The Nominees: Matt Dillon

(CBS)  Matt Dillon wasn't always taken as seriously as he is today.

After his "discovery" by a talent agent in the hallways of his middle school in suburban New York, he made his name as the quintessential young tough, playing roles like the bully in "My Bodyguard" and the guy who takes Kristy McNichol's virginity in "Little Darlings." (Both films were released in 1980.)

It wasn't until "The Flamingo Kid" (1984) that critics began to consider that the teen star might actually have potential as an important screen actor. That promise was fulfilled in the minds of many with his performance in "Drugstore Cowboy" (1989). For that performance, he won an Independent Spirit Award.

---

More from CBSNews.com on Matt Dillon and on the Oscars...

See photo essay for more pictures of Matt Dillon.

See photo essay for pictures of a winning night at the Screen Actors Guild awards.

See Oscar Scorecard to see how Dillon is doing compared to the other nominated actors.

Watch video to see Dillon's reaction to his Golden Globe nomination.

Find out about all the nominees in the Academy Awards special report.

---

He proved himself more than capable of handling a comic role as Ben Stiller's lowlife rival for the attentions of Cameron Diaz in "There's Something About Mary." (In real life, Dillon and Diaz were an item for a few years.) But even before "Crash," the 42-year-old actor illustrated a knack for ensemble work in such movies as "To Die For" (1995) and "In & Out" (1997).

Dillon was reared in a large Catholic family, along with a sister and four brothers, one of whom is the actor Kevin Dillon. He's never been wed but in his next movie, "You, Me and Dupree," he plays a newlywed married to Kate Hudson.