Matt Nable
An Australian former rugby league enforcer who forged a second, unexpected career as a compelling character actor in gritty film and television.
Born 1972 (age 54)·Australian rugby league footballer, film maker & actor·Birthday: March 8·Generation X
Biography
Matt Nable's story is one of hard-nosed reinvention. His first life was on the rugby league pitches of Sydney's Winfield Cup, where he played as a tough forward for Manly and South Sydney in the 1990s. When his playing days ended, he didn't fade into sports commentary; instead, he channeled that same intensity into writing and acting. He penned and starred in 'The Final Winter,' a raw drama about the changing face of rugby league, using his insider knowledge to lend it authenticity. This launched a surprising second act. With his weathered face and commanding presence, he became a sought-after character actor, specializing in menacing or authoritative roles in Hollywood action films like 'Killer Elite' and on television, most notably as the fearsome Ra's al Ghul in the Arrowverse. His journey from the scrum to the screen is a testament to disciplined versatility.
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 1972, 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 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
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
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
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
1993Turned 21
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
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote and starred in 'The Final Winter' (2007), a critically acclaimed Australian drama focused on rugby league.
- Portrayed the classic DC Comics villain Ra's al Ghul across multiple seasons of The CW's 'Arrow' and 'Legends of Tomorrow.'
- Played a recurring role as a ruthless crime figure in the award-winning Australian drama series 'Mr Inbetween.'
- Appeared in major Hollywood films including 'Riddick' with Vin Diesel and 'The Turning.'
Did You Know?
He is a qualified lawyer, having earned his law degree after retiring from professional rugby league.
He worked as a strength and conditioning coach for the South Sydney Rabbitohs after his playing career ended.
He is an avid boxer and maintains a rigorous fitness regimen rooted in his athletic past.
He provided commentary for the National Rugby League (NRL) on Australian television.
“You either get up from the hit or you don't; the story writes itself.”
