Matt William Knowles

Matt William Knowles
Knowles at the 2017 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
Born
Greenville, South Carolina, US
Other namesMa Tai (马泰)
EducationRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
Beijing Film Academy
Clemson University
OccupationActor

Matthew William Knowles, known professionally as Matt William Knowles[1] or Ma Tai (Chinese: 马泰),[2] is an American actor. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art[3], he is known for portraying Jim Zwerg in the Spike Lee executive-produced civil rights drama Son of the South (2021)[4], and for his work in Chinese-language film and television, including as the character of 'Rawa' in the $100 million fantasy film Asura (2018)[5] and as 'Thor' in the sports dramedy Clash, which premiered at the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam[6]. Knowles is also a graduate of Beijing Film Academy, where he became the first non-Asian student in the school's history[7].

In 2018, he was awarded best actor at the Canada China International Film Festival in Montreal, Canada for his role as Charles Harris in Poppies.[8]

Career

Knowles' entertainment career began when he was discovered singing Mandarin love songs in a Chinese karaoke hall and signed with a Chengdu, China agency.[1] Shortly afterwards, he had a small role as a Viking Warrior in the 2013 film Vikingdom. In 2014, after graduating from Beijing Film Academy, Knowles guest starred on two Chinese shows, Red Sorghum and Deng Xiao Ping at History's Crossroads. Knowles hosted the 2014 Oscars virtual simulcast for Youku to China.[9] In 2015, Knowles was seen in the recurring role of Dr. Barnes on Shanghai Media Group's drama Love Me If You Dare as well as the American pilot, Paul Tibbets in Eastern Battlefield. In 2016, he portrayed American Marine Corps General Evans Carlson on CCTV's period military drama Red Star Over China.

He starred as the mythical Demi-god, Rawa,[10] next to Chinese star Leo Wu in Asura, a $100 million fantasy adventure film that was directed by Peng Zhang.[11] Knowles also stars as Jim Zwerg in the film Son of the South[12], executive produced by Spike Lee and as Charles Harris in a short film titled Poppies.[13] In 2023 Knowles was seen in the role of Hans in the Korean War drama Winter and Lion.[14] In 2024, Knowles starred as Hadley in a Mandarin-language stage adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption, which toured China[15]. He also appeared as Barrett in the 2024 espionage film Burning Stars and next to Wang Yi Bo as German weapon's expert William in the drama War of Faith.[16]

Knowles starred as "Thor," an American football player, in the sports dramedy film Clash, which had its international premiere at the 2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR).[6]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2012 There Will Be Blood[3] Lao Da Short
Big Sister's Store[3] John Sand TV series
2013 Time to Show[3] Matthew Film
Vikingdom[17] Viking Warrior Film
2014 Deng Xiao Ping at History's Crossroads[17] Western Oil Representative TV series
Red Sorghum[17] AP Press Reporter TV series
2015 Upright Men and Women[17] Ma Tai Long Online Series
Northern Attraction[3] Anatoli Short
Eastern Battlefield[17] Paul Tibbets TV series
2016 Journey to the East[17] Uncle Matty TV Pilot
Love Me If You Dare[17] Dr. Barnes TV series
Red Star Over China[17] Evans Carlson TV series
2018 Love and Four Walls[17] Matthew Film
Asura[18] Rawa Film
Poppies[8] Charles Harris Short
2019 Bond of Justice: Kizuna[19] Jet Film
2020 Son of the South[20] Jim Zwerg[21] Film
2021 Haunted Trail[22] Mark Film
2021 Immoral Compass[23] Handsome Firefighter TV series
2022 The Grand Canal Thomas TV series
2023 Winter and Lion[24] Hans TV series
2024 War of Faith[25] William TV series
2024 Burning Star[26] Barrett Film
2024-2025 The Shawshank Redemption[27] Hadley[28] Play
2025 Clash[29] Thor Film

Charity work

In 2009, Knowles moved to China's impoverished Guizhou Province to do service work.[30] Knowles lived in the town of Duyun where he taught English to over 1,500 students each week. During the weekends, he would run humanitarian projects in the surrounding mountains.[31] Knowles is a supporter of autism awareness internationally through his support of Autism Speaks, Autism Guardian Angels,[32] and the Lions Club International China.[33] In December 2017, Matt returned to his childhood elementary school to give a motivational speech.[34] In June 2018, Knowles became the 40th rotating mayor of Danzhai Wanda Village in Guizhou, China as part of their poverty alleviation program. In Danzhai, rotating mayors are chosen from a diverse field of non-political foreign applicants.[35]

Personal life

Knowles grew up in Greenville, South Carolina where he attended Sara Collins Elementary School. In 9th grade, he was cut from the C-team football team at J.L. Mann High School.[36] In 2007, Knowles walked on to the Clemson Tigers Football team where he received the Most Improved Defensive Walk-on Award before a knee injury ended his football career.[37] In 2008, Knowles graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Civil Engineering, and then moved to a poor region in China for humanitarian work. It was here that Knowles learned to speak fluent Mandarin Chinese.[18] In 2013, Knowles earned a scholarship to the Beijing Film Academy, in which he became the school's first Caucasian student.[7] In 2018, he graduated with a Master of Arts from the Theatre Lab program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Schwartzel, Daniel Epstein and Erich. "China's Unlikeliest Movie Star Comes From South Carolina". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  2. ^ "美国"小鲜肉"谈在中国娱乐圈打拼心得". BBC News (in Chinese). November 5, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Fabrique. "Matt William Knowles — RADA". www.rada.ac.uk. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  4. ^ Heupel, Shannon. "Son of the South actor: 'It's an honor to represent Jim Zwerg'". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  5. ^ News, A. B. C. "Most expensive Chinese movie ever bombs, was pulled from theaters in days". ABC News. Retrieved February 24, 2026. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ a b "Clash". IFFR EN. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Sun, Rebecca (April 10, 2017). "Rep Sheet Roundup: 3 Arts Signs First Non-Asian Alum of Beijing Film Academy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "CCIFF 2018 Closing Gala Press Release". Canada China International Film Festival. October 2, 2018. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  9. ^ Anna Ang, 《神盾局特工》女主角温明娜助阵汪聪奥斯卡演播室 // Ming-Na Wen in Youku Oscar Virtual Studio, retrieved December 21, 2018
  10. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (March 12, 2017). "Filmart: How to Make it in China as a Western Actor". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  11. ^ Chew, Cohan (July 12, 2018). "INTERVIEW: How American footballer Matt William Knowles became the star of 'Asura' - China's first 100M film". Resonate. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  12. ^ Sun, Rebecca (September 9, 2019). "Rep Sheet Roundup: CAA China Signs Matt William Knowles". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  13. ^ "Exclusive: Interview with Actor Matthew Knowles". Nerdophiles. August 17, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  14. ^ 曹梓楠. "Movie industry roars back with robust recovery". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  15. ^ Frater, Patrick (January 10, 2024). "'The Shawshank Redemption' Sets All-Western Cast for Chinese-Language Stage Adaptation in Shenzhen, China". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  16. ^ 曹梓楠. "Movie industry roars back with robust recovery". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Matthew Knowles – The Biggest White Guy Star in China". scenesmedia.com. May 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "First Look: China's $100M Fantasy Adventure 'Asura'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  19. ^ Gurung, Regina (August 24, 2018). "American Matthew Knowles reveals how a twist of fate led him to star in 'Asura', China's first $100m film". MEAWW. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  20. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (May 7, 2019). "Mike C. Manning Joins 'Son of the South'; Makenzie Vega, Nicky Whelan Set For 'Instafame'; Amelia Crouch In 'Eight For Silver'". Deadline. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  21. ^ McNary, Dave (May 3, 2019). "Film News Roundup: Sabrina Carpenter to Star in 'Work It' Dance Comedy". Variety. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  22. ^ "Haunted Trail | Release Date, Reviews, Cast, and Where to Watch". Times Now. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  23. ^ "Matt William Knowles". watch.plex.tv. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  24. ^ 曹梓楠. "Movie industry roars back with robust recovery". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  25. ^ "马泰、王鹏骁参演剧集「追风者」正在热播，金融视角开启时代青年踏浪扬帆传奇". zhihu.com. April 7, 2024.
  26. ^ 曹梓楠. "Movie industry roars back with robust recovery". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  27. ^ "Stages of translation". chinadailyhk. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  28. ^ Frater, Patrick (January 10, 2024). "'The Shawshank Redemption' Sets All-Western Cast for Chinese-Language Stage Adaptation in Shenzhen, China". Variety. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  29. ^ "Clash". IFFR EN. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  30. ^ 刘玄逸. "American face stands out on local screens". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  31. ^ Chew, Cohan (July 12, 2018). "INTERVIEW: How American footballer Matt William Knowles became the star of 'Asura' – China's first 100M film". Resonate. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  32. ^ "How Actor Matthew Knowles raises Autism Awareness in China", Autism Guardian Angels, April 30, 2017, retrieved October 22, 2018
  33. ^ "与美国好莱坞影星共同陪伴"来自星星的孩子"". Sina. April 2, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  34. ^ Kalsi, Dal. "Greenville native who went on to become Chinese movie star speaks to students at his former elementary school". FOX Carolina. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  35. ^ "Danzhai Wanda Village Welcomes Hollywood Actor as its Rotating Mayor". www.wanda-group.com. November 29, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  36. ^ Ingram, Tyreese (February 26, 2016). "From Clemson Football To Movie Star: Q&A with Matthew Knowles". Rubbing the Rock. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  37. ^ "Most Improved Award Winners Announced". TigerNet.com. April 16, 2007. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
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