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.

In 2020, Elam was cast as Lemuel Cannon, the eldest son of Chris Rock's character in Season 4 of FX's anthology series Fargo. His portrayal of a young man torn between familial loyalty and personal aspiration caught his attention for its nuanced depth. He expanded his television presence in 2022 by joining the cast of AMC's 61st Street and made his feature-film debut as Ray Ray in HBO Max's The Many Saints of Newark.

Elam is also a series regular of the Marvel Studios' Disney+ TV series Ironheart (2025).