Matthew Modine, an American actor and filmmaker, rose to fame for his portrayal of Private Joker from the United States Marine Corps in the iconic director Stanley Kubrick’s epic ‘Full Metal Jacket’ set in the Vietnam War.
In addition to his film roles, Modine has also taken on notable television characters including ‘Sullivan Groff’ in ‘Weeds’, ‘Dr. Don Francis’ in ‘And the Band Played On’, ‘Ivan Turing’ in ‘Proof’, and most recently ‘Dr. Martin Brenner’ in the widely praised Netflix Original series ‘Stranger Things‘.
Matthew Modine Childhood
Matthew Avery Modine was born on March 22, 1959, in Loma Linda, California. His parents were Dolores Modine, who worked as a bookkeeper, and Mark Alexander Modine, who oversaw drive-in movie theaters.
He is the seventh and youngest child in his family, with four brothers named Mark, Maury, Michael, and Russell, and two sisters named Elizabeth and Marica. Additionally, he is the grand-nephew of Nola Modine Fairbanks, a stage actress, and the great-grandson of Ralph Jacobus Fairbanks, a prospector and pioneer.
For a significant period, he resided in Utah and changed locations within the state every one or two years. Eventually, the Modine family relocated back to Imperial Beach, California where Matthew completed his high school education at Mar Vista High School in 1977.
Following his graduation, Matthew Modine made the move to New York City to further explore his passions in art and theatre. He obtained his degree from Brigham Young University.
Career
In 1982, Matthew Modine’s first appearance on TV was in the “Amy & the Angel” episode of “ABC Afterschool Special.” The following year, he acted in “Baby It’s You,” “Private School,” and “Streamers.”
In 1984, he portrayed the main character in “Birdy,” and the following year, he played Louden Swain in “Vision Quest” and also made appearances in the Madonna music videos “Crazy for You” and “Gambler,” which were featured on the movie’s soundtrack.
In 1987, Matthew played the role of Private/Sergeant J.T. “Joker” Davis in “Full Metal Jacket” and the following year, he acted in “Married to the Mob” and “The Gamble” while also hosting “Saturday Night Live.” Throughout the 1990s, Modine had roles in several movies, including:
- Memphis Belle (1990)
- Equinox” (1992)
- Short Cuts (1993)
- Bye Bye Love (1995)
- Cutthroat Island (1995)
- The Real Blonde (1997)
- Any Given Sunday (1999)
Matthew Modine was credited as the writer and director of the 1999 feature film “If… Dog… Rabbit…” and the 1994 short film “Smoking.” In addition, he was recognized by the Primetime Emmys and the Golden Globes for his work on the 1993 TV movie “And the Band Played On” and the 1997 film “What the Deaf Man Heard,” receiving nominations from both award shows.
He became well-known for rejecting the opportunity to play ‘LT Pete “Maverick” Mitchell’ in ‘Top Gun’ due to his belief that the movie’s pro-military message conflicted with his political views. The part ultimately landed in the hands of Tom Cruise, catapulting him to success in Hollywood.
Personal Life
For over four decades, Matthew Modine has been happily married to Caridad Rivera, and together they have been blessed with two children, Ruby and Boman. The depth and richness of his personal and career experiences are reflected in his family life.
Net Worth
Matthew Modine’s net worth is estimated to be $10 million. He rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s with notable roles in “Vision Quest” (1985), “Full Metal Jacket” (1987), and “Short Cuts” (1993).
More recently, he portrayed Sullivan Groff on Showtime’s “Weeds” (2007) and Dr. Martin Brenner on Netflix’s “Stranger Things” (2016-2017; 2022). In 2010, he also starred as Captain Keller in a Broadway production of “The Miracle Worker.”
