
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.
Known For

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Eastern Battlefield

Red Sorghum is a Chinese television series based on Nobel laureate Mo Yan's 1986/1987 eponymous novel. Directed by Zheng Xiaolong, it also features the highly-anticipated return of actress Zhou Xun to television after 10 years.
Red Sorghum

Set in 1928, it tells the story of Wei Ruolai and his determination to courageously pursue his strong aspirations in serving his country. He regarded Shen Tunan, a senior adviser, as his mentor when he was a low-level employee at a financial institution. Through the excellence of his memory and data analysis ability, Wei Ruolai has been favored by Shen Tunan. However, his line of work made him witness the blatant corruption and darkness in the financial field unleashed by the Kuomintang with his own eyes.
War of Faith

After Mao Zedong's death in 1976, Deng Xiaoping returns to power amid political turmoil. Facing divisions within the Communist Party, he leads crucial economic and defense reforms, steering China toward a hopeful future and laying the foundation for the country's revival.
Deng Xiaoping at History's Crossroads

Getting inside the head of a violent criminal is not easy. But Simon Bo, a brilliant criminal psychologist, has the ability to get into the minds of even the most mysterious and violent criminals. He’s a professor at The University of Maryland and works as an analyst and advisor on the police department’s most violent or difficult cases. With the help of his young assistant, Jenny Jian, Simon delves into the thoughts and intentions of the criminal mind. As the daughter of a veteran police investigator with a deep sense of justice, can Jenny help Simon open up emotionally as they work together to solve crimes?
Love Me If You Dare

In the autumn of 1950, Captain Wu Qianli of a certain army's Seventh Reconnaissance Company returned home. He wanted to guide his unruly younger brother, Wu Wanli, onto the right path. They both joined the army and headed to the battlefield of the Korean War, where they met experienced veterans.
Winter and Lion

A dark comedy anthology series exploring life’s most difficult dilemmas, all filtered through the lens of one jaded man in his garage.
Bill Burr Presents Immoral Compass

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.
Asura

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
Son of the South

In 1920s Shanghai, a group of brave young individuals band together to carry out a dangerous mission, and amid political turmoil, they grow through sacrifice and resilience.
Burning Stars

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.
Clash

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.
Bond of Justice: Kizuna Part II - Judgement

A warrior fleeing the violence of his past must take up the sword and risk everything to face a god of incalculable power.
Vikingdom

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.
Haunted Trail

No description available.
Red Star Over China

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.
Love and Four Walls

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.
Poppies

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?
Return of the Poker King 2

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.