Matthew Paige `` Matt '' Damon ( born October 8 , 1970 ) is an American actor and screenwriter . Matthew Paige `` Matt '' Damon ( born October 8 , 1970 ) is an American actor , screenwriter , and philanthropist whose career was launched following the success of the film Good Will Hunting ( 1997 ) , from a screenplay he co-wrote with friend Ben Affleck .