As anyone over a certain age can attest, time can be a cruel mistress for all but the fortunate few – especially in Hollywood.
Indeed, in a city where youth is the dominant currency it’s hard to catch a break once you reach that pivotal moment of mid-life uncertainty, unless of course you happen to be Matt Dillon.
With his smouldering screen presence, exaggerated swagger and cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass, Dillon was up there with era defining heartthrobs Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe after emerging as one to watch in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1982 classic, The Outsiders.
Not without reason he was famously heralded as the ‘James Bond of his era,’ at a time when the faltering franchise was crying out for a young, box-office friendly alternative to the ageing Roger Moore.
But while that licence to kill never materialised, Dillon recently proved he still looks the part by astonishing fans with his remarkably preserved looks in a recently filmed interview, which has since gone viral.
The actor, who celebrated his 61st birthday in February, was on hand to discuss his favourite films with American home-video distribution company Criterion Collection, but viewers were more interested in his youthful appearance than his anecdotes.
Matt Dillon’s youthful appearance during a recently filmed interview for Criterion Collection left many fans stunned. The Hollywood actor celebrated his 61st birthday in February
Matt Dillon’s youthful appearance during a recently filmed interview for Criterion Collection left many fans stunned. The Hollywood actor celebrated his 61st birthday in February
An edited segment from the interview has since amassed more than 2.5 million views, with fans sharing the same enthusiastic sentiment regarding his naturally good looks.
‘Forgot how cool and handsome he is. Also holy s**t he’s aged well,’ posted one impressed viewer.
Evidently in agreement, a second added: ‘Matt Dillon has got to be the hottest 61-year-old on the planet.’
While a third raved: ‘Happy to see him, great pics he looks like he hasn’t aged at all.’
‘I just Googled and was gagged to discover Matt Dillon is 61 – and still looks like this,’ a fourth viewer commented.
Elsewhere a fifth joked: ‘This is how you age when you never get married.’
That may well be the case, but Dillon has enjoyed a string of high profile romances throughout his career – notably a three year relationship with Cameron Diaz, his co-star in 1998 comedy There’s Something About Mary.
Speaking in 2006, the actor suggested that one of the reasons for their separation was his desire to start a family and Cameron’s reluctance to settle down at the young age of 26.
The actor, was on hand to discuss his favourite films with Criterion, but viewers were more interested in his youthful appearance than his anecdotes
He told Parade magazine: ‘I fell in love. It’s a very powerful thing when you feel that way about somebody. Cameron was a muse for me. I hadn’t been in any deep emotional relationships.
‘I sometimes think love is God’s way of hoodwinking people into having kids. You fall in love, and all that passion goes into procreating and wanting children.’
From 2014 he was in a relationship with the Italian actress, dancer and choreographer Roberta Mastromichele, spending much of his time in Rome before they quietly separated in 2024.
His film career has been no less varied, with Dillon veering from the squalor of addiction in Gus Van Sant’s critically acclaimed Drugstore Cowboy to Washington state’s burgeoning grunge rock scene in Singles.
But after a run of lukewarm comedies throughout the ’90s it was a starring role as racially conflicted police officer John Ryan in the Paul Haggis directed Crash that signalled a career renaissance and earned him critical recognition.
Dillon burst onto the scene with smouldering screen presence, an exaggerated swagger and cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass
Speaking in 2006, the actor suggested that one of the reasons for their separation was his desire to start a family and Cameron’s reluctance to settle down at the young age of 26 (pictured together in 1998)
From 2014 he was in a relationship with the Italian actress, dancer and choreographer Roberta Mastromichele, spending much of his time in Rome before they quietly separated in 2024
‘Obviously, it’s still relevant,’ he said of the film in 2023. ‘A lot of things in that movie are much more in the forefront of the conversation now. And you know not a lot of people were interested when we made it.
‘But there was a payoff. Sometimes when you take risks in film, it can be rewarding. You can have such freedom, and yet there’s so much fear in this business. That’s why it’s so tough.’
The role earned him an Independent Spirit Award and Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor and marked a return to grittier film work after a series of lukewarm comedies.
‘The reality is that when you’re an actor, sometimes it comes down to the material and the job and the people you’re working with – but it’s often the material,’ he told Parade of his career choices.
‘When the material is good, it’s a joy to come to work.’
