Matthew Quincy Daddario was born and raised in New York City, the son of Christina Daddario, a lawyer, and Richard Daddario, a prosecutor and former head of the NYPD Counterterrorism unit. He grew up in an environment that valued academics and public service. He is the middle child, with an older sister, actress Alexandra Daddario, and a younger sister, Catharine Daddario.

He attended The Collegiate School, an esteemed private preparatory school for boys in New York City. Following high school, Daddario’s path did not initially point toward acting. He enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington, pursuing a degree in Business. He has stated in interviews that acting was not a serious consideration at this point, but rather something his older sister was known for. He graduated with his business degree in 2010.

After graduating from college, Daddario began to reconsider his career path. He started taking acting classes and attending auditions, following in his sister’s footsteps. His first credited role was in the 2012 short film ‘The Debut’. He landed his first major studio film role in the 2013 Vince Vaughn comedy, ‘Delivery Man’, playing Channing, one of the 533 children fathered by the protagonist.

This was followed by a role in the 2014 sports drama ‘When the Game Stands Tall’, where he played Danny Ladouceur, the son of the team’s celebrated coach. These early roles established him as a capable supporting actor, but his breakout moment was still to come.

In 2015, Daddario was cast in the role that would change his life and career: Alec Lightwood in Freeform’s ‘Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments’. The series, based on the popular YA novels, became a global sensation. Daddario’s character, Alec, was the eldest Shadowhunter of the Lightwood family, a character defined by his strict adherence to duty and his struggle with his own identity as a closeted gay man.

Daddario’s performance was lauded for its nuance and subtlety. He portrayed Alec’s internal conflict with a quiet intensity that resonated deeply with audiences. The relationship between his character and Magnus Bane (played by Harry Shum Jr.), dubbed “Malec” by the fans, became the emotional core of the series. Daddario’s handling of Alec’s coming-out arc was praised for its realism and respect. He and Shum Jr. shared a powerful chemistry that elevated the material, turning their romance into one of the most iconic and celebrated LGBTQ+ relationships in television history.

For his portrayal, Daddario won multiple awards, including several Teen Choice Awards. The role not only brought him worldwide fame but also established him as a talented actor capable of handling a complex, multi-season character arc with depth and grace.

After the conclusion of *Shadowhunters*, Daddario was faced with the challenge of avoiding typecasting. He did so immediately and effectively with a sharp pivot to comedy. In 2021, he joined the cast of Marc Cherry’s anthology series ‘Why Women Kill’ for its second season.

He played Scooter, a vain, simple-minded, and opportunistic “kept man” involved in a tangled affair. The role was a 180-degree turn from the noble, stoic Alec. Daddario showcased flawless comedic timing, fully embracing the character’s absurdity and charm. The role was a critical success, proving his versatility as a performer. In the same year, he also starred in the independent film ‘Trust’, a tense psychological drama, further demonstrating his desire to explore different genres.

In recent years, Daddario has made a clear, deliberate shift towards the independent film world. This move indicates a focus on craft and complex storytelling over commercial blockbusters. He has been selective, choosing roles that challenge him.

His latest project, the upcoming indie thriller ‘The Last Ember’, is a testament to this new chapter. He is cast in the lead role of ‘Silas’, a reclusive historian, a part that promises a dark, intellectual, and nuanced performance. This focus on story-driven indie films marks the beginning of a mature and exciting phase in his career.

Matthew Daddario married Esther Kim on December 31, 2017. The couple welcomed their first child in 2020. Daddario is known for being relatively private, using his platform not just for self-promotion but to share his other passions.

He is an avid and talented amateur photographer, often sharing his stunning nature and landscape shots with his followers. He is also a passionate astronomer and enjoys wildlife, frequently posting about his observations and his love for the natural world. He has used his massive platform, built during his *Shadowhunters* days, to support various charitable causes, including The Trevor Project and animal welfare organizations.