Matthew Settle
He brought quiet intensity and surprising depth to roles in landmark series like 'Band of Brothers' and 'Gossip Girl'.
Born 1969 (age 57)·American actor·Birthday: September 17·Generation X
Biography
Matthew Settle built a career on the solid ground of quiet charisma, often playing men who contained multitudes beneath a composed exterior. Born in Hickory, North Carolina, his journey to acting took him from military service to the stages of New York. While his film debut came in the horror sequel 'I Still Know What You Did Last Summer', his defining breakthrough was as the enigmatic and fiercely competent Captain Ronald Speirs in HBO's seminal miniseries 'Band of Brothers'. The role, though not the largest, left an indelible mark on audiences with its chilling efficiency. He later traded battlefield grit for Upper East Side glamour, portraying the flawed but loving father Rufus Humphrey on the hit teen drama 'Gossip Girl' for six seasons, showcasing his range and anchoring the show's familial heart. Settle's path has been one of selective, impactful roles rather than constant visibility, choosing projects that resonate and building characters with a compelling inner life.
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.
Matthew was born in 1969, 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 Matthew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Matthew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
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
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
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
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the historically complex and memorable Captain Ronald Speirs in the critically adored HBO miniseries 'Band of Brothers'.
- Played the central paternal figure Rufus Humphrey across all six seasons of the influential teen drama series 'Gossip Girl'.
- Starred as Will Benson in the major studio horror film 'I Still Know What You Did Last Summer'.
Did You Know?
He served in the United States Navy before pursuing acting.
Settle is a trained stage actor and performed in several Off-Broadway productions early in his career.
He is an avid photographer and has documented his travels extensively.
“I'm drawn to characters who have a quiet strength, a lot going on beneath the surface.”
