on November 7, 2014.[45]

With his first Oscar win and the critical acclaim received for True Detective, "McConaughey seems to be tapping into something essential, remaining himself while stretching, getting older while staying the same age." Some critics have dubbed this comeback in his career and his move towards more complex roles "The McConaissance".[46] On February 4, 2014, it was announced that McConaughey's next role was in Gus van Sant's next film, Sea of Trees, co-starring with Ken Watanabe.[47]

At the 86th Academy Awards, McConaughey won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club.[48][49] His co-star Jared Leto won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, making Dallas Buyers Club the first film since Mystic River (2003) to win both awards. It also won Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and received a nomination for Best Picture. As of September 2014 it grossed over $55.2 million in box office revenue against a budget of $5 million.[50][51]

For his role as Rustin Cohle on True Detective, he has won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.[52] He was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, which he lost to Bryan Cranston.[53]

Personal life

McConaughey and his wife Camila Alves in 2010

McConaughey met Brazilian model and television performer Camila Alves in 2006.[54] The couple became engaged on December 25, 2011, and were married on June 9, 2012, in Austin, Texas (where they reside)[55][56] in a private Catholic ceremony.[57] Together they have three children: son Levi Alves McConaughey (born 2008),[58] daughter Vida Alves McConaughey (born 2010),[59] and son Livingston Alves McConaughey (born 2012).[60]

McConaughey started the just keep livin foundation, which is "dedicated to helping teenage kids lead active lives and make healthy choices to become great men and women".[61] He also rescued various pets stranded after the flooding of New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina.[62] In 2006, he rescued a cat from two youths in Sherman Oaks, California; the youths had doused the cat in hairspray and were attempting to set it on fire.[63]

McConaughey has been a diehard Washington Redskins fan since his youth and has repeatedly stated he doesn't want the logo or name to change due to its historical background.[64][65] He is also a Houston Astros fan.[66]

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ↑ "Celebrity Faith Database". Belief.net. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  2. ↑ "NLS/BPH: Other Writings, Say How? Key to Pronunciation". Loc.gov. 2013-01-07. Retrieved 2014-03-07.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Matthew McConaughey". Biography.com. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey: from himbo to highbrow". The Guardian. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Cohen, Jason (August 1996). "His Time to Kill". Texas Monthly. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Julie Tereshchuk (2012-04-26). "All in the Family". Austin Woman Magazine. Archived from the original on 2012-05-04.
  7. ↑ "Matthew David Mcconaughey". familysearch.org. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  8. ↑ Story, Mark (February 24, 2014). "Mark Story: Matthew McConaughey's dad played college football for ... Kentucky?". kentucky.com. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  9. ↑ "1953 Green Bay Packers". databasefootball.com. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  10. ↑ "The 1953 Green Bay Packers". Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey Biography (1969–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
  12. ↑ Duffy, Ty (March 10, 2014). "Matthew McConaughey's Dad Was Drafted By The Green Bay Packers In 1953". USA Today. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  13. ↑ Tom Shone (March 3, 2014). "Matthew McConaughey: exclusive interview". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Barbara Walters' Oscar Special". ABC7news.com. Retrieved April 15, 2006.
  15. ↑ "Biography for Matthew McConaughey". imdb. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "60 Second interview: Matthew McConaughey". Metro. Retrieved May 7, 2006.
  17. ↑ Dunham, Chris (July 14, 2009). "Mr. McConaughey's Marriage Problem". genealogywise.com. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Matthew David McConaughey". http://genealogy.kathihill.com/''. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  19. ↑ "No use putting out the welcome Matt". The New Zealand Herald. May 12, 2001. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Wedding Planner, The : Interview With Matthew McConaughey". Google. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Find Articles". Matthew's interview – Matthew McConaughey – Interview. Retrieved April 15, 2006.
  22. ↑ "ONE news". McConaughey credits Australian town. Retrieved December 22, 2006.
  23. ↑ "The Castilian Dorm Serving the University of Texas Receives Upgrades (PR.com)". Student Housing Planet. March 26, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2009.
  24. ↑ Degrees and Dates of Attendance: McConaughey, Matthew D.. University of Texas at Austin
  25. ↑ NPR interview
  26. ↑ "Dazed and Confused Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey: exclusive interview". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  28. ↑ "On a Desert Gallop, Planting Assorted Red Flags". The New York Times. April 8, 2005. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  29. ↑ "McConaughey's elusive quest". cnn.com. April 14, 2005. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  30. ↑ "2005 Sexiest Man of the Year". People. Retrieved May 19, 2008.
  31. ↑ Maugh, Casey Malone. Peace Corps in the 21st Century: A Rhetorical Analysis. p. 41.
  32. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey to Replace Owen Wilson in Film". PEOPLE.com.
  33. ↑ ""Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner" Advertising Campaign Invites Consumers to Discover the Power of Protein" (Press release). National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. January 7, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  34. ↑ Shinn, Peter (January 8, 2008). "Iowa beef producers talk ethanol, checkoff, ID and more". Learfield Communications, Inc. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  35. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (2014-06-04). "EMMYS Q&A: Matthew McConaughey On Following Oscar With The Game-Changing HBO Series ‘ Detective’". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  36. ↑ "The Body Politic: Review: ‘Magic Mike,’ by Steven Soderbergh, With Channing Tatum". The New York Times. June 28, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Bernie Tiede released from prison, will live with ‘Bernie’ director Richard Linklater". The Washington Post. May 7, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  38. ↑ Thompson, Arienne (June 29, 2012). "McConaughey, Spencer invited to join Academy". USA Today. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  39. ↑ Ellwood, Gregory (November 14, 2012). "Matthew McConaughey reveals how he lost 38 pounds and ponders a 'Magic Mike' sequel". HitFix. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  40. ↑ Salamon, Jeff. "Matthew McConaughey Has A Presidents' Day Gift For You". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
  41. ↑ Linklater, Richard (April 23, 2014). "Matthew McConaughey: The most surprising actor in Hollywood". Time magazine. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Lincoln Motor Company and Matthew McConaughey Begin New Creative Journey". August 21, 2014.
  43. ↑ Walker, Michael (December 29, 2014). "New Matthew McConaughey Ads for Lincoln to Debut New Year's Day (Video)".
  44. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (April 30, 2012). "HBO Picks Up Matthew-Woody Series ‘True Detective’ With Eight-Episode Order". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  45. ↑ Goldberg, Matt (April 3, 2013). "Matthew McConaughey Confirmed to Lead Christopher Nolan’s INTERSTELLAR". collider.com. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  46. ↑ Rachel, Syme. "The McConaissance". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
  47. ↑ Kit, Boris. "Matthew McConaughey to Star in Gus Van Sant's 'Sea of Trees'". The Hollywood Reporter. TheHollywoodReporter.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  48. ↑ "Dallas Buyers Club (2013)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  49. ↑ "Dallas Buyers Club Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  50. ↑ Minutaglio, Bill (August 9, 1992). "Buying Time: World traveler Ron Woodroof smuggles drugs—and hope—for people with AIDS". Dallas Life Magazine. pp. 8–12, 21, 25. (original article)
  51. ↑ Harris, Aisha (November 1, 2013). "How Accurate Is Dallas Buyers Club?". Slate.com. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  52. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey Wins Critics Choice Awards 2014 Best Actor". Youtube. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  53. ↑ Verne Gay (August 26, 2014). "Emmys: Why did 'True Detective,' Matthew McConaughey get shut out?". newsday.com. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  54. ↑ Macaluso, Beth Anne (June 10, 2012). 2012106 "Matthew McConaughey Marries Camila Alves". Us Weekly.
  55. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves Wedding". People. June 9, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  56. ↑ Bromley, Melanie; Malkin, Marc (June 8, 2012). "Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves Getting Married in Top-Secret Texas Wedding—This Weekend!". E!.
  57. ↑ Christian Post: "The Faith of Matthew McConaughey" By Jim Denison March 5, 2014
  58. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves welcome son Levi". People. July 8, 2008. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  59. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey, Camila Alves Welcome daughter, Vida". People. January 3, 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  60. ↑ "Matthew and Camila McConaughey Welcome Son Livingston". People. December 28, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  61. ↑ "j.k. livin". Matthew McConaughey. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  62. ↑ Toronto Fashion Monitor: "Matthew McConaughey Saves the Pets.". Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  63. ↑ San Francisco Chronicle: "McConaughey in Cat Rescue.". Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  64. ↑ "Redskins fan Matthew McConaughey doesn't want team's name to change". USA Today. October 21, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  65. ↑ "Matthew McConaughey Wishes Washington Redskins Logo Wouldn't Change". Huffingtonpost. October 21, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  66. ↑ "Meeting Matthew McConaughey - The Guy Is Scary Good Looking". telegram.com. Retrieved February 25, 2015.

External links

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Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Daniel Day-Lewis		 Academy Award for Best Actor
2013 		Succeeded by
Eddie Redmayne