Matthew Modine

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Matthew Modine BIO

Modine appeared in Arthur Miller's Finishing the Picture at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, in Miller's Resurrection Blues at London's Old Vic, and in a stage adaptation of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (as Atticus Finch) at Connecticut's Hartford Stage. This production of To Kill a Mockingbird became the most successful play in the theatre's 45-year history. In 2010, he starred with Abigail Breslin in the 50th Anniversary Broadway revival of The Miracle Worker at the Circle in the Square theatre.

In fall 2013, Modine starred in a self-parodying comedy, Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas at Los Angeles' Geffen Theatre.
Modine's first film role was in John Sayles' film Baby It's You (1983). Also that year, he co-starred in the sex comedy Private School, with Phoebe Cates and Betsy Russell. His performances caught the eye of director Harold Becker, who cast him in Vision Quest (1985), based on Terry Davis's novel.

The director Robert Altman propelled Modine to international stardom with his film adaptation of David Rabe's play Streamers. Modine played Mel Gibson's brother in Mrs. Soffel and starred with Nicolas Cage in Alan Parker's Birdy; the film was awarded Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. The actor also famously turned down the role of LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Top Gun (the role that Tom Cruise made famous), because he felt the film's pro-military stance went against his politics.


Modine may be best known for his role as Private/Sergeant J.T. "Joker" Davis, the central character of Stanley Kubrick's Vietnam War movie Full Metal Jacket (1987). Subsequently, Modine played the dangerous young criminal Treat in Alan Pakula's film adaptation of Lyle Kessler's stageplay Orphans. Modine played the goofy, earnest FBI agent Mike Downey in Jonathan Demme's screwball comedy Married to the Mob opposite Michelle Pfeiffer. In 1990, he led the cast of Memphis Belle, a fictionalized account of the famous B-17 Flying Fortress.

In 1995, he appeared opposite Geena Davis in the romantic action-adventure film Cutthroat Island. Modine made his feature directorial debut with If... Dog... Rabbit..., which came after the success of three short films debuting at the Sundance Film Festival: When I Was a Boy (co-directed with Todd Field), Smoking written by David Sedaris, and Ecce Pirate written by Modine.

His dark comedy, I Think I Thought, debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film tells the story of a Thinker (Modine) who ends up in Thinkers Anonymous.

Other short films include To Kill an American, Cowboy, and The Love Film. In 2011, he completed Jesus Was a Commie, an avant-garde-dialectical conversation about the world and the prominent issues of modern society. Modine co-directed the short film with Terence Ziegler, the editor of I Think I Thought. Modine's short films have played internationally.

In 2003, he guest-starred in The West Wing episode "The Long Goodbye." He portrayed the character Marco, who went to high school with C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) and who helped her deal with her father's steady mental decline due to Alzheimer's disease. Modine agreed to take the role because he is a longtime friend of Janney. (The two appeared together in a theatrical production of the play Breaking Up directed by Stuart Ross). That same year, he played Fritz Gerlich in the CBS miniseries Hitler: The Rise of Evil.

In 2004, Modine appeared in Funky Monkey as ex-football star turned spy Alec McCall, who teams up with super-chimp Clemens and his friend Michael Dean (Seth Adkins) to take down the villainous Flick (Taylor Negron). The film was critically panned, yet has gained a cult status.

In 2005, Abel Ferrara's Mary won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. In the film, Modine portrays a director recounting the story of Mary Magdalene (Juliette Binoche). The following year, he guest-starred in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Rage" as a serial killer of young girls.

In 2010, Modine appeared in The Trial, which was awarded the Parents Television Council's Seal of Approval™. The PTC said: "'The Trial' combines the best features of courtroom drama, murder mystery, and character story. 'The Trial' is a powerful drama which shows the power of healing and hope." Modine played a corrupt Majestic City developer named "Sullivan Groff" throughout Season 3 on Weeds. Groff has affairs with Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) and Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins). Also in 2010, Modine appeared in HBO's Too Big to Fail, a film about the Wall Street financial crisis. Modine stars as John Thain, former Chairman and CEO of Merrill Lynch.

In 2011, Modine completed two independent films, Family Weekend and Girl in Progress, opposite Eva Mendes. In 2012, he appeared in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises as Deputy Commissioner Peter Foley, a Gotham City police officer and peer to Gary Oldman's Commissioner James Gordon.

In February 2013, Modine was cast in Ralph Bakshi's animated film Last Days of Coney Island after coming across the film's Kickstarter campaign online. In 2014, he co-starred with Olivia Williams, Richard Dillane, and Steve Oram in the horror mystery film Altar.

In 2016, Modine played Dr. Martin Brenner in the Netflix original series Stranger Things. In 2017, he and his Stranger Things castmates won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. In 2017, Matthew Modine was featured in the music video for "1-800-273-8255", a song by American hip hop artist Logic. Modine was part of Speed Kills released in November 2018 as well as several upcoming films such as Foster Boy, Miss Virginia, and The Martini Shot.

Matthew Modine Photos

Matthew Modine STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2010
Captain Keller

[Regional (US)]
Hartford Stage Company Production, 2009
Atticus Finch


Matthew Modine Videos

Matthew Modine News


2024 NYC Indie Theatre Film Festival Unveils Full Lineup Featuring Q&A's, Panels & More

2024 NYC Indie Theatre Film Festival has revealed the full lineup featuring feature-length films, short films, and more. See the lineup and learn how to purchase tickets.

Angela Bassett Joins Robert De Niro & More in ZERO DAY on Netflix

Angela Bassett, Dan Stevens, Matthew Modine, Bill Camp and McKinley Belcher III have been cast in the conspiracy thriller ZERO DAY, coming soon to Netflix. Additional actors joining the limited series are Gaby Hoffman, Clark Gregg and Mark Ivanir.

Naples International Film Festival Announces Lineup Of Films And Events For 15th Anniversary Edition

The Naples International Film Festival announces its lineup of films and events for its 15th Anniversary edition. The festival focuses on films about the arts and is overseen by Artis-Naples. Check out the lineup now!

OPPENHEIMER Soundtrack Released Today

The Oppenheimer Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, a new film by Christopher Nolan with music by Grammy®, Emmy®, and Academy Award® winning composer Ludwig Göransson. To create the score for Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan turned again to Oscar®-winning composer Ludwig Göransson (Black Panther films), who had written the music for Tenet.

Video: Watch the RETRIBUTION Movie Trailer Featuring Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson stars in Retribution, an immersive ticking clock thriller that straps audiences in for a high-octane ride of redemption and revenge. When a mysterious caller puts a bomb under his car seat, Matt Turner (Neeson) begins a high-speed chase across the city to complete a specific series of tasks. Watch the video trailer now!

Video: Watch the New OPPENHEIMER Trailer

The film stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Emily Blunt as his wife, biologist and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer. Matt Damon portrays General Leslie Groves Jr., director of the Manhattan Project, and Robert Downey, Jr. plays Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Watch the video!

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD to End West End Run This May

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird – a new play by multi-award-winning Aaron Sorkin, directed by Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher, will close on the West End.

Cast Confirmed For the London Return of Joanna Pickering's BAD VICTIMS

Bad Victims, written and performed, by award-wining Joanna Pickering, and directed by Erica Gould (world premiers of Neil LaBute and Theresa Rebeck) confirms its cast and returns to stage at The Courtyard Theatre, London with three more special dates on April 26th, 27th and 28th.

Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas to Receive “NATO Spirit of the Industry Award' at Cinemacon

Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas’ films shatter the limits of what cinematic storytelling can achieve, maintaining a shared passion and commitment to the theatrical filmgoing experience that is unwavering and unparalleled. Nolan and Thomas’ films, including Tenet, Dunkirk, Interstellar, Inception and The Dark Knight trilogy.

Joanna Pickering's BAD VICTIMS to Return to the London Stage in March

Bad Victims, written and performed, by award-wining Joanna Pickering, and directed by Erica Gould returns to stage, with its original cast, at The Courtyard Theatre, London by popular demand, adding two special dates on March 14th and 15th.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Extends For a Final Time to 20 May

The critically-acclaimed commercial hit production of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird – a new play by multi-award-winning Aaron Sorkin, directed by Tony Award-winning Bartlett Sher, extends for a final time at the Gielgud Theatre.

Hannah Waddingham, HAMILTON & More Voice Support For West End Pay Raise Campaign

Hannah Waddingham, the West End cast of Hamilton, and more have voiced their support for Equity's Stand Up For 17% campaign. The newly-launched campaign calls for a 17% pay raise for West End performers and stage management, among other improvements. Miriam Margolyes, Matthew Modine, The Mouse Trap and Moulin Rouge have also shared their support.

VIDEO: First OPPENHEIMER Trailer Released

The film stars Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Emily Blunt as his wife, biologist and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer. Matt Damon portrays General Leslie Groves Jr., director of the Manhattan Project, and Robert Downey, Jr. plays Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Watch the new video now!

Photos: Inside Media Night For TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at the Gielgud Theatre

Last night was the media night for To Kill a Mockingbird at the Gielgud Theatre, featuring the new cast starring Matthew Modine. Guests included Lydia West and Gwendoline Christie. Check out photos here!

Photos: First Look at Matthew Modine and Cecilia Noble in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD in the West End

Get a first look at Matthew Modine and Cecilia Noble, now leading the new company of the critically acclaimed production of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird - a new play by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Bartlett Sher, currently running at the Gielgud Theatre, West End.

Audra McDonald, Sheryl Lee Ralph & More SAG-AFTRA Members Urge Congress to End Hair Discrimination & Pass CROWN Act

Among the members who signed the statement of support for the CROWN Act are Audra McDonald, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kerry Washington, and dozens of other performers. In the letter, members assert, “Discrimination based on hair style or texture is a destructive practice that has alienated and caused irreparable harm to Black Americans.” 

Cast Announced For Joanna Pickering's BAD VICTIMS At The Courtyard Theatre

Casting has been announced for Bad Victims, a new play from award-nominated playwright Joanna Pickering at The Courtyard Theatre, directed by Erica Gould. 

STRANGER THINGS Star Matthew Modine Will Play Atticus Finch in West End TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Barry Diller and Sonia Friedman announced that Matthew Modine and Cecilia Noble will lead the new company of the critically acclaimed production of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird – a new play by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Bartlett Sher, currently running at the Gielgud Theatre, West End. 

Joanna Pickering's BAD VICTIMS Comes to The Courtyard Theatre Next Month, Directed by Erica Gould

Bad Victims, a new play by award-nominated British US-based playwright Joanna Pickering will have its London Exclusive Preview at The Courtyard Theatre in Hoxton, UK. 

Beanie Feldstein, Matthew Modine, John Mulaney, Steve Carell and More On NBC'S Late Night With Seth Meyers Next Week

Beloved 'Saturday Night Live' personality - and the longest serving 'anchor' on the show's wildly popular 'Weekend Update' - Seth Meyers takes over as host of NBC's 'Late Night,' home to A-list celebrity guests, memorable comedy and the best in musical talent.

Matthew Modine FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Matthew Modine has appeared on Broadway in 1 shows.

Matthew Modine has not appeared in the West End.

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