Matthew James Caratozzolo
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Matteo Caratozzolo is a Long Island born actor and filmmaker whose career has spanned studio television, cult favorite films, and the scrappy heart of independent cinema. After training at the Lee Strasberg Institute in Manhattan, he moved to Los Angeles, where he quickly booked the role of Merl on Angel. Two seasons on the series led to appearances on NYPD Blue, and soon after he was cast as the Dude in Kevin Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
Between studio projects, Caratozzolo gravitated toward indie storytelling. He wrote and starred in the offbeat Los Angeles romance Nipples and Palm Trees, which later streamed on Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. His television work includes American Horror Story, American Crime, and Fear the Walking Dead.
A Parkinson’s diagnosis brought his acting career to an unexpected pause, but it also marked the beginning of a creative shift. Stepping away from the industry as Matthew James, he returned with a renewed artistic identity as Matteo Caratozzolo, a filmmaker committed to honesty, vulnerability, and lived experience.
He is now directing his first feature, Holiday Help, based on his original script, marking the next chapter in a career defined by resilience, reinvention, and a deep love of storytelling.
Between studio projects, Caratozzolo gravitated toward indie storytelling. He wrote and starred in the offbeat Los Angeles romance Nipples and Palm Trees, which later streamed on Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. His television work includes American Horror Story, American Crime, and Fear the Walking Dead.
A Parkinson’s diagnosis brought his acting career to an unexpected pause, but it also marked the beginning of a creative shift. Stepping away from the industry as Matthew James, he returned with a renewed artistic identity as Matteo Caratozzolo, a filmmaker committed to honesty, vulnerability, and lived experience.
He is now directing his first feature, Holiday Help, based on his original script, marking the next chapter in a career defined by resilience, reinvention, and a deep love of storytelling.
