Matthew Coote has appeared in a number of short films, stage plays, TVCs and workplace training videos. Coote trained at the Victorian College of Arts (VCA). He has completed a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University and postgraduate studies at the University of Melbourne. Coote lives in the southern suburbs of Melbourne, having previously lived on Mornington Peninsula as well as Brisbane in Queensland. Coote has previously worked as an employment consultant and supervisor in Frankston, in the outer southeast of Melbourne. He has also worked as a retail salesperson, university project officer, factory worker, newspaper reporter, freelance writer, university researcher and tutor. Coote is also a former football umpire with the Victorian Football League (VFL).