Matthew Shear

Matthew Louis Shear, born on October 10, 1984, in New York City, is an American actor whose career has blossomed across independent cinema and premium television. Raised in a Reform Jewish household, Shear attended St. John's College—Annapolis, graduating in 2008 before stepping onto the professional stage the following year with a modest part in Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock. His early work quickly demonstrated a keen ability to inhabit nuanced characters, a talent that caught the eye of auteur Noah Baumbach, who cast him as Tony in Mistress America opposite Greta Gerwig and Lola Kirke. Building on that momentum, Sheur delivered memorable performances in Baumbach’s later projects The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) and Marriage Story, solidifying his reputation for subtle, emotionally resonant acting. In 2017 he headlined the Tribeca‑selected feature The Boy Downstairs alongside Zosia Mamet, a film released by FilmRise in early 2018 that further showcased his range.

Beyond the silver screen, Shear has become a familiar face on television. He portrayed Detective Lucius Isaacson on TNT’s critically acclaimed series The Alienist, a show that earned nominations for Outstanding Limited Series at the Emmy Awards and for Best Action‑Thriller Television Series at the Saturn Awards. His television résumé also includes appearances on the CBS drama NYC 22, the Hulu comedy Deadbeat, and the Peabody‑winning web series Horace and Pete. With a career spanning over a decade and a growing list of respected collaborators, Matthew Shear continues to contribute richly to contemporary storytelling, bringing depth and authenticity to every role he embraces.