{{Short description|American actor}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Matt William Knowles | image = Matt William Knowles.jpg | alt = Matt William Knowles being interviewed at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on April 27, 2017 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California, US | caption = Knowles at the 2017 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival | birth_place = Greenville, South Carolina, US | other_names = Ma Tai (马泰) | education = Royal Academy of Dramatic Art<br />Beijing Film Academy<br />Clemson University | occupation = Actor | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }}
'''Matthew William Knowles''', known professionally as '''Matt William Knowles'''<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-unlikeliest-movie-star-comes-from-south-carolina-1542981603|title=China's Unlikeliest Movie Star Comes From South Carolina|last=Schwartzel|first=Daniel Epstein and Erich|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=November 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> or '''Ma Tai''' ({{zh|s=马泰}}),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-41877513|title=美国"小鲜肉"谈在中国娱乐圈打拼心得|date=November 5, 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=October 22, 2018|language=zh}}</ref> is an American actor. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art<ref name="RADA" />, he is known for portraying Jim Zwerg in the Spike Lee executive-produced civil rights drama ''Son of the South'' (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heupel |first=Shannon |title=Son of the South actor: 'It’s an honor to represent Jim Zwerg' |url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/entertainment/2021/02/03/son-south-actor-its-honor-represent-jim-zwerg/4365578001/ |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=Montgomery Advertiser |language=en-US}}</ref>, and for his work in Chinese-language film and television, including as the character of 'Rawa' in the $100 million fantasy film ''Asura'' (2018)<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=A. B. C. |title=Most expensive Chinese movie ever bombs, was pulled from theaters in days |url=https://abcnews.com/International/expensive-chinese-movie-bombs-box-office-pulled-theaters/story?id=56636686 |access-date=2026-02-24 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> and as 'Thor' in the sports dramedy ''Clash'', which premiered at the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam<ref name=":3" />. Knowles is also a graduate of Beijing Film Academy, where he became the first non-Asian student in the school's history<ref name=":6" />.
In 2018, he was awarded best actor at the Canada China International Film Festival in Montreal, Canada for his role as Charles Harris in ''Poppies''.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://cciff.ca/2018/press-release/gala/|title=CCIFF 2018 Closing Gala Press Release|date=October 2, 2018|work=Canada China International Film Festival|access-date=October 5, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=August 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821033213/http://cciff.ca/2018/press-release/gala/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Career ==
Knowles' entertainment career began when he was discovered singing Mandarin love songs in a Chinese karaoke hall and signed with a Chengdu, China agency.<ref name=":2" /> Shortly afterwards, he had a small role as a Viking Warrior in the 2013 film ''Vikingdom''. In 2014, after graduating from Beijing Film Academy, Knowles guest starred on two Chinese shows, ''Red Sorghum'' and ''Deng Xiao Ping at History's Crossroads''. Knowles hosted the 2014 Oscars virtual simulcast for Youku to China.<ref>{{Citation|last=Anna Ang|title=《神盾局特工》女主角温明娜助阵汪聪奥斯卡演播室 // Ming-Na Wen in Youku Oscar Virtual Studio|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-0OuJHieDQ|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref> In 2015, Knowles was seen in the recurring role of Dr. Barnes on Shanghai Media Group's drama ''Love Me If You Dare'' as well as the American pilot, Paul Tibbets in ''Eastern Battlefield''. In 2016, he portrayed American Marine Corps General Evans Carlson on CCTV's period military drama ''Red Star Over China''.
He starred as the mythical Demi-god, Rawa,<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/filmart-how-make-china-as-a-western-actor-985399|title=Filmart: How to Make it in China as a Western Actor|last1=Brzeski|first1=Patrick|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 12, 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2018}}</ref> next to Chinese star Leo Wu in ''Asura'', a $100 million fantasy adventure film that was directed by Peng Zhang.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chew |first=Cohan |date=2018-07-12 |title=INTERVIEW: How American footballer Matt William Knowles became the star of 'Asura' - China's first 100M film |url=https://www.weareresonate.com/2018/07/interview-how-american-footballer-matt-william-knowles-became-the-star-of-asura-chinas-first-100m-film/ |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=Resonate |language=en-US}}</ref> Knowles also stars as Jim Zwerg in the film ''Son of the South''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Rebecca |date=2019-09-09 |title=Rep Sheet Roundup: CAA China Signs Matt William Knowles |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/rep-sheet-roundup-caa-china-signs-matt-william-knowles-1237770/ |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>, executive produced by Spike Lee and as Charles Harris in a short film titled ''Poppies''.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nerdophiles.com/2018/08/17/exclusive-interview-with-matthew-knowles/|title=Exclusive: Interview with Actor Matthew Knowles|date=August 17, 2018|work=Nerdophiles|access-date=October 17, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023 Knowles was seen in the role of Hans in the Korean War drama Winter and Lion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=曹梓楠 |title=Movie industry roars back with robust recovery |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/10/WS640a6b09a31057c47ebb365f.html |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> In 2024, Knowles starred as Hadley in a Mandarin-language stage adaptation of ''The Shawshank Redemption'', which toured China<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=2024-01-10 |title=‘The Shawshank Redemption’ Sets All-Western Cast for Chinese-Language Stage Adaptation in Shenzhen, China |url=https://variety.com/2024/theater/news/the-shawshank-redemption-stage-adaptation-china-1235865940/ |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>. He also appeared as Barrett in the 2024 espionage film ''Burning Stars'' and next to Wang Yi Bo as German weapon's expert William in the drama War of Faith.<ref>{{Cite web |last=曹梓楠 |title=Movie industry roars back with robust recovery |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/10/WS640a6b09a31057c47ebb365f.html |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref>
Knowles starred as "Thor," an American football player, in the sports dramedy film ''Clash'', which had its international premiere at the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Clash |url=https://iffr.com/en/iffr/2025/films/clash |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=IFFR EN |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- | rowspan="2" |2012 |''There Will Be Blood''<ref name="RADA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/matthew-knowles/|title=Matt William Knowles — RADA|last=Fabrique|website=www.rada.ac.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=July 15, 2019}}</ref> |Lao Da |Short |- |''Big Sister's Store''<ref name="RADA"/> |John Sand |TV series |- | rowspan="2" |2013 |''Time to Show''<ref name="RADA"/> |Matthew |Film |- |''Vikingdom''<ref name="Scenes">{{Cite web|url=https://scenesmedia.com/2018/05/matthew-knowles-the-biggest-white-guy-star-in-china/|title=Matthew Knowles – The Biggest White Guy Star in China|date=May 2018|website=scenesmedia.com|language=en-US|access-date=October 5, 2018}}</ref> |Viking Warrior |Film |- | rowspan="2" |2014 |''Deng Xiao Ping at History's Crossroads''<ref name="Scenes"/> |Western Oil Representative |TV series |- |''Red Sorghum''<ref name="Scenes"/> |AP Press Reporter |TV series |- | rowspan="3" |2015 |''Upright Men and Women''<ref name="Scenes"/> |Ma Tai Long |Online Series |- |''Northern Attraction''<ref name="RADA"/> |Anatoli |Short |- |''Eastern Battlefield''<ref name="Scenes"/> |Paul Tibbets |TV series |- | rowspan="3" |2016 |''Journey to the East''<ref name="Scenes"/> |Uncle Matty |TV Pilot |- |''Love Me If You Dare''<ref name="Scenes"/> |Dr. Barnes |TV series |- |''Red Star Over China''<ref name="Scenes"/> |Evans Carlson |TV series |- | rowspan="3" |2018 |''Love and Four Walls''<ref name="Scenes"/> |Matthew |Film |- |''Asura''<ref name="HR22">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/first-look-chinas-100m-fantasy-adventure-asura-948682|title=First Look: China's $100M Fantasy Adventure 'Asura'|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=October 9, 2018|language=en}}</ref> |Rawa |Film |- |''Poppies''<ref name=":4"/> |Charles Harris |Short |- |2019 |''Bond of Justice: Kizuna''<ref name="MEAWW">{{Cite news |last=Gurung |first=Regina |date=August 24, 2018 |title=American Matthew Knowles reveals how a twist of fate led him to star in 'Asura', China's first $100m film |url=https://meaww.com/matthew-knowles-asura-franchise-us-china |access-date=October 5, 2018 |work=MEAWW |language=en-US}}</ref> |Jet |Film |- |2020 |''Son of the South''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/mike-c-manning-son-of-the-south-makenzie-vega-nicky-whelan-instafame-amelia-crouch-eight-for-silver-1202608125/|title=Mike C. Manning Joins 'Son of the South'; Makenzie Vega, Nicky Whelan Set For 'Instafame'; Amelia Crouch In 'Eight For Silver'|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=May 7, 2019|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref> |Jim Zwerg<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/sabrina-carpenter-work-it-dance-comedy-1203203995/|title=Film News Roundup: Sabrina Carpenter to Star in 'Work It' Dance Comedy|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=May 3, 2019|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=June 22, 2019}}</ref> |''Film'' |- |2021 |Haunted Trail<ref>{{Cite web |title=Haunted Trail {{!}} Release Date, Reviews, Cast, and Where to Watch |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/zoom/movies/haunted-trail-movie-152576677 |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=Times Now |language=en}}</ref> |Mark |Film |- |2021 |Immoral Compass<ref>{{Cite web |title=Matt William Knowles |url=https://watch.plex.tv/person/matt-william-knowles |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=watch.plex.tv |language=en}}</ref> |Handsome Firefighter |TV series |- |2022 |The Grand Canal |Thomas |TV series |- |2023 |Winter and Lion<ref>{{Cite web |last=曹梓楠 |title=Movie industry roars back with robust recovery |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/10/WS640a6b09a31057c47ebb365f.html |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> |Hans |TV series |- |2024 |War of Faith<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-07 |title=马泰、王鹏骁参演剧集「追风者」正在热播，金融视角开启时代青年踏浪扬帆传奇 |url=https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/691063579 |website=zhihu.com}}</ref> |William |TV series |- |2024 |Burning Star<ref>{{Cite web |last=曹梓楠 |title=Movie industry roars back with robust recovery |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/10/WS640a6b09a31057c47ebb365f.html |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> |Barrett |Film |- |2024-2025 |The Shawshank Redemption<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stages of translation |url=https://www.chinadailyhk.com/hk/article/372578#Stages-of-translation-2024-01-19 |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=chinadailyhk |language=en}}</ref> |Hadley<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=2024-01-10 |title=‘The Shawshank Redemption’ Sets All-Western Cast for Chinese-Language Stage Adaptation in Shenzhen, China |url=https://variety.com/2024/theater/news/the-shawshank-redemption-stage-adaptation-china-1235865940/ |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> |Play |- |2025 |Clash<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clash |url=https://iffr.com/en/iffr/2025/films/clash |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=IFFR EN |language=en-GB}}</ref> |Thor |Film |}
== Charity work == In 2009, Knowles moved to China's impoverished Guizhou Province to do service work.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2017-01/19/content_27994659.htm|title=American face stands out on local screens|last=刘玄逸|website=www.chinadaily.com.cn|access-date=October 17, 2018}}</ref> Knowles lived in the town of Duyun where he taught English to over 1,500 students each week. During the weekends, he would run humanitarian projects in the surrounding mountains.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weareresonate.com/2018/07/interview-how-american-footballer-matt-william-knowles-became-the-star-of-asura-chinas-first-100m-film/|title=INTERVIEW: How American footballer Matt William Knowles became the star of 'Asura' – China's first 100M film|last=Chew|first=Cohan|date=July 12, 2018|website=Resonate|language=en-GB|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref> Knowles is a supporter of autism awareness internationally through his support of Autism Speaks, Autism Guardian Angels,<ref>{{Citation|work=Autism Guardian Angels|title=How Actor Matthew Knowles raises Autism Awareness in China|date=April 30, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-fuX91sanM|access-date=October 22, 2018}}</ref> and the Lions Club International China.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://k.sina.cn/article_3950357089_eb75aa610010021to.html?http=fromhttp|title=与美国好莱坞影星共同陪伴"来自星星的孩子"|work=Sina|date=April 2, 2017|access-date=October 22, 2018}}</ref> In December 2017, Matt returned to his childhood elementary school to give a motivational speech.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxcarolina.com/news/greenville-native-who-went-on-to-become-chinese-movie-star/article_a70a4ba2-2759-5417-add1-c945dc645330.html|title=Greenville native who went on to become Chinese movie star speaks to students at his former elementary school|last=Kalsi|first=Dal|website=FOX Carolina|language=en|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref> In June 2018, Knowles became the 40th rotating mayor of Danzhai Wanda Village in Guizhou, China as part of their poverty alleviation program. In Danzhai, rotating mayors are chosen from a diverse field of non-political foreign applicants.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wanda-group.com/mobile/2018/Latest_1128/4561.html?&icon=1|title=Danzhai Wanda Village Welcomes Hollywood Actor as its Rotating Mayor|date=November 29, 2018|website=www.wanda-group.com|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref>
== Personal life == Knowles grew up in Greenville, South Carolina where he attended Sara Collins Elementary School. In 9th grade, he was cut from the C-team football team at J.L. Mann High School.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rubbingtherock.com/2016/02/26/clemson-football-movie-star-qa-matthew-knowles/|title=From Clemson Football To Movie Star: Q&A with Matthew Knowles|last=Ingram|first=Tyreese|date=February 26, 2016|website=Rubbing the Rock|language=en-US|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref> In 2007, Knowles walked on to the Clemson Tigers Football team where he received the Most Improved Defensive Walk-on Award before a knee injury ended his football career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tigernet.com/story/Most-Improved-Award-Winners-Announced-6610|title=Most Improved Award Winners Announced|date=April 16, 2007|website=TigerNet.com|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref> In 2008, Knowles graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Civil Engineering, and then moved to a poor region in China for humanitarian work. It was here that Knowles learned to speak fluent Mandarin Chinese.<ref name="HR22" /> In 2013, Knowles earned a scholarship to the Beijing Film Academy, in which he became the school's first Caucasian student.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rep-sheet-roundup-3-arts-signs-first-asian-alum-beijing-film-academy-992299|title=Rep Sheet Roundup: 3 Arts Signs First Non-Asian Alum of Beijing Film Academy|last=Sun|first=Rebecca|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 10, 2017 |language=en|access-date=December 21, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, he graduated with a Master of Arts from the Theatre Lab program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.<ref name="RADA"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{Official website|MattWilliam.com}} * {{IMDb name|id=nm3741280}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Knowles, Matt William}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male film actors Category:American expatriate male actors Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Category:American male television actors Category:American expatriate actors in China Category:Expatriate male actors in China Category:Beijing Film Academy alumni Category:Clemson University alumni Category:American football defensive ends Category:Clemson Tigers football players Category:Male actors from South Carolina Category:People from Greenville, South Carolina