Matthew Clayton Long was born on May 18, 1980, in Winchester, Kentucky, United States. His father worked as a salesman for an insurance company, while his mother was employed as an assistant teacher at a local school. Matt has a younger brother named Zach, to whom he is very close and whom he considers one of his best friends. After completing high school, Long attended Western Kentucky University, where he also met his future wife.
Following his graduation from Western Kentucky University, Matt Long moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting. He began by performing in various theater productions directed by a range of established and emerging directors. While passionate about the stage, Long aspired to act in film and television, viewing these mediums as his ultimate goals.
Long made his film debut in 2001 with a minor role as Private Smith in the independent film The Greatest Adventure of My Life. Although the role was small, Long later described it as an important step that helped launch his screen career. In 2006, he appeared in the television movie Deceit, portraying Dave Ford.
One of Long’s most recognized film roles came in 2007 with the Marvel Comics-based action movie Ghost Rider, directed by Mark Steven Johnson. He played the young Johnny Blaze, a role that connected him with major stars such as Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes. The film was a box office success, grossing nearly $230 million worldwide. That same year, he starred as Tyler Prince in the teen romantic comedy Sydney White, directed by Joe Nussbaum.
In 2009, Long played Mike Donaldson in the psychological thriller Homecoming, directed by Morgan J. Freeman. Despite its modest budget, the film saw a solid financial return. Since Homecoming, he has not appeared in major film roles, and there has been no public announcement concerning his next appearance on the big screen.
In addition to his film career, Long has had an active presence on television. He was a series regular on the drama Jack & Bobby, which aired on The WB, earning him widespread recognition. He later appeared in The Deep End, The Newsroom, and the ABC series Lucky 7.
Long took on a recurring role as Joey Baird in the critically acclaimed AMC series Mad Men, which remains one of the standout performances of his television career. More recently, he starred in the Syfy channel’s science fiction thriller Helix, which aired for two seasons before being canceled.
Matt Long received a Prism Award nomination in 2006 for his work in Jack & Bobby. Additionally, as part of an ensemble, he was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award in 2011 in the category of Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
In 2005, Long married Lora Chaffins, whom he met during their time at Western Kentucky University. He has expressed admiration for acclaimed directors and actors, including Clint Eastwood and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, stating a desire to work with them.
Although many of his roles have been supporting ones, Long has consistently delivered strong performances. With a foundation in both theater and screen acting, he continues to demonstrate potential for greater stardom in the future.
| Birth Date: | 18 May, 1980 |
| Age: | 39 yrs |
| Occupations: | Stage actor Film actor Television actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Winchester |
| Education: | Western Kentucky University |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American actor |
| Net Worth 2021: | 1 million |
