Matthew Mcconaughey

Matthew McConaughey (born 4.11.1969)

Matthew MConaughey is an American actor, whose first major role was in Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused in 1993.

Matthew McConaughey: Personal Life

Matthew McConaughey is the youngest of three brothers, born to Mary and James McConaughey in Uvalde, Texas. His father ran an oil pipe supply firm and owned a gas station. James McConaughey also once played football for the Green Bay Packers.

McConaughey was raised as a Baptist and his parents divorced and remarried a number of times.

Whilst at school, Matthew McConaughey took part in a student exchange programme and lived for a year in Gorokan, New South Wales, Australia.

Matthew McConaughey: Acting Career

Matthew McConaughey's acting career started out in 1991, when he appeared in a number of television adverts, whilst he was studying at the College of Communication at The University of Texas in Austin. Then, in 1993, he was cast alongside Ben Affleck, Parker Posey and Milla Jovovich in Dazed and Confused. That same year, McConaughey played a part in Trisha Yearwood's music video for her song 'Walkaway Joe'.

McConaughey followed up these roles with a number of small roles in films such as Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, Boys on the Side and Angels in the Outfield.

In 1996, Matthew McConaughey got his big break, when he played the lawyer Jake Brigance in A Time to Kill. The film, which also starred Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey, was an adaptation of a John Grisham novel.

McConaughey went on to be cast in a number of lead roles, such as Contact, with Jodie Foster, Amistad with Morgan Freeman and Anthony Hopkins and EDtv, which was directed by Ron Howard and starred Ellen DeGeneres and Woody Harrelson.

By 2000, McConaughey had begun to be cast in romantic comedies, such as The Wedding Planner, in which he appeared opposite Jennifer Lopez. He also starred in How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, alongside Kate Hudson, the daughter of Goldie Hawn.

Throughout the 2000's McConaughey also appeared opposite Al Pacino in Two For the Money and broke out of his casting stereotype when he played a serial killer in Frailty.

In 2005, Matthew McConaughey starred alongside Penelope Cruz in the big budget Sahara. To promote the film, he sailed down the Amazon River and trekked to Mali. The following year, he appeared in the moderately successful romantic comedy Failure to Launch, opposite Sarah Jessica Parker.

In 2008, Matthew McConaughey replaced Owen Wilson in Ben Stiller's comedy Tropic Thunder. The three main actors in the film were Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr.

Matthew McConaughey: Personal Life

Matthew McConaughey has set up a foundation (JK Livin Foundation) to help live fuller lives. The foundation is named after his motto: "Just Keep Living."

In October 1999, Matthew McConaughey was arrested for possession of marijuana and resisting arrest.

When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Matthew McConaughey rescued a number of pets.

In the past, McConaughey has dated a number of high profile actresses including Sandra Bullock, Kate Hudson and Ashley Judd.

In July 2008, Matthew McConaughey and his girlfriend, Camila Alves had a son named Levi Alves McConaughey.