Matt Bomer
A versatile actor with a magnetic screen presence, moving seamlessly from con artist roles to heartfelt dramas and becoming a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ representation.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American actor·Birthday: October 11·Generation X
Biography
Matt Bomer's career is a study in controlled charisma and deliberate choice. After honing his craft at Carnegie Mellon, he landed a breakthrough role as the slick, sophisticated con artist Neal Caffrey on the USA Network series 'White Collar.' The part showcased his charm and wit, making him a household name. He deliberately avoided being typecast, next delivering a transformative, critically hailed performance as a dying AIDS patient in the HBO film 'The Normal Heart,' a role that required significant physical change and emotional depth. This was followed by a chilling turn as a sinister hustler in 'American Horror Story' and a nuanced leading role in the Showtime series 'Fellow Travelers.' Open about his sexuality and his marriage to publicist Simon Halls, Bomer has used his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. His voice work, including as Superman in an animated film, adds another dimension to a career built on precision, empathy, and a refusal to be easily categorized.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matt was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Golden Globe Award for his supporting role in the HBO television film 'The Normal Heart'.
- Starred as the lead con artist Neal Caffrey for six seasons on the hit USA Network series 'White Collar'.
- Received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his chilling guest role in 'American Horror Story: Hotel'.
- Earned a Peabody Award as part of the producing team for the film 'The Boys in the Band'.
Did You Know?
He provided the voice and motion-capture performance for Superman in the animated film 'Superman: Unbound'.
He is a trained singer and performed musical numbers on stage in 'The Boys in the Band' and on screen in 'The Normal Heart'.
He turned down the role of Christian Grey in 'Fifty Shades of Grey' due to scheduling conflicts with 'White Collar'.
He and his husband, Simon Halls, have three sons together.
“The most radical thing you can do is to introduce people to ideas they weren't familiar with, in an entertaining way.”
