Which actor played the lead role of Roy Waller in Matchstick Men?

Nicolas Cage played Roy Waller in Matchstick Men. Roy is a Los Angeles con artist whose carefully controlled routines begin to unravel when anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Tourette syndrome interfere with his work.

Directed by Ridley Scott, the 2003 black comedy crime film pairs Cage with Sam Rockwell, who plays Roy’s partner Frank Mercer, and Alison Lohman, who plays Angela. The story follows Roy as he becomes involved in an elaborate con while also confronting the possibility that he has a teenage daughter. Cage’s performance combines nervous physical habits, deadpan humor, and emotional vulnerability.

A common mix-up is choosing Sam Rockwell because Frank is Roy’s close partner and fellow con artist. Rockwell is important to the plot, but he does not play the lead character. Matchstick Men was adapted from Eric Garcia’s 2002 novel and premiered at the Venice International Film Festival before its American release in September 2003.