After graduating with an economics degree from Columbia University, Matthew Fox landed a few modeling jobs before pursuing an acting career. Starting with television commercials and a handful of small guest roles, he became a teen idol as a sensitive orphan on
Party of Five in 1994. During his six years on the series, he took on just one outside project, the 1999 TV-movie
Behind the Mask. After a few years out of the limelight, Fox stepped into the leading role as plane-wrecked physician Jack Shepherd on the island fantasy-drama
Lost. Though a cartoon and comic book fan, he was unfamiliar with
Speed Racer when offered the role of Racer X in the 2008 live-action adaptation of the anime series, for which he did his own stunt work.
Matthew Fox Fast Facts:
- Grew up on a Wyoming cattle ranch and attended early grades in a one-room schoolhouse where his mother was the teacher.
- Intended to work on Wall Street after graduating from Columbia University but instead took a modeling job, which led to acting in commercials.
- Made television series debut guest-starring on the 1992 episode of Wings titled "Say It Ain't So, Joe" as the pitcher who broke the high-school pitching record set by Joe (Tim Daly).
- Big break came in 1994 playing eldest brother Charlie Salinger in the drama Party of Five.
- Was voted one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People magazine in 1996.
- Auditioned for the role of Sawyer on Lost until producers decided to rewrite a minor part and cast him in the lead role as Dr. Jack Shepherd.
- A fan of cartoons and comic books, he eagerly accepted the role of Racer X in the 2008 film version of Speed Racer.
- Matthew Fox Relationships:
- Bayard Fox - Brother
- Loretta Fox - Mother
- Francis Fox Jr. - Brother
- Byron Fox - Son
- Francis Fox - Father
- Kyle Allison Fox - Daughter
- Margherita Ronchi - Wife
- Matthew Fox Awards:
- 2006 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- 2010 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 2005 Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series - Winner
- College:
- Columbia University, New York, NY (BA in Economics, 1989); attended Atlantic Theater Company, New York, NY; attended School for Film and Television, New York, NY