Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey is an American actor, author and professor of practice at the University of Texas at Austin. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Dallas Buyers Club. His work includes Dazed and Confused, True Detective, Interstellar and the memoir Greenlights. He is also involved in philanthropy, sports ownership and business, and has been interviewed by School of Hard Knocks.
Contents32 sections
Key facts
November 4, 1969Birth in Texas
Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, United States.[1]
1993Film Degree
He earned a film degree from the University of Texas at Austin.[2]
1993Dazed and Confused
He played Wooderson in Richard Linklater’s ensemble film Dazed and Confused, an important early screen role.[3]
1996A Time to Kill
He appeared in Joel Schumacher’s A Time to Kill alongside Sandra Bullock and Samuel L. Jackson.[4]
October 1999Arrest and Subsequent Outcome
2003How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
He starred opposite Kate Hudson as Benjamin Barry in Donald Petrie’s romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.[7]
2008Founding the just keep livin Foundation
2012Magic Mike and Independent Film Recognition
He appeared in Magic Mike, Bernie and Killer Joe. His performance in Magic Mike earned an Independent Spirit Award.[1]
2013Mud and The Wolf of Wall Street
He appeared in Jeff Nichols’s Mud and Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street.[1]
March 2, 2014Academy Award for Best Actor
He won the Academy Award for Actor in a Leading Role for Dallas Buyers Club at the 86th Oscars.[9]
2014True Detective
He played Rust Cohle in True Detective and served as an executive producer, receiving Emmy nominations for lead actor in a drama series and outstanding drama series.[10]
2014Interstellar
He played Cooper in Christopher Nolan’s science-fiction film Interstellar.[11]
November 17, 2014Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
He received the 2,534th Hollywood Walk of Fame star, in the motion pictures category.[1]
2015Teaching Script to Screen
He returned to UT Austin as a visiting instructor, co-teaching Script to Screen with Scott Rice and helping develop its film-production curriculum.[2]
2019Joining Austin FC’s Ownership Group
Austin FC announced that he had joined its ownership group, identifying him as its Minister of Culture.[12]
Since 2019Professor of Practice
In the fall, he joined the faculty of UT Austin’s Moody College, serving as a professor of practice in Radio-Television-Film.[2]
October 20, 2020Greenlights
His memoir Greenlights was published, drawing on years of journals and personal experiences to reflect on choices, setbacks and opportunities.[13]
March 21, 2021We’re Texas Benefit Concert
He hosted the online We’re Texas concert on his YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry channel to raise funds for people affected by Winter Storm Uri, supporting relief organizations through the foundation’s Texas Relief Fund.[14]
June 7, 2022Gun-Safety Remarks at the White House
He briefly met President Joe Biden at the White House and delivered remarks on gun safety at the press briefing, calling for unity.[15]
July 20, 2023Greenlights Grant Initiative
He and Camila launched the Greenlights Grant Initiative to help under-resourced school districts apply for federal school-safety grants, including funding for mental health and security.[16]
September 12, 2023Just Because
Viking Children’s Books published his debut picture book, Just Because, illustrated by Renée Kurilla. He also narrated the audiobook.[17]
October 25, 2023Pantalones Organic Tequila
He and Camila launched Pantalones Organic Tequila; the brand’s launch announcement identified them as co-founders.[18]
2024True Detective: Night Country Nomination
As an executive producer, he received an Emmy nomination for outstanding limited or anthology series for True Detective: Night Country.[10]
September 16, 2025Poems & Prayers
Crown published Poems & Prayers, a collection of his poetry, prayers and personal reflections.[19]
November 2025ElevenLabs Investment and Collaboration
ElevenLabs announced that he had been an investor for several years and was collaborating on a Spanish version of Lyrics of Livin’ using an authorized synthetic version of his voice. The announcement did not mark his initial investment.[20]
January 2026Trademarks Addressing Unauthorized AI Imitation
Variety reported that his lawyers had secured eight US trademarks covering selected audio and video, registered to J.K. Livin Brands Inc., to address unauthorized AI imitation. Counsel acknowledged uncertainty about how courts would ultimately assess the strategy.[21]
2026The Rivals of Amziah King
Black Bear lists The Rivals of Amziah King in its 2026 film catalog. He plays Oklahoma beekeeper Amziah King in the film directed by Andrew Patterson.[22]
September 19, 2026School of Hard Knocks Interview
School of Hard Knocks published an interview in which he recalled turning down a $15 million offer to move beyond established casting expectations and discussed advice received under the pressures of fame. The figure described a recalled job offer, not his net worth.[23]
September 23, 2026Brothers
Apple TV premiered Brothers, starring McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, who also executive produced. They portray fictionalized versions of themselves; the show’s family premise does not establish a real-life kinship.[24]
Family
He and his wife, Camila, have three children and live in Austin.[13]
Public Accounts
Sources
- Matthew McConaughey — Hollywood Walk of Fame (opens in a new window)
- Matthew McConaughey — Faculty Biography (opens in a new window)
- Dazed and Confused (1993) (opens in a new window)
- A Time to Kill (opens in a new window)
- Actor McConaughey In Nude Bongo Bust (opens in a new window)
- Matthew McConaughey — Arrest Outcome (opens in a new window)
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (opens in a new window)
- About Us — just keep livin Foundation (opens in a new window)
- The 86th Academy Awards — 2014 (opens in a new window)
- Matthew McConaughey — Emmy Awards (opens in a new window)
- Interstellar (opens in a new window)
- Austin FC Expands Ownership Group to Include Accomplished Austinites (opens in a new window)
- Greenlights (opens in a new window)
- Matthew McConaughey holds virtual concert to raise funds for Texans impacted by winter storm (opens in a new window)
- Pool Reports of June 7, 2022 (opens in a new window)
- Matthew and Camila launch Greenlights Grant Initiative (opens in a new window)
- Matthew McConaughey to Publish Debut Children’s Book (opens in a new window)
- Matthew and Camila McConaughey Introduce Pantalones Organic Tequila (opens in a new window)
- Poems & Prayers (opens in a new window)
- ElevenLabs Welcomes Matthew McConaughey as New Investor (opens in a new window)
- Matthew McConaughey Trademarks Alright, Alright, Alright (opens in a new window)
- The Rivals of Amziah King (opens in a new window)
- Why Matthew McConaughey Turned Down $15 MILLION (opens in a new window)
- Brothers (opens in a new window)
- Matthew McConaughey — X (opens in a new window)
- Matthew McConaughey — YouTube (opens in a new window)