Matthew Hart Bochner was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Ruth Roher, a concert pianist, and Lloyd Bochner, an actor. His parents' mixed heritage of Russian Jewish and Ukrainian Jewish descent greatly influenced his upbringing. Hart's early beginnings in the film industry can be traced back to his feature film debut in Ernest Hemingway's Islands in the Stream (1977),where he portrayed the son of George C. Scott. This early role was followed by his breakout performance in the Academy Award-winning film Breaking Away (1979).
However, it was his iconic role as the obnoxiously sleazy Harry "Hans, Bubby" Ellis in Die Hard (1988),opposite Bruce Willis, that catapulted him to pop culture status. This memorable performance earned him the #2 spot on Maxim's "The Greatest Movie Sleazeballs Of All Time" list. Hart's extensive filmography also includes notable roles in Wayne Wang's Anywhere But Here (1999),opposite Susan Sarandon, Break Up (1998) with Bridget Fonda, the cult hit Apartment Zero (1988) opposite Colin Firth, George Cukor's Rich and Famous (1981),with Jacqueline Bisset, and John Schlesinger's The Innocent (1993),opposite Anthony Hopkins.
In addition to his film work, Bochner has made a significant impact on television. He starred in the Emmy award-winning epic miniseries War and Remembrance (1988),Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises (1984),John Steinbeck's East of Eden (1981),And the Sea Will Tell (1991),Children of the Dust (1995),and Haywire (1980). Hart's versatility as an actor has allowed him to take on a wide range of roles, showcasing his impressive range.
As his career progressed, Bochner began to transition behind the camera, making his directorial debut with the cult comedy PCU (1994),for Twentieth Century Fox, and High School High (1996) for Columbia Pictures. His latest directorial effort, Just Add Water (2008),for Sony Pictures, was written and starred Danny DeVito, Dylan Walsh, Jonah Hill, and Justin Long.
Bochner is set to star in the upcoming Campbell Scott film, Company Retreat (2009),as well as Spread (2009) opposite Ashton Kutcher. Most recently, he was seen starring as Debra Messing's love interest in the USA Network series The Starter Wife (2008).
