Matt William Knowles Movies, TV Shows, and Filmography
Matt William Knowles
Acting
Biography
Matt William Knowles is an American actor known for his work in both Hollywood and Chinese cinema. He was born and raised in South Carolina, where he grew up playing football until an injury changed his path. In search of purpose, he moved to a remote part of China to do humanitarian work, teaching and volunteering in underprivileged communities. While living there, he was unexpectedly discovered at a karaoke bar, leading to his first roles in the Chinese film industry. Fluent in Mandarin, Knowles quickly became one of the most recognizable foreign actors in China, taking on a range of roles in television and film. His early work included historical dramas and action films, leading to a major role in Asura (2018), China's first $100 million blockbuster. He later gained international recognition for his performance in Son of the South (2020), a civil rights drama produced by Spike Lee. Determined to refine his craft, Knowles trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London before returning to the screen. His recent roles include Barrett, a Shanghai police captain, in Burning Star, and Thor, an American football star, in Clash, which premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in 2025. He also starred as William, a German weapons expert, in War on Faith, and appeared in the historical war series Winter and Lion. Now working internationally, Knowles continues to bring his versatility and depth to a wide range of roles across different genres.
Filmography Movies
Acting
Haunted Trail
A group of college friends receive the surprise of their lives when they discover there is an actual killer on the scene of a local haunted trail.
Bond of Justice: Kizuna Part II - Judgement
Within Tokyo’s criminal underworld, there is a violent power struggle between former allies that serves as the central theme of the film. Detective Ryuji (Ryuji Yamakita), his life consumed by a personal grudge against the criminal empire, finds himself caught in the crossfire of a gang war that is threatening to engulf the city. To regain control, Jet (Matt William Knowles), a gifted mercenary with a dark past, teams up with Gondo (Sonny Saito), a respected crime boss who is coming under more and more pressure from rival factions. A cunning and elusive femme fatale, Masako (Fusako Shiotani) plays both sides as she manipulates the chaos for her own gain. As hostilities worsen, a shadowy informant by the name of Jose (William Guirola) provides crucial information that could tip the odds. However, when the true extent of the corruption in the city is revealed, Detective Ryuji is left to confront his own demons and choose between carrying out justice or exacting retribution.
Clash
Liu Yonggan, a food delivery guy nicknamed the “Bolt of Shapingba,” gathers thirty buddies to form a ragtag underdog football team called the “Dock Workers” and compete at the Eternal Bowl championship.
Asura
An epic fantasy loosely based on Buddhist mythology, it is set in the mythical realm of Asura — the dimension of pure desire which is threatened by a coup from a lower heavenly kingdom.
Time to Show
A normal girl, Xiao Wen, decides to enter a singing competition in order to make money to save her mother's life. In the process, Xiao Mi discovers the meaning of life.
Son of the South
In civil rights era Montgomery, Alabama, Klansman's grandson Bob Zellner must choose which side of history to be on during the Movement. Defying his family and white Southern norms, he fought against social injustice, repression and violence to change the world around him
Poppies
Fate intervenes, when Charles, a young and over-worked American corporate lawyer, finds himself seated beside an elderly Chinese woman with a mysterious past, Auntie Ling on a contemporary flight from Shanghai to New York. After noticing the beautiful bouquet of Poppies that Charles has brought on-board the flight, Auntie Ling reminisces about the early years of her marriage to Shu Zhen, an opium trader in 1940s Shanghai, and tries to coax Charles out of his solitude. Slowly lured into her stories, Charles begins to see the layers beneath Auntie Ling's polished facade. Poppies brought Charles and Auntie Ling together, underscoring the fine line between joy and sorrow...life and death. Influenced by real events, Poppies explores the cross-cultural and cross-generational relationships that develop between strangers in mid-air.
Love and Four Walls
Raised by his grandmother, Owen lives the entirety of his life in the shadow of his parent's abandonment. Owen endures many relationship struggles with both his family and romantic partners which causes him to understand and sympathize with his grandmother and parents.
Return of the Poker King 2
Gao Fan is back gambling his way through life, and this time he will encounter more evil and twisted opponents than ever. From the evil twins to Russian Roulette. From the desert to the casino. Will Gao Fan be able to gamble his way out of his next adventure? Will he survive to gamble another day?
Vikingdom
A warrior fleeing the violence of his past must take up the sword and risk everything to face a god of incalculable power.
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