Matt Ross Bio
Matthew Brandon Ross, known professionally as Matt Ross, is an American actor, director, and screenwriter born on January 3, 1970, in Greenwich, Connecticut. He has built a versatile career that spans independent films, major studio productions, and prestige television. He is widely recognized for his portrayal of Alby Grant on the HBO drama Big Love and as the tech executive Gavin Belson on the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley. Beyond acting, Ross has earned critical recognition behind the camera, particularly for his writing and directorial work on the film Captain Fantastic.
Across more than three decades in the entertainment industry, Ross has balanced supporting and leading performances with ambitious projects as a filmmaker. His body of work includes collaborations with notable directors such as Whit Stillman, Mary Harron, and Martin Scorsese, while his own directorial efforts have screened at major international festivals. This combination of acting craft and filmmaking vision has positioned Ross as a multifaceted talent in contemporary American cinema and television.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Brandon Ross was born on January 3, 1970, in Greenwich, Connecticut, and raised in Eagle Point, Oregon, after his parents divorced when he was young. His upbringing included what he has described as alternative living situations, an environment that later informed themes of family, self-sufficiency, and unconventional lifestyles in his writing and directing work. These early experiences contributed to the foundation of his storytelling sensibility and his interest in character-driven narratives.
Ross spent part of his youth in England while his mother pursued a teaching credential in Waldorf education. Exposure to the Waldorf philosophy of education shaped his understanding of alternative learning models and human development. This international upbringing, combined with his cross-country moves between the East Coast, the Pacific Northwest, and Europe, gave Ross a broad cultural perspective that continues to influence his approach to film and storytelling.
Driven by an early interest in performance and the arts, Ross pursued formal acting training at the Juilliard School in New York City, one of the most prestigious conservatories for performing arts in the United States. His time at Juilliard helped him develop the technical foundation and discipline that would later support his work across stage, screen, and eventually the director’s chair.
Path to Acting
Ross launched his professional acting career in 1989, working steadily in film and television throughout the 1990s. He earned early recognition for his role in The Last Days of Disco (1998), a comedy-drama directed by Whit Stillman. The film marked one of his first collaborations with established filmmakers and provided him with a platform to showcase his understated dramatic instincts.
He continued building his filmography with appearances in projects including the 2000 film American Psycho, directed by Mary Harron, and the 2004 Martin Scorsese film The Aviator, in which he worked alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. These early performances placed Ross within a network of high-profile productions and introduced him to directors known for distinctive visual and narrative styles. His career trajectory reflected a balance between independent features and larger studio projects, allowing him to develop a wide range as a performer.
Matt Ross Career
Early Career (1989–2005)
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Ross honed his craft with supporting roles in notable films, including work in independent productions and mainstream features. His performance in The Last Days of Disco (1998) brought him early visibility, while his role in American Psycho (2000) introduced him to a wider audience and demonstrated his ability to contribute to stylized, auteur-driven cinema. He continued working steadily, appearing in projects that allowed him to explore varied genres and tones.
In 2005, Ross appeared in the George Clooney-directed film Good Night, and Good Luck, a drama centered on the conflict between journalist Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy. His performance as Eddie Scott was part of an ensemble that earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The recognition marked one of his first major industry acknowledgments and reinforced his standing as a reliable ensemble performer.
Breakthrough (2006–2016)
Ross achieved a significant breakthrough in television with his role as Alby Grant on the HBO drama Big Love, which ran for five seasons from 2006 to 2011. The series, which examined a polygamous family in Utah, earned critical praise, and Ross’s portrayal of the conflicted Alby became one of his most recognized performances. The role showcased his ability to bring emotional complexity to layered characters and cemented his presence in the prestige television landscape.
He expanded his television work with a role as Charles Montgomery in FX’s anthology series American Horror Story, appearing in the first season in 2011 and returning for the fifth season in 2015. He then joined the cast of HBO’s Silicon Valley (2014–2019) as Gavin Belson, the imposing head of a fictional tech giant. The performance brought him widespread recognition and demonstrated his comedic timing, with the character becoming one of the show’s defining antagonistic presences.
In parallel with his acting career, Ross pursued filmmaking. His feature directorial debut, 28 Hotel Rooms, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012. Before that, he had written and directed seven short films, including The Language of Love, which also screened at a prior Sundance festival. These projects established him as a thoughtful filmmaker with a clear authorial voice.
Notable Works and Milestones
Among Ross’s most celebrated works as a filmmaker is Captain Fantastic (2016), a comedy-drama he wrote and directed, starring Viggo Mortensen as a father raising his children in the wilderness. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where Ross won the Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Director. Mortensen’s performance earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, further elevating the film’s profile. Captain Fantastic stands as a career milestone, blending Ross’s acting background with his directorial ambition.
Matt Ross Award Nominations
Matt Ross has received recognition from major industry organizations for his work as both an actor and a filmmaker. His nomination history includes a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck, shared with the film’s ensemble cast.
Matt Ross Awards Won
Ross’s directorial work on Captain Fantastic earned him the Un Certain Regard Prize for Best Director at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. The award highlighted his transition from accomplished actor to respected filmmaker.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival: Un Certain Regard – Best Director | 1 | 2016 |
Matt Ross Family
Matt Ross has been married to writer Phyllis Grant since 2001. The couple has two children, a daughter named Isabel Bella Ross and a son named Dashiell Dash Ross. Ross’s experiences with parenthood and family have been noted as influential themes in his writing and directorial work, particularly in Captain Fantastic.
Personal Life
Ross maintains a private personal life, with limited public details beyond his long-standing marriage to Phyllis Grant and their two children. His career reflects a balance between independent projects and mainstream Hollywood productions, and he continues to work across acting, writing, and directing. His trajectory suggests continued creative output across film and television in the years ahead.