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Matthew McConaugheyhas plenty of impressive acting roles under his belt, but one role that he always knew he was destined for was being a dad.
“The only thing I ever knew I wanted to be was a father,” theDallas Buyers Clubstar told PEOPLE in October 2020. “And it’s remained the pinnacle for me. Beinga dad was always my only dream… I can’t think of anything being more important.”
He shares three kids with his wifeCamila Alves McConaughey, whom he’s beenmarried tosince 2012:Levi, 16, Vida, 15, and Livingston, 12.
Over the years, the McConaugheys have given a window into their parenting styles andhow they are raising their children. In June 2020, the couple spoke about parenthood during an interview withTown & Country, and Matthew revealed that he is “more consistently the yes guy” of the two of them.
“Sometimes loving your kids means giving them just what they want. Other times, it means tough love,” he told the outlet. “Affluent people can give their kids everything they want, but they’re not usually going to get what they need. Loving a child is a lot harder if you really give a damn.”
While talking to PEOPLE in April 2024, Matthew said that being a dad has “made me a better actor.”
“Having children I know has made me a better artist and has made me a better actor, because kids see things for the first time all the time. Their questions are innocent,” he said citing his time on the HBO showTrue Detective.
Matthew continued, “I cannot tell them what the show’s really about, it’s not age-appropriate. So I have to go into a parable for them. … I had to become a better storyteller to tell my kids about a good guy, a bad guy and a monster.”
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While reflecting on his career and what he hopes to leave behind with PEOPLE in February 2019, Matthew called his sons and daughter his “living legacy.”
“I’ve got a large hand in shepherding my three children up until they’re 18 and out of the house,” he said. “Yeah, see if I hold on to my words in a few years. That’s the thing I think I do most honorably is having three autonomous, conscientious, confident children.”
Here’s everything to know about Matthew McConaughey’s kids: Levi, Vida and Livingston.
Levi Alves McConaughey, 16
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Matthew and Camila’s eldest child, sonLevi Alves McConaughey, was born on July 7, 2008.
During an appearance onGood Morning Americain 2009, several months after Levi was born, Matthew opened up about sharing a bond with his son.
“[Over the] last two-and-a-half months, he’s really started to take a liking to myself,” he said. “He and I have our own jokes that he and his mother don’t have.”
Since he was little, Levi has hada passion for music, as his proud dad shared during an October 2020 interview with PEOPLE.
“Basically he came out of the womb knowing a minor from major key on the piano,” Matthew said. “In the last six months, he really got into listening to composers, and he now can listen to a movie and tell you, ‘Oh, that’s Hans Zimmer,’ or ‘That’s John Williams,’ which is really cool.”
Levi is also into surfing, something he and his dad have in common andhave been doing togetherfor years.
In March 2023, Matthew posted a photo on Instagram of his son showing off his “surfing souvenirs.” In the photo, Levi’s back is covered in bandages and bruises from surfing as he stands next to his surfboard.
On top of sharing similar interests, the father-son duo share an uncanny resemblance to each other. On March 6, 2023, Levi made arare public appearancewith his mom and sister Vida at the Stella McCartney show at Paris Fashion Week, and fans remarked that the teen was the spitting image of his famous father.
Levi turned 15 in July 2023 — and one of his gifts from mom and dad waspermission to join social media.
McConaughey told PEOPLE two months later that after “talking about the pitfalls and the upfalls and the downfalls” of social media, “we felt he’s got enough informationand is mature enough to tell his own story.”
“He’s a very considerate and cool young man,” the actor said of his son. “I hope that the world out there can reciprocate and treat him the same as he treats them.”
One of Levi’s first posts on Instagram was about his timeworking at Refettorio Paris— a restaurant that serves meals to the homeless.
“A few trips back I got the chance to cook at @refettorioparis for some people that don’t normally get to have a really nice meal,” he captioned a carousel of images. “Refettorio Paris serves first class meals to the homeless. They made a great restaurant with high-end chefs to cook - using produce that was going to be thrown away.”
Vida Alves McConaughey, 15
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The couple welcomed their second child, daughter Vida Alves McConaughey, on Jan. 3, 2010.
Matthew sharedthe first photo of Vidathree weeks later on his website.
“Here’s a pic of our latest family member Vida Alves McConaughey,” he wrote alongside a picture of him and Camila holding the newborn in the hospital. “Thanks for all your well wishes our way, the future’s lookin bright, just keep livin, Matthew and Camila.”
In December 2020, when Vida was 10 years old, she brieflyjoined her fatherfor an episode of Amy Jo Martin’sWhy Not Now?podcast, and offered him some constructive criticism.
“What’s one lesson you find yourself learning over and over?” Martin asked the actor, to which he called over to his daughter to help him with the answer.
Sitting on her dad’s lap, Vida said: “Trusting, I guess, when you correct us. A lot of times you’ll correct us [Vida and her two siblings] and then you’ll come back and you explain why you corrected us, but usually, we’re just like … "
“‘We got it the first time,’ " Matthew finished for her with a laugh, to which Vida agreed.
Matthew discussed his daughter’s adorable cameo in the movie during an appearance onThe Tonight Show.
“Your daughter got to do a little part in this film,” hostJimmy Fallonsaid, to which Matthew replied, “She did!”
He went on to explain, “Vida got a couple of lines inSing 2. She plays a piglet who is scuba diving in chocolate, saying, ‘This is the best day of my life.’ "
In addition to acting, Vida enjoys expressing her creativity through art, with her father telling PEOPLE in October 2020, “Vidareally likes to paintand draw and loves graphic novels.”
On Jan. 23, 2023, Camila shared a photo from Vida’s13th birthday partyduring a vacation the family took earlier that month. In the photo, a teenage Vida is about to blow out the candles on her cake as “Uncle"Woody Harrelsonstands behind her with a quizzical look on his face. “Uncle @woodyharrelson is questioning if the cake is vegan or not!!! 🫣😂,” Camila wrote in the caption. “How does this go people! Time flies… 13! You are my ray of sunshine Vida!!! Your name explains everything about you ‘life.’ "
Livingston Alves McConaughey, 12
Camila Alvez McConaughey Instagram
Livingston Alves McConaughey, the pair’s youngest child, was born on Dec. 28, 2012.
In the YouTube series Mom2Mom, Camila got candid about the ups and downs of parenthood, admitting that her third child was initially more of a handful than her first two kids.
“It was different with all my kids. My two oldest were so good. And my third came along and he was a nightmare from day one,” she said in the video. “He was really, really attached to me. He would just throw fits and cry. He would not get out of that stage until he was like 4.”
She added: “I was like, ‘This was so hard. [Livingston]’s such a troublemaker.’ Now that he’s in a sweet stage, he came out of the dark side.”
Since growing out of his mischievous phase, the now-12-year-old has developed his own creative interests. During an October 2020 interview with PEOPLE, Matthew shared that Livingston and his siblings have become “pretty good storytellers,” adding that Livingston enjoys writing stories: “Our youngest one will come fill us in: ‘Oh, I’m on chapter two.’ "
For his10th birthday, Livingston’s only request was a trip to Altitude Trampoline Park in Austin and an ice cream cake, as his mom shared on Instagram. “May your heart my son keep it’s simplicity as you grow in this complicated world!! You challenge me and teach me daily for that I am grateful! What a blessing you are!” Camila wrote alongside a sweet photo of Livingston blowing out his birthday candles.
The following month, Matthew had some father-son bonding time with Levi and Livingston, sharing photos of himselfgiving his youngest a haircuton Instagram as Levi and their dog watched.
source: people.com
