matthew ashford homepage articles

CBS Soaps in Depth
[January 1, 2011]
A man for all
Seasons
Like his DAYS OF OUR LIVES' character Jack Deveraux, Matthew Ashfrd is a driven man. In fact, not even a severe cae of laryngitis was going to keep him from chanting with Soaps In Depth about Matt's Musing Month By Month, the wall calendear of pen and in cartoons that he's produced to raise funds for Retinoblastoma International, the charity that he founded following his younger daughter Emma's diagnosis. "I was traveling with my family before my [older], Grace took off for college," he recalls of the project's genesis. "The girls always asked, 'What were you like when you were our age?' So I started drawing pictures of funny things that happened to me growing up in Iowawith seven brothers and sisters."

Having already seen great strides in research, treatment and awareness of the rare infant eye cancer, Asford is determined that it continue. "I cant help but realize that Emma [now 13] has already played a part that will be so big one day," he shares. "This is why I amtrying to do whatever I can to help this effort go on. What will be next?"

Back In Action
What's  next for Ashford is a slew of new projects. In addition to producing the new Web series THE BAY, he's also clast as Steve, who once raped Sara, played by Mary Beth Evans, who played Jacks rape victim, Kayla, on DAYS. "I have mostly been working with Charlie Shaughnessy (ex-Shane), which is great fun," he confides. "I've also had a chance to be around Mary Beth quite a bit, which has been good as wepick up on each other's choices."

This March he'll share the screen with William Forsthe and another DAYS' alum Alexis Thrope (ex-Cassie), in The Unlikelys. "I play four different characters running from their past and ending up in a small town in North Carolina who find themselves in a ery unlikely situation," he previews. He'll also star in a romantic comedy Catch of A Lifetime and as a private eye in the music-themed mystery Fuzz Track City. With those projects already completed, Ashford is free tofollow Melissa Reeves (Jennifer) back to Salem. "I have no idea when I'll be back.  I hope that there is some story for me," he enthuses. "Jack could bring a lot to many different stories. We'll see."

___________________

[ home ]  [ articles index ]