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Matthew Nile Ashford was born on January 29, in the town of Davenport,
Iowa. He is the third youngest [youngest boy] of eight kids. He
has four brothers and 3 sisters, and in descending order their
names are: Dave [6/4], Jeff [6/4], Phil [10/1], Teresa [4/16],
Randy [8/9], Matt [1/29], Susie [3/13], and Sally [9/16]. Growing
up in such a large family, Matt had to figure out at an early
age how to grab some attention! When he was 12 years old his sisters
drug him to auditions for a local play and it was there that he
was bitten by the acting bug. A year later the family moved to
Fairfax, VA where Matthew attended Hayfield High and continued
to involve himself in local theatre as well as school productions.
After graduation, Matthew attended the highly accredited North
Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. During the summer
months he and a friend worked as street performers in Myrtle Beach,
SC ? mime, magic, juggling, improv (and red rubber noses!). Eventually
he joined the Ragamuffin Magic & Mime Company where he earned
his first professional paycheck.
Soon after graduating from NC School of the Arts, in 1982, with
a B.F.A. in Theatre he followed his star to New York City, it
was full of opportunities and it was still only a train ride from
mom. Matthew was not in town long before he was put under contract
by ABC and cast as Drew Ralston on One Life to Live
(82-83). Sadly, Drew was killed in a flower shop on the eve of
his wedding. After his year on OLTL, Matt toured
with a troupe performing The Member of the Wedding
which soon led to his second soap, Search For Tomorrow.
Matt played Cagney McCleary, with 'brothers' John Forsythe and
Jeff Meek, from 1983 until the show was canceled in December of
1986. Matt quickly made the role of "Jack" his own and won several
awards for his portrayal of the popular Days of Our Live
character including Soap Opera Digest's Best
Villain in 1989, Best Super Couple (1991 and 1992)
and Best Wedding (1992) award with Melissa Reeves, as well
as the Best Comedic Performance award in 1993. Strangely,
the birth of Matthew and Christina's daughter Grace seemed to
coincide with the birth of Jack's television daughter, Abigail.
Little Grace was born on June 15, 1992. Matt left Days of
Our Lives within the following year, in September of 1993,
after six years as Jack Deveraux. He remains the only true "Jack"
in the hearts of many. Since that time Matthew has appeared on
the ABC soap General Hospital, as well as various other
movies, TV programs, and theatrical roles. During his time off
from the soaps, Matt took the opportunity to get involved with
live theatre again. He joined the prestigious Interact Theatre
Company, headed by former costar Marilyn McIntyre (ex-Jo DAYS).
He remains active in the troupe, despite his daytime schedule.
A daughter, Emma Cecily, born on 23 July 1997. Matthew has appeared
in various theater, TV, and movie productions upon leaving General
Hospital and has been active as with Retinoblastoma International.
Throughout these years Matthew appeared in movies, theatrical
productions and guest starred on numerous television shows. On
February 5th, 2001, to get great pleasure of many of his fans,
Matthew returned to his best and most popular role, Jack Deveraux
on NBC's Days of our Lives— something that his fans
had been waiting for for over seven years. Over two years later,
in October of 2003, Jack was killed off as part of the show's
big serial killer storyline. Nine months later, in June of 2004,
Matthew returned to the role as part of the show's big mystery
storyline. During the time away from DAYS Matthew
returned One Life to LiveDAYS, Stephen's hippie mother,
whose parenting of young Stevie seemed to set his muderous tendancies
in motion, was called Marlena; Marlena was DAYS'
Salem Stalker, Jack's murderer. Stephen was subsequently murdered
the day of his hearing; he orchestrated his own murder to implicate
his nemesis John McBain.
After Missy Reeves (Jennifer Deveraux) decided in 2006 to take
a break from acting. Matthew was given an new contract, but it
was revoked a few days later. The shows PTB felt that fans would
not accept Jack without Jennifer. However, there was a massive
outcry and fans stated that they wanted Matthew to remain on the
show, and for Jack to to in Salem. The fans were promised that
Matthew was on a recurring basis and would pop-up occasionally.
Matthew, and Jack, did just that for three days in April of 2007.
Though he has not returned since, it still is possible for more
appearances in the future. Meanwhile, Matthew continues to work
on various projects, and has appeared throughout California in
various plays and musicals. He has worked on, wrote, and acted
in two movies produced by NGM (Nick G. Miller) Entertainment,
the a mock documentary horror film Chronicles of an Exorcism
and the comedy The Unlikely's; these movies
are in the process of being marketed to distributors for theatrical
release, sometime in 2008.
New Information, winter 2011:
Matthew became part of the new websoap The Bay in
the role of producer as well as actor. He plays the character
Steve Jensen. There is much de ja vu since his character
since he will be working wirth his former DAYS castmates
Charles Shaughnessy and Mary Beth Evans; furthering the feeling
of de va vu, decades earlier, his character allegedly raped
Mary Beth's characters. Matthew has completed three movies. The
Unlikely's should be out sometime in Apri. Meanwhile,
Missy Reeves be returning to DAYS in November, on
contract, as Jennifer Horton Deveraux; though as of yet there
is no word when, or if, Matthew will be returning in his iconic
role of Jack Deveraux. As of now Jack is supposedly on a walkabout,
and ocassionally does blogs; Jennifer nearly died when her heart
was literally ripped out from her and then reattached, but Jack
has not been in contact with her.
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