Matthew James Elam is an American stage, film, and television actor originally from Southern California. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from DePaul University's Theatre School in Chicago, class of 2018, where he appeared in productions such as Native Son, Wig Out!, Lord of the Flies, and Romeo and Juliet.

Elam began building his screen résumé with an appearance on Chicago P.D. in 2018, followed by a lead role in the digital short Good Genes in 2019. That same year, he earned critical praise onstage in Dominique Morisseau's play Pipeline at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theatre. This performance showcased his ability to portray complex and rebellious youth.