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Why Matt Damon Was Still Sleeping on an Air Mattress a Year After Winning the Oscar

Aired on 11/24/1999 | CC
Back in 1998, Matt Damon was still considered a fresh-faced newcomer in Hollywood when he won an Oscar® for writing Good Will Hunting with his childhood friend Ben Affleck, with whom he also co-starred in the film. The award launched Matt into superstardom, and as an actor he began to command millions of dollars per movie.

Still, the 29-year-old movie star seemed refreshingly unaffected by his fame when he appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show a year later.

"When you pass your Oscar, wherever it is in your house, you don't kind of give it a wink?" Oprah said.

"No. I kind of walk by and go, "Wow, that was lucky," Matt said, eliciting laughter from the audience.

The actor also opened up to Oprah about how his lifestyle had remained remarkably humble, and even admitted that he still occasionally slept on an air mattress in his brother's living room. Here, find out why Matt maintains, "It really is the best bed I sleep in."

Original airdate: November 24, 1999