Jul 14, 1966
Cancer
Abington, PA
58 years old
N/A
N/A
TV Actor
Personal Details & Early Life
Full Name: Matthew Chandler Fox
Born: July 14, 1966 (age 58 in 2025) in Abington, Pennsylvania, USA
Family Background: Son of Loretta (a teacher) and Francis Fox (a rancher and geologist). He has two brothers—Francis Jr. (b. 1961) and Bayard (b. 1969). His family relocated to Crowheart, Wyoming, when he was a baby, growing up on a cattle and horse ranch .
Education: Attended Wind River High School in Pavillion, WY, then completed a postgraduate year at Deerfield Academy, before earning a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University in 1989. He played as a wide receiver on the Columbia football team .
Early Career & Breakthrough Roles
TV Debut (1992): Began with an appearance on Wings, followed by roles in Freshman Dorm and CBS Schoolbreak Special: If I Die Before I Wake .
Party of Five (1994–2000): Cast as eldest brother Charlie Salinger, guiding his siblings through grief and responsibility. His portrayal of Charlie brought emotional depth to a family-dramatic format . In 1996, People magazine named him among the world’s 50 most beautiful people .
Lost (2004–2010): Gained international fame as Dr. Jack Shephard, the conflicted leader of Oceanic Flight 815 survivors. His performance earned nominations for Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy awards, plus a 2006 Screen Actors Guild ensemble award .
Film & Stage Highlights
We Are Marshall (2006): Co-starred with Matthew McConaughey in this true-story sports drama .
Vantage Point and Speed Racer (both 2008): Showcased his range in action-thriller and stylized family film .
Alex Cross (2012): Transformed physically to portray a chilling villain, Michael Sullivan “Picasso” .
Bone Tomahawk (2015): Starred in this critically acclaimed horror-Western, fulfilling a personal goal to appear in the genre .
Theatre: Took to London’s West End in In a Forest, Dark and Deep (2011), earning praise for his stage presence .
Hiatus & Recent Comeback
Hiatus (2014–2021): After Bone Tomahawk, Fox largely stepped away from acting to focus on family life .
Return to Screen: Made a comeback in Peacock’s Last Light (2022), followed by a role in the Australia-set series Caught (2023) .
Orange-Carpet News (2024): Cast as Paul, a Montana outdoorsman in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone spinoff The Madison, co-starring with Michelle Pfeiffer; the series is expected to release in 2025 .
Awards & Professional Recognition
Lost Accolades:
Primetime Emmy nomination: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2010) .
Golden Globe, SAG, Satellite, and Saturn Awards nominations; won SAG ensemble awards and Saturn Actor awards in 2006 and 2008 .
Style & Legacy
Known for his grounded and resilient portrayals, Fox embodies a quiet strength—whether as a dedicated brother in Party of Five or a heroic surgeon in Lost. His willingness to withdraw from fame and later re-emerge with thoughtful, character-driven roles has earned him respect for both artistic integrity and personal authenticity .
