Matt McHugh was born Mathew O. McHugh on January 22, 1894, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, to a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. As a young child, he joined his parents, brother Frank, and sister Kitty on stage, learning to perform as soon as he could talk. At the tender age of fourteen, Matt shared the spotlight with his sister Kitty, but by 1930, the family had bid farewell to show business.
However, Matt had already made his Broadway debut in 1929 as Vincent Jones in Elmer Rice's Street Scenes, and in 1931, he took his talents to Hollywood, reprising his stage role. He appeared alongside Edward Brophy in Tod Browning's Freaks (1932),and continued to secure notable film assignments, including the role of Francesco, the Italian bridegroom, in Laurel and Hardy's Fra Diavolo (The Devil's Brother) in 1933.
Matt bore a striking resemblance to his more famous brother, Frank, who had signed a contract with the Warner Brothers Stock Company in 1930. Frank's portrayal of wise-cracking sidekicks with a sly wit and charming laugh made him a beloved character actor, and he remained popular well into the 1950s. In contrast, Matt projected an abrasive, sardonic screen image, often adopting a Brooklyn accent and playing rough-edged characters like cab drivers, bartenders, and mechanics. For instance, in the 1941 film Star Spangled Banner, his one scene is an extended monologue during the climactic "Old Glory" sequence, where he embodies the spirit of Brooklyn.
Throughout his career, Matt appeared in over 200 films between 1931 and 1955, mostly in small cameo roles. However, his best opportunities came in the 1940s, when he landed supporting roles in numerous two-reel short comedies starring Andy Clyde, Hugh Herbert, Walter Catlett, The Three Stooges, and many others. He often played a lazy or caustic brother-in-law, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
Matt McHugh's life came to a sudden end on February 22, 1971, when he passed away from a heart attack in Northridge, California.
