Matthew Ross Bio
Matthew Brandon Ross (born January 3, 1970) is an American actor and filmmaker whose work spans television, independent film and mainstream features. He has earned recognition as a character actor in ensemble films and as a writer-director, most notably for the 2016 feature Captain Fantastic, which brought him festival honors.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Brandon Ross was born on January 3, 1970, in Greenwich, Connecticut and raised in Eagle Point, Oregon. His parents divorced when he was young and he grew up in what he has described as alternative living situations; these experiences later influenced his storytelling and the themes of family and unconventional upbringing in his work.
Ross spent time in England while his mother pursued a teaching credential in Waldorf education, an experience that exposed him to different schooling philosophies and cultural contexts. He trained as an actor at the Juilliard School, a formative period that shaped his approach to performance and prepared him for a career across stage, film and television.
Path to Celebrity
Ross began working professionally in 1989 and took early steps typical of a classically trained actor, performing in short films and developing work behind the camera. He made seven short films before moving into features and built a body of work that combined acting roles with directing and writing projects.
His early festival presence helped Ross transition from short-form work to independent feature filmmaking and larger studio productions. The combination of acting credibility and an interest in directing positioned him to move fluidly between on-screen roles and projects he wrote or helmed.
Matthew Ross Career
Early Career (1989–2004)
Ross launched his screen career in 1989 and accumulated supporting roles through the 1990s that showcased his adaptability. He appeared in films such as The Last Days of Disco (1998) and American Psycho (2000), building a résumé as a reliable character performer in both independent and studio films.
By the early 2000s Ross continued to work steadily in film and television, taking roles that ranged from period pieces to contemporary dramas. His appearances in The Aviator (2004) and other ensemble projects established him as a familiar presence in high-profile productions while he also pursued his own filmmaking projects.
Breakthrough (2005–2016)
Ross’s profile rose markedly after his supporting role in the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck, for which the film’s ensemble received a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. That nomination acknowledged Ross as part of a cast recognized for its collective work in a widely acclaimed historical drama.
He gained broader public recognition on television for his portrayal of Alby Grant on the HBO drama Big Love, appearing across the series’ five seasons from 2006 to 2011. That recurring role drew attention to his ability to play complex, morally fraught characters and expanded his visibility on premium television.
Directing and Writing
Ross made his feature directorial debut with 28 Hotel Rooms, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012; that film represented a move toward intimate, character-driven narratives and was the culmination of his earlier short-film work. Ross had written and directed several short films prior to the feature, developing a distinct interest in exploring personal relationships and unusual family dynamics on screen.
In 2016 Ross wrote and directed Captain Fantastic, a comedy-drama that starred Viggo Mortensen as the patriarch of an off-grid family. The film premiered to critical acclaim and where Mortensen’s performance received significant awards attention; Ross was honored at the Cannes Film Festival with the Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Director for his work on the film.
Notable Works and Milestones
Across acting and directing, Ross is known for a mix of ensemble film roles and strong television characters. Signature acting credits include The Last Days of Disco, American Psycho, The Aviator, Good Night, and Good Luck and television roles such as Alby Grant on Big Love and Gavin Belson on Silicon Valley. His transition into directing culminated in Captain Fantastic, which solidified his reputation as a filmmaker capable of blending dark humor with emotional depth.
Matthew Ross Award Nominations
Ross’s work has been recognized in ensemble and festival contexts. He was part of the cast nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Good Night, and Good Luck. The nomination reflects industry recognition of the film’s ensemble performances and Ross’s contribution to that cast.
Matthew Ross Awards Won
Ross received the Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Director at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival for Captain Fantastic, a festival honor that acknowledged his achievement as a writer-director on a film that balanced social commentary with family drama. That festival win remains a central accolade in his directing career.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | Un Certain Regard – Best Director | 2016 |
Matthew Ross Family
Ross is married to writer Phyllis Grant; the couple married in 2001. They have two children together, Isabel “Bella” Ross and Dashiell “Dash” Ross. Ross’s family life and his upbringing have both informed the themes he explores in his writing and directing.
Personal Life
Raised partly in Oregon and having spent time in England while his mother pursued Waldorf teaching qualifications, Ross has described formative years that included alternative schooling and living situations. He continues to work across acting, directing and writing, balancing ensemble acting roles with projects he writes and directs.
Ross trained at the Juilliard School and continues to be active in film and television both in front of and behind the camera, moving between supporting roles in major films, recurring television characters and independent features he writes or directs.