Why didn't Matt Dillon have a bigger career?

[HomeCheese]

He went to my high school and was friend with a few of my friends though he was a couple years older than me.

I loved the movie he was in, My Bodyguard, 1980. Great flick.

 

[Long Dark Blues]

He looks douchey, most of his characters are douchey and/or reckless and aggressive?

I'd dare say he was type cast early on?

 

[Jackonfire]

He's been at it a long time. I'd say he's had a pretty great career.

 

[BisexualMMA]

He looks douchey, most of his characters are douchey and/or reckless and aggressive?

I'd dare say he was type cast early on?

He is a guy who has a bit of a villainous quality to him that's a little hard to shake - like James Spader or Cary Elwes.

 

[Night Owl]

Because Matt Dillon pulled his pistol anytime he and someone tangled.

 

[mozfonky]

Rewatched the Outsiders the other day with son and pointed out how great this cast was.

Thinking back on Matt Dillon, he stole the movie and for a while had it all, the looks, the fame, etc. Why did his career seem to stall? DrugStore Cowboy was so good.

He was awesome in Something About Mary.....but never took that momentum forward.

What's up with that?

Didn't follow his career closeley so I don't know but you're right, he went through periods of hot and cold. Maybe he didn't make good choices in between. He was brilliant in Something About Mary but I can't think of a movie that I've seen after that that he was even in and that's been over 20 years. Admittedly, i don't see every single movie that comes out but I usually see any name actor more than once in that length of time.

 

[mozfonky]

He is a guy who has a bit of a villainous quality to him that's a little hard to shake - like James Spader or Cary Elwes.

ok but that's always been the thing since Brando and even the "heroes" of hollywood weren't that convincing in that they were lechers outside of their roles many times. Brando started the obvious "bad boy" thing and it's been going ever since, from Jimmy Dean all the way to modern times and even well past movies and into rock and hip hop. The archetype of the bad boy with the heart of gold has gotten guys a lot of pussy and also a lot of guys into early graves. It's a silly archetype. I don't think of it when I think of Matt though, "Tex" wasn't really a bad boy. I'd say Sean Penn was more a bad boy outside of his roles and he did ok.

 

[Gene Tunney]

He is a guy who has a bit of a villainous quality to him that's a little hard to shake - like James Spader or Cary Elwes.

And Steve Railsback

 

[Red Beard]

He must be a sherdogger.

If not, we need a rep to reach out and offer him a plat.

 

[lsa]

Why do so many talk about him in past tense?
I am pretty sure he is still alive. Well maybe not in Hollywood..

 

[GSP_37]

Same thing with Sawyer from Lost. Got the looks. Why didn't he blast off after Lost?

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

Rewatched the Outsiders the other day with son and pointed out how great this cast was.

Thinking back on Matt Dillon, he stole the movie and for a while had it all, the looks, the fame, etc. Why did his career seem to stall? DrugStore Cowboy was so good.

He was awesome in Something About Mary.....but never took that momentum forward.

What's up with that?

What career did you expect to have, like Brad Pitt?

 

[KnightTemplar]

I thought he was good in Target. God knows that's no easy feat when you share most of your scenes with Gene Hackman.

Target was a good movie

 

[moreorless87]

Target was a good movie

Really I'd say a lot of stuff he was in during the 80's and 90's was pretty good but none of it really broke though enough to make him a star, no Top Gun like Cruise.

 

[Lethal_Striker]

To Die For was a really good film.

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

Had no idea his brother starred in The Blob remake until I saw it on Svengoolie a few years ago. Completely missed that film when it came out.

Awesome movie too. Very underrated.

 

[KBE6EKCTAH_CCP]

Matt Dillon did ok in Hollywood

I think this misses the point. His trajectory looked like he would go way beyond what he reached. Of course the guy is a millionaire he s a hollywood star but that s not the point is it.

 

[LEWIS540]

He was a solid actor who's had a solid career.

Age of the film star has largely diminished in the last couple of decades, and he didn't get attached to any of the inane franchises, so he's largely been out of the public eye......see Ed Norton, Brendan Fraser, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Ethan Hawke, Clive Owen etc

 

[Cantalope]

I've always thought he was a decent actor. He's still working. Maybe nothing huge but the dudes getting paid.

 

[Oris79]

This is what I came to see. Best answer. /thread.