Matthew Modine

Born: March 22, 1959
Where: Loma Linda, California

Matthew Modine was born the youngest of seven children and was raised in a strictly Mormon family. He moved around a lot as a child and worked in a drive in cinema with his father.

It was after watching a documentary about the film Oliver! That Matthew decided he wanted to become an actor.

His first job was as a chef at Au Natural in Manhattan, where he met his wife, Cari.

Whilst working in the kitchens, he was also taking part time acting lessons with Stella Adler.

Shortly after he launched his career Matthew was already winning awards.

In 1983 he received the Venice Film Festival Best Actor Award for Streamers.

The following year Matthew was cast as a Vietnam veteran in Alan Parker's Birdy, a role which was almost reprised four years later in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket.

In 1993 he co-wrote and co-directed the short film Smoking which debuted at the Hamptons Film Festival.

His first Emmy award also came in the same year for the TV movie And the Band Played On.

Still multi-skilling, in 1995 Matthew directed the short film Ecce Pirate, and also appeared opposite Geena Davis in the pirate adventure Cutthroat Island.