Matthew McConaughey, who first gained notoriety with his breakout role as David Wooderson in rollicking coming-of-age film Dazed and Confused, stars alongside good pal Woody Harrelson in a much darker role in HBO crime drama True Detective.

Fans saw his career blossom with key roles in such films as A Time to Kill, Contact, Edtv and We Are Marshall. He starred opposite Kate Hudson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and with Sarah Jessica Parker in Failure to Launch.

McConaughey seemed to transition from romantic comedies into lead roles in Mud and fan favorite Magic Mike — reaching new career heights with his portrayal of Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club.

To play Woodroof, McConaughey lost 47 pounds and submerged himself into the world of mid-80’s AIDs hysteria. His work film yielded a number of awards for the Texas native — including the Golden Globe drama award for Best Actor Drama and an Oscar for Best Actor.