If you were watching television in the 1990s or the early 2000s, you definitely know Matt Roth. You might not know his name immediately, but you know that face. He has this incredible ability to play the guy next door who might actually be a total nightmare, or the goofy friend who’s secretly the most reliable person in the room.
Honestly, the range is wild.
Matt Roth isn’t just "that guy from that show." He’s a veteran with decades of credits across some of the biggest hits in TV history. From the working-class drama of Lanford to the pristine, suburban secrets of Wisteria Lane, Matt Roth movies and tv shows have covered just about every corner of the American psyche.
The Roseanne Connection: Where Most People First Saw Him
Let's talk about Roseanne. This was the big one. In 1992, Roth stepped into the role of Fisher, the younger boyfriend of Jackie Harris (played by the legendary Laurie Metcalf).
At first, Fisher seemed like a breath of fresh air. He was cute, he was sweet, and he seemed to really like Jackie. But things took a dark turn. The show tackled domestic violence in a way that was pretty rare for a sitcom at the time. When Dan Conner found out Fisher had been physically abusive toward Jackie, the fallout was one of the most memorable moments in the series.
It was intense.
Interestingly, the chemistry between Roth and Metcalf wasn’t just acting. They actually fell in love in real life. They got married in 2005 and stayed together for years before eventually divorcing in 2014. They even worked together on other projects, like the 1994 thriller Blink and later on Desperate Housewives.
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Desperate Housewives and the Art Shepherd Mystery
Speaking of Desperate Housewives, Roth’s turn as Art Shepherd is probably his most chilling performance. He arrived in Season 3 as a quiet, soft-spoken man who moved to Wisteria Lane to care for his ailing sister.
For a while, you really liked him. He even saved Lynette Scavo’s life during the infamous grocery store shooting. But then, the show threw a massive curveball.
Lynette found a room in his basement filled with toys and pictures of children. The neighborhood turned on him, led by a panicked Lynette. The beauty of Roth’s performance here was the ambiguity. Even when he left the street, hurling a final, bitter remark at Lynette, the show never explicitly "proved" he was a predator—they let the audience sit with the discomfort.
That’s a tough needle to thread. Roth did it perfectly.
A Massive List of Guest Spots You Forgot About
If you look at the sheer volume of Matt Roth movies and tv shows, it’s actually kind of exhausting. The man has been in everything.
- Grey’s Anatomy: He popped up in Season 2 as Michael Beglight.
- Modern Family: He played Skip Woosnum in two episodes, "Tableau Vivant" and "Commencement."
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: He was Sam Cooper in the episode "Fallen Idols."
- Two and a Half Men: He played Greg in a 2007 episode.
- Frasier: He showed up as Ted in "The Dog That Rocks the Cradle."
It’s not just the big-name procedurals, either. He had main cast roles in short-lived but interesting series like The Antagonists (1991) and Crisis Center (1997). He even spent some time in the 90s soap world with a stint on Melrose Place as Paul Brubecker.
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Basically, if a show was popular between 1990 and 2015, there’s a 40% chance Matt Roth was in the guest cast.
The Film Side: Movies You Might Have Missed
While he’s definitely more of a TV fixture, his film work shouldn't be ignored.
In 'Til There Was You (1997), he played Todd. It was one of those late-90s romantic dramas that had a surprisingly deep cast, including Sarah Jessica Parker and Dylan McDermott. He also appeared in Chicago Cab (1997), which is a gritty, underrated look at life in the Windy City.
Then there’s View from the Top (2003). It’s a goofy flight attendant comedy starring Gwyneth Paltrow. Roth played Greg. It wasn't a massive hit, but it’s one of those "Sunday afternoon on cable" movies that people always find themselves watching.
Why He Disappeared (Sorta)
People often ask what happened to him after 2014. His last major batch of credits included Castle, Perception, and Stalker.
The truth? He seems to have pivoted more toward his personal life and potentially theater or directing. According to records from the Geffen Playhouse, he’s been involved in theater in both Chicago and Los Angeles. He directed productions like Big Baby and Teen Girl in LA.
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It’s a classic move for "actors' actors." They get the TV money, they build a solid resume, and then they go back to the stage where they can really dig into the craft without the pressure of Nielsen ratings.
The Matt Roth Legacy
When you look back at Matt Roth movies and tv shows, you see a career built on being the ultimate utility player. He could be the villain, the victim, the comic relief, or the husband.
He didn't need to be a superstar to be essential.
If you’re looking to revisit his work, start with the "Fisher" arc on Roseanne. It’s still some of the most grounded, difficult acting ever put on a 90s sitcom. From there, jump to the Art Shepherd episodes of Desperate Housewives to see how he handles a much more subtle, psychological brand of tension.
Actionable Ways to Catch Up
- Stream Roseanne: Look for Season 5, episodes like "Crime and Punishment" and "War and Peace."
- Binge Desperate Housewives: His arc starts in Season 3, Episode 7 ("Bang").
- Find the Indie Gems: Look for Chicago Cab if you want to see his roots in the Chicago acting scene.
He might not be on every billboard in 2026, but his body of work is a masterclass in how to stay relevant in Hollywood for over twenty-five years without ever becoming a tabloid fixture. That's the real dream for most actors.