Thanking God and his family, sounding like a Southern revival preacher, and charming the world with a unique Texas accent, Matthew McConaughey rode his horse all the way to a Best Actor Oscar win for his role in the acclaimed Dallas Buyer's Club.

"Gratitude is reciprocated," said McConaughey, all while thanking his mother for teaching him and his brothers how to respect themselves, and paying tribute to his deceased father, who McConaughey claimed was up in Heaven, drinking beer and eating gumbo while celebrating his win. 

McConaughey first gained notice for his breakout role in the coming of age comedy Dazed and Confused (1993), and went on to appear in films such as the slasher Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994), the legal thriller A Time to Kill (1996), Steven Spielberg's historical drama Amistad (1997), the science fiction drama Contact (1997), the comedy EDtv (1999) and the war film U-571 (2000).

In the 2000s, he became best known for starring in romantic comedies, including The Wedding Planner (2001), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Failure to Launch (2006) and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009). 

In 2010, he has moved away from romantic comedies and has had critically acclaimed roles in the films The Lincoln Lawyer (2011), Bernie (2011), Killer Joe (2011), Mud (2012), Magic Mike (2012) and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). He also currently stars in the 2014 HBO crime anthology series True Detective.

In this award winning role in Dallas Buyer's Club, McConaughey played Ron Woodroof. In 1985 Dallas, Ron Woodroof -- a homophobic electrician and rodeo cowboy -- is diagnosed with AIDS and given 30 days to live. He initially refuses to accept the diagnosis, but remembers having unprotected sex with an intravenous drug-using prostitute. Ron quickly finds himself ostracized by family and friends, gets fired from his job, and is eventually evicted from his home. 

McConaughey beat out Christian Bale (American Hustle), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave), Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street), and Bruce Dern (Nebraska).

Congratulations to Matthew! You've come a long way from the stoner films!