Let's make this birthday one to remember.

53 years old (Born on October 08, 1970)

American actor, screenwriter, and producer; He is famous from Good Will Hunting, The Bourne Trilogy.

Both he and Ben Affleck worked as extras on the film Field of Dreams (1989). At one point during the shoot, Matt hopped on down to Boston`s Fenway Park to take some blades of grass as mementos for his father. Had a cameo as a waiter in the film The Sum of All Fears (2002), but it was cut from the final film. Chosen as one of "the 50 Most beautiful people in the world" by People magazine (1998). Has two daughters, Isabella Damon, born June 11, 2006 and Gia Zavala, born August 20, 2008 in Miami, Florida. Was once offered the chance at playing Daredevil when it was in production at Miramax in 1999. This version would have starred Damon and been written by Kevin Smith and directed by Robert Rodriguez. However, Marvel Comics wanted too large a budget for the filmmakers' tastes.

Audtioned for a part in Primal Fear (1996) that was eventually played by Edward Norton. He and Norton starred together two years later in Rounders (1998).

Francis Ford Coppola cast him in The Rainmaker (1997) after seeing him in Courage Under Fire (1996).

Quit smoking after visiting a hypnotist in L.A.

Turned down the role of Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight (2008).

Met his wife, Luciana Barroso, while he was filming Stuck on You (2003) in Florida.

Dropped out of Harvard 12 credits short of graduating to pursue his acting career.

His parents divorced when he was two and he spent part of his childhood in a commune in Boston with his mother, a specialist in child education.

His wife, Luciana Barroso, was born in Argentina.

Was Winona Ryder's boyfriend from New Year's Eve 1997 until they broke up in May 2000.

His uncle, George Brunstad, swam the English Channel at the age of 70. He completed the 21-mile swim in 15 hours and 59 minutes, making him the new world record holder as the oldest person to complete the swim. In the process, he raised $12,000 for a Haitian children`s group (29 August 2004).

Named Hollywood`s "best value" by Forbes Magazine, with his films making $29 (US) for each dollar he is paid (2007).

Both he and best friend Ben Affleck spent Father`s Day 2007 with their wives and children together on vacation in Hawaii.

To perfect his Southern accent for his role as Rudy Baylor in The Rainmaker (1997), he tended bar in Knoxville, TN, for free. Later he hired one of the customers to serve as his dialect coach.

Appears in two of the six summer 2007 "threequels": Ocean`s Thirteen (2007) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). He also appeared in the second; movies of the "Bourne" and "Ocean" franchises in the same year (2004).

One of his first movie roles was a one-line part in Mystic Pizza (1988) starring Julia Roberts. Later, he starred with Roberts in Ocean`s Eleven (2001).

Turned down the lead role in The Quick and the Dead (1995). Leonardo DiCaprio ended up with the role.

When his baby nephew cries, he sings "Afternoon Delight" for him.

Was once offered the chance at playing Daredevil when it was in production at Miramax in 1999. This version would have starred Damon and been written by Kevin Smith and directed by Robert Rodriguez. However, Marvel Comics wanted too large a budget for the filmmakers` tastes.The role eventually went to his best friend Ben Affleck.

Turned down the lead role in The Majestic (2001).

During an appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986), he announced that he and Minnie Driver broke up, even before telling her in person, just before the Oscars. Minnie found out on air.

Started a bowling league in Berlin while making The Bourne Supremacy (2004).

While promoting The Bourne Supremacy (2004) on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (1992), he revealed that when he was a college freshman his agent from a "ma and pa agency" inadvertently sent him and Ben Affleck to an audition for "The New Mickey Mouse Club" (1977). They were under the impression that they were going to meet the head of Touchstone Pictures.

Shaved his head for the movie The Brothers Grimm (2005) (to assist in the wearing of a wig for that role). The shaved head was shown in the movie EuroTrip (2004), which was filmed in Prague at the same time.

Was considered for the role of Matt Murdock/Daredevil in _Daredevil (2003)_ (q). The role eventually went to his best friend Ben Affleck.

Named "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine in 2007.

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (26 July 2007).

Is only 11 years older than Eddie Redmayne who plays his son in The Good Shepherd (2006).

Turned down the part of Bobby Mercer in Four Brothers (2005), as he found the script to be "ultra-violent". The part eventually went to Mark Wahlberg.

Lost 30 pounds for his role in the film The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).

1998: Played in $10,000 buy-in Texas Hold `Em tournament at the World Series of Poker (www.wsop.com) in Las Vegas. He was knocked out in the first day by poker legend Doyle Brunson. Damon had kings, Brunson aces.

Was named as one of E!'s "25 Most Eligible Bachelors" in June, 2002.

Became stepfather to girlfriend Luciana Barroso`s daughter, Alexia (born in 1998), when he married Luciana at City Hall in New York City (9 December 2005)-.

Had never made a sequel until he made Ocean`s Twelve (2004) and The Bourne Supremacy (2004), both in the same year. In 2007, the third parts of those series, Ocean`s Thirteen (2007) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), opened, making the first trilogies he`s starred in.

Father Kent Damon was a realtor and former stockbroker. Mother Nancy Carlsson-Paige was a college professor. They divorced in 1973. His brother Kyle was born in 1967, and is a sculptor.

He is of Scottish, Finnish and English descent.

He and his wife Luciana Barroso welcomed another daughter, Gia Zavala, on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008, in Miami, Florida.

Daughter, Isabella Damon, born June 11, 2006 in Miami, Florida & weighed in at 7 lbs. 7oz.

Engaged to Luciana (Barroso) Bozan (5 September 2005).

His grandfather is Finnish.

He married Luciana Barroso in the New York City Hall.

Has starred in 8 movies where the title contains some part of his character`s name in that movie: Good Will Hunting (1997), Saving Private Ryan (1998), The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), Gerry (2002), Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), The Bourne Identity (2002), and The Bourne Supremacy (2004), The Brothers Grimm (2005), and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).

Is the real-life best friend of Ben Affleck. Each has starred together or had cameos in some of the other`s films.

After a notable weight gain for Stuck on You (2003), he lost 22 pounds training for The Bourne Supremacy (2004), eventually having six-pack abs.

Learned to play piano for the film The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).

Born on the same day as Sigourney Weaver, Kristanna Loken and Nick Cannon.

Auditioned for a role in To Die For (1995) which was eventually given to Joaquin Phoenix.

Lives with his family in Florida (2007).

1998: Formed Pearl Street Productions with Ben Affleck and Chris Moore.

Grew up next door to radical historian Howard Zinn. Damon references Zinn`s seminal work "A People`s History of the United States" as Will in Good Will Hunting (1997).

Dropped 40 pounds for his role as a Gulf War vet in Courage Under Fire (1996).