Matthew Daddario Bio
Matthew Quincy Daddario, born on October 1, 1987, is an American actor known for his work across television and film. Born and raised in New York City, he studied economics at Indiana University Bloomington before committing to acting full-time in 2012. He gained wider recognition for his recurring role as Alec Lightwood on the Freeform fantasy series Shadowhunters, which aired from 2016 to 2019, and has continued to build a versatile career across drama, thriller, and comedy projects.
Throughout his career, Daddario has appeared in feature films such as Breathe In, Delivery Man, When the Game Stands Tall, Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, and the 2016 Cabin Fever remake. He later joined the Paramount All Access anthology series Why Women Kill for its second season in 2020. His body of work highlights a steady evolution from supporting film roles to leading television work, establishing him as a recognizable presence in genre entertainment.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Quincy Daddario was born on October 1, 1987, in New York City, New York. He is the son of Christina Daddario, a lawyer, and Richard Daddario, a prosecutor who also served as the head of NYPD Counterterrorism under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He grew up alongside his older sister, Alexandra Daddario, who has gone on to become a well-known actress in her own right.
His paternal grandfather was Emilio Daddario, a Democratic representative who served in the United States House of Representatives for the state of Connecticut from 1959 to 1971. The family heritage traces back to Italian, English, Irish, and Slovak roots, shaping a culturally rich household in New York City. The blend of public service and the arts within his family offered Daddario an early window into both disciplined careers and creative pursuits.
Daddario attended the Collegiate School in New York before going on to graduate with a degree in economics from Indiana University Bloomington in 2010. During his college years, he was drawn toward performance and storytelling, eventually deciding to follow a creative path. After completing his studies, he took the formative steps that would lead him into professional acting, transitioning from academic life into the entertainment industry.
Path to Acting
After graduating from Indiana University Bloomington, Matthew Daddario spent time building his craft before fully committing to acting in 2012. His earliest professional work placed him in supporting film roles that allowed him to develop on-screen experience. His first major film appearance came as Aaron in the romantic drama Breathe In, directed by Drake Doremus, which introduced him to a wider audience and to professional film sets.
In the same period, he took on a supporting role as Channing in the Vince Vaughn-led comedy Delivery Man, directed by Ken Scott. Working alongside established comedic talent gave him valuable experience in a high-profile studio production. These early projects laid the groundwork for the more substantial roles that would follow, helping him move from newcomer to working actor within just a few short years.
By 2014, Daddario was cast as Danny Ladouceur in the sports drama When the Game Stands Tall, co-starring alongside Jim Caviezel, Laura Dern, and Alexander Ludwig. The film, based on the achievements of football coach Bob Ladouceur and the De La Salle Spartans’ record 151-game winning streak, marked a meaningful step forward in his film career. Each of these early performances helped establish his range and prepared him for the television breakthrough that would soon follow.
Matthew Daddario Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
Matthew Daddario began his professional acting career in 2012, landing supporting roles in films that ranged from intimate drama to mainstream comedy. His screen debut as Aaron in the romantic drama Breathe In introduced him to audiences, while his appearance in the Vince Vaughn comedy Delivery Man placed him within a major studio release. These early performances showcased his ability to move between dramatic and comedic tones with ease.
His role in When the Game Stands Tall in 2014, portraying Danny Ladouceur, marked his most significant early screen credit. The sports drama’s true-story foundation and high-profile cast helped raise his profile in the industry. The success of these early projects created momentum that carried directly into the next phase of his career, where television would become his primary platform.
Breakthrough (2015–2020)
In 2015, Daddario co-starred as Gabriel in the teen comedy-drama Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, expanding his reach with younger audiences. Later that year, it was announced that he would portray Alec Lightwood on the Freeform fantasy series Shadowhunters, based on The Mortal Instruments novels by Cassandra Clare. The series premiered on January 12, 2016 and ran until May 6, 2019, becoming his most recognized role to date. His performance earned him a variety of nominations, including Teen Choice Awards and GLAAD awards, marking significant recognition within the genre television space.
Also in 2016, Daddario starred in the remake of Eli Roth’s horror film Cabin Fever, directed by Travis Z. The project allowed him to explore the thriller genre and demonstrated his willingness to take on darker material. He then joined the Paramount All Access anthology series Why Women Kill for its second season in 2020, where he portrayed Scooter, a wannabe actor described as charming but not so bright. The role highlighted his comedic timing and confirmed his ability to transition smoothly between television formats and genres.
Notable Works and Milestones
Matthew Daddario’s signature work remains his portrayal of Alec Lightwood on Shadowhunters, a role that brought him international recognition and several award nominations. His film work across Breathe In, Delivery Man, When the Game Stands Tall, Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, and Cabin Fever demonstrates a steady progression through varied genres. The combination of fantasy television and independent film has defined his most visible career milestones.
Matthew Daddario Award Nominations
Matthew Daddario has received a variety of award nominations throughout his career, primarily for his leading role as Alec Lightwood on the Freeform series Shadowhunters. His performance in the fantasy drama earned him nominations at the Teen Choice Awards and the GLAAD Media Awards, reflecting both his popularity with younger audiences and his recognition within the LGBTQ representation space. These nominations mark the most publicly documented recognition of his work to date.
Matthew Daddario Family
Matthew Daddario comes from a family with deep ties to public service and the arts. His father, Richard Daddario, is a prosecutor and former head of NYPD Counterterrorism under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, while his mother, Christina Daddario, works as a lawyer. His older sister, Alexandra Daddario, is a well-known actress who has built a successful career in film and television, and his brother-in-law is producer Andrew Form. His paternal grandfather, Emilio Daddario, served as a Democratic representative in the United States House of Representatives for Connecticut from 1959 to 1971, giving the family a notable legacy in American political life.
Personal Life
Matthew Daddario married Esther Kim on December 31, 2017, and the couple has since built a family together. Their first child was born in 2020, and in February 2024, Kim revealed that they were expecting their second child, who was born later that same year. The family has continued to reside in the United States, with Daddario balancing his ongoing acting career with his role as a husband and father.