Matt is a successful TV and film actor, award-winning filmmaker, best selling author, and acclaimed on-camera acting coach. On set coaching credits include Ava Duvernay's "When They See Us", "Blue Bloods," and "Orange is the New Black." Matt began his career as an actor in Los Angeles, landing roles on such hit shows as Drake and Josh Go Hollywood, Criminal Minds, Gilmore Girls, Judging Amy, and the films Van Wilder, before moving to New York and starring on Royal Pains, Ugly Betty (with his sister Becki Newton), and the Americans, among others. In 2010 he turned toward directing and coaching, directing the short film "Hide/Seek," "Vacation Rental" (for which he won Best Director), as well as "Sins of the Son." He is a frequent industry collaborator to Backstage and Casting Frontier, and runs the acclaimed MN Acting Studio in New York City.