Forget Jason Bourne, Matt Damon’s Forgotten Sitcom Role Is One of His Best

Matt Damon’s most iconic role debuted the same year as one of his most surprising. By 2002, he was already an established actor with a filmography that included Good Will Hunting, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Ocean’s Eleven. But it was his turn as the titular Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity, a character he’d still be playing decades later, that cemented his status as a Hollywood action star.

Aside from some cult favorite Kevin Smith films, Damon had been viewed through a predominantly dramatic lens. So it was to the shock and delight of fans when, just a few months prior, he made his sitcom debut as a rival of Jack McFarland (Sean Hayes) in Will & Grace. His appearance not only painted him in a different light, showing off his ability to use broad humor, but it also flipped the script on the typical narrative of being outed. But this has actually become a regular occurrence for the Oscar winner, peppering cameos and unexpected guest spots throughout his career.

Matt Damon’s ‘Will & Grace’ Episode Flipped the Script on Being Outed

Will & Grace brought the queer experience into the mainstream, following two gay men and their straight female friends in New York City. It premiered on NBC in 1998 and ran for eight seasons in its initial run, returning with an additional three seasons in 2017. Damon appears in the Season 4 episode, “A Chorus Lie,” a pun referencing the beloved musical A Chorus Line. He plays Owen, a straight man pretending to be gay to secure a spot in the Manhattan Gay Men’s Chorus, which includes an all-expense paid trip to perform in Europe. He even concocts an elaborate backstory of a long-term boyfriend named Ben, perhaps a reference to his well-known friendship with Ben Affleck. Jack is vying for the same spot when he clocks Owen checking out a woman and soon enlists Grace (Debra Messing) to “in” his actual sexual orientation. High jinks ensue thanks to Owen’s attempt at false flamboyancy, Jack’s failed efforts at espionage, and Grace’s over-the-top flirting.

The sitcom flips the typical narrative of being outed on its head. During their final audition, Jack reveals Owen’s sexuality in an outburst that’s met with gasps. But his confession appeals to the closeted queer experience of being excluded from some spaces. “There’s no room for a straight man in that world. You don’t know how hard it is for me to fit in,” Damon explains. “The looks, the murmurs behind my back. I mean, I know what they’re saying. ‘Ooh, he likes girls.’ So I tried to pass as gay. It was wrong, I’m sorry. All I wanted was to sing and be accepted and maybe dance a little, too.”

But in this role reversal, the Manhattan Gay Men’s Chorus proves they are tolerant and instead admonish Jack. “We here at the Chorus have a policy of tolerance. We used to have a policy of openness but that got too many giggles,” the Chorus director explained before awarding Owen with the coveted spot. The episode ranks among the top five in the series’ initial run, scoring an 8.7 rating on IMDb. While Damon is still best known for his dramas and action films, he did go on to guest star in other sitcoms like 30 Rock and star in broader comedy films like Stuck on You.

Matt Damon Peppers Surprise Appearances Throughout His Career

His Will & Grace stunt casting might be the best use of a surprise Damon appearance, but it has certainly become commonplace throughout his career. Damon even recently made headlines for his walk-on cameo alongside David Letterman in The Gilded Age. His film cameos are among his most well known, such as his flippant performance of “Scotty Doesn’t Know” in EuroTrip, his dramatic portrayal of Actor Loki in Thor: Ragnarok, donning facial prosthetics as Redneck #2 in Deadpool 2, voicing Bill the Krill in Happy Feet Two, and his villainous turn in Interstellar.

Many of these stunt castings are seemingly to establish or maintain relationships with directors, but Damon’s Will & Grace role resulted from a friendly conversation with Hayes, with whom he used to play softball. “We were just playing and I was like, 'Did you want to do the show?' And he was like, 'Yeah, why not?’” Hayes explained to PeopleTV’s Couch Surfing, according to Entertainment Weekly. “Literally it was that easy. He was like, 'Yeah, I'll come on the show.’" He added the story subversion was a “smart twist.”

Damon continues to be lauded, frequently appearing in Oscar-nominated films like The Martian, Ford vs. Ferrari, Oppenheimer, and very likely again for The Odyssey. Still, he doesn’t shy away from a kooky cameo or poignant portrayal of a smaller character. Not only have these roles often showcased a willingness to poke fun at himself, but they have certainly endeared the Oscar winner to a wider audience. “A Chorus Lie” can be streamed on Hulu.