DOB: October 8, 1970

Background: Damon is a Massachusetts native of English, Scottish, Finnish, and Swedish descent. He performed as an actor in high school productions before attending Harvard University for four years, though he did not graduate. He dropped out to pursue acting in Los Angeles.

Filmography: Early film roles included "School Ties," "Geronimo: An American Legend," "Courage Under Fire," and "The Rainmaker," but it was his starring role in "Good Will Hunting," which Damon wrote with Ben Affleck, that launched him to stardom, earning him a screenwriting Oscar and a nomination for Best Actor. He went on to play the title characters in "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley." He starred in Steven Soderberg's "Ocean's Eleven" films alongside George Clooney and Brad Pitt and became an action star in the Jason Bourne spy trilogy: "The Bourne Identity," "The Bourne Supremacy," and "The Bourne Ultimatum." He played a crooked cop in Martin Scorsese's Best Picture-winning "The Departed" and starred in two films directed by Clint Eastwood: "Invictus" and "Hereafter." Most recently he appeared in "True Grit," "The Adjustment Bureau," and in a recurring role on NBC's "30 Rock." He will next be seen in the films "Contagion," another collaboration with Soderberg, and "We Bought a Zoo."

Academy Awards: Win - Best Original Screenplay ("Good Will Hunting," 1998)

Best Actor Nomination
"Good Will Hunting" (1998); lost to Jack Nicholson ("As Good as it Gets")

Best Supporting Actor Nomination
"Invictus" (2010); lost to Christoph Waltz ("Inglourious Basterds")

Emmy Awards:

Best Comedy Guest Actor Nomination
"30 Rock" (2011) - episode "Double-Edged Sword"; lost to Justin Timberlake ("Saturday Night Live")

Best Reality Program Nominations
"Project Greenlight" (2005); lost to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
"Project Greenlight" (2004); lost to "Queer Eye for the Straight Guys"

Best Non-Fiction Program Nomination
"Project Greenlight" (2002); lost to "The Osbournes"

Golden Globe Awards: Win - Best Film Screenplay ("Good Will Hunting," 1998)

Best Film Drama Actor Nominations
"The Talented Mr. Ripley" (2000); lost to Denzel Washington ("The Hurricane")
"Good Will Hunting" (1998); lost to Peter Fonda ("Ulee's Gold")

Best Film Comedy/Musical Actor Nomination
"The Informant!" (2010); lost to Robert Downey Jr. ("Sherlock Holmes")

Best Film Supporting Actor Nomination
"Invictus" (2010); lost to Christoph Waltz ("Inglourious Basterds")

SAG Awards:

Best Film Ensemble Nominations
"The Departed" (2007); lost to "Little Miss Sunshine"
"Saving Private Ryan" (1999); lost to "Shakespeare in Love"
"Good Will Hunting" (1998); lost to "The Full Monty"

Best Film Actor Nomination
"Good Will Hunting" (1998); lost to Jack Nicholson ("As Good As It Gets")

Best Film Supporting Actor Nomination
"Invictus" (2010); lost to Christoph Waltz ("Inglourious Basterds")