My Surprising Family Connection to Actor Matt Bomer – Genealogy, Famous Relatives, and a Hollywood Twist

My mind works in unusual ways. I can meet someone and forget their name seconds later or drive down the same street for years without learning its name. Yet there are two things I never forget: the car someone drives and any surname I’ve added to my family tree — even if it’s been years.

Actor Matt Bomer happens to fall into the second category. Although I have no idea what he drives, his surname stuck with me immediately — and that led to a surprising genealogical discovery.

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A Strange Talent for Remembering Surnames

For some reason, I’ve always been able to remember the surnames I’ve entered into my genealogy research. My family tree currently includes over 23,000 individuals, branching far beyond my direct ancestors to include aunts, uncles, cousins, and spouses.

It’s an odd but useful “superpower” that has helped me build out my ancestry records and uncover distant celebrity relatives. This is exactly what happened with Matt Bomer.

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A Social Media Encounter with “Matt Bomer”

A few weeks ago, I received a connection request on BlueSky from someone claiming to be Matt Bomer. I instantly recognized the name from my family tree. After checking, I realized I had already added Matt Bomer and his family — husband, children, siblings, parents — to my records.

The profile turned out to be a fake account, but it pushed me to finally dig deeper into who Matt Bomer is and why I remembered his name so well.

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Who Is Matt Bomer?

If you’re not familiar, Matt Bomer (born October 11, 1977, in Webster Groves, Missouri) is an award-winning actor known for roles in:

• White Collar (USA Network) – as Neal Caffrey

• Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL (with Joe Manganiello)

• Fellow Travelers

• Will & Grace

• The Normal Heart

• Mid-Century Modern (Hulu/Disney+)

He’s received multiple awards, including a People’s Choice Award in 2015, and as of 2025 has earned 14 wins and 29 nominations for his performances.

Bomer is married to Simon Halls, a publicist and actor, and they have three children: Kit, Henry, and Walker Halls. He’s also a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, earning a 2012 Inspiration Award from GLSEN.

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My Family Connection to Matt Bomer

According to my ancestry research, Matt Bomer is my 26th paternal cousin, 3 times removed. We share royal ancestry through King John I of England (Plantagenet) and Isabella of Angoulême, Queen Consort.

This isn’t unusual for my genealogy work — I often discover distant connections to famous people. In fact, Matt Bomer may be as close as my 10th cousin, given how many overlapping family lines we share in the 19th and 20th centuries.

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Matt Bomer’s Early Life and Career

Bomer grew up in Spring, Texas, a small town north of Houston. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University with a BFA in drama, he began his acting career with stage roles at the Alley Theatre in Houston and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

He made his TV debut on All My Children in 2000, followed by a contract role on Guiding Light. From there, he moved to prime-time shows like Tru Calling and Chuck before landing his breakout role as Neal Caffrey in White Collar.

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Matt Bomer’s Recent Work

Most recently, Matt Bomer starred in Mid-Century Modern (Hulu/Disney+), a witty ensemble comedy co-starring Nathan Lane, Nathan Lee Graham, and the late Linda Lavin. The show debuted in 2025 and has already been renewed for a second season. Update: unfortunately Mid-Century Modern has recently been cancelled. I have been unable to find a reason for the cancellation, but given the current state of affairs in the US against the LGBTQ+ and others marginalized citizens, this may be the unspoken cause for the abrupt cancellation of an otherwise highly rated show. 

Bomer’s performances in Fellow Travelers, The Normal Heart, and his stage work have cemented him as one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors.

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Famous Ancestors Shared with Matt Bomer

Like many of my distant celebrity relatives, Matt Bomer has an impressive lineage. Through my family history research, I’ve found that we share ancestry with:

• William the Conqueror

• Charlemagne

• Queen Elizabeth I

• Marilyn Monroe

• Clint Eastwood

• Humphrey Bogart

• Abigail Folger (of the Folgers Coffee family)

• Benedict Arnold

• President Thomas Jefferson

• Princess Diana, Prince William, and Prince Harry

• Steve McQueen 

• Jane & Peter Fonda

And many more. Clearly, acting runs in Matt Bomer’s bloodline, with legendary performers like Bette Davis, Jane Fonda, and Meryl Streep appearing in his extended family tree.

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What Makes Matt Bomer Special

Through watching interviews and researching his genealogy, I’ve learned how much Matt Bomer values authenticity and hard work. His career is a testament to following your dreams and staying true to yourself — something that resonates deeply with me as a genealogist and storyteller.

From stage to screen, Bomer transforms into each character he plays — a hallmark of great acting. His story is as inspiring as the ancestry that connects us.

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Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a fan of Matt Bomer’s work on White Collar, Fellow Travelers, or Mid-Century Modern, or you’re simply interested in celebrity genealogy, his story is worth exploring. For me, uncovering this connection has been another reminder that family history is full of surprises — and sometimes, it leads straight to Hollywood.