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Matthew Ashford

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(Redirected from Matthew N. Ashford)
Not to be confused with Matthew Ashforde.
Matthew Ashford
Ashford in 2007
Born
Matthew Nile Ashford

(1960-01-29) January 29, 1960 (age 64)
Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
EducationUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
Years active1982–present
Spouses
Christina Saffran
​
​
(m. 1987; div. 2012)​
Lana Buss
​
(m. 2016)​
Children4

Matthew Nile Ashford (born January 29, 1960)[1] is an American actor and producer. He is known for playing the role of Jack Deveraux on the NBC Daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives (1987 to present). In 2012, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on Days of Our Lives. He has also won five Soap Opera Digest Awards. He starred as Steve Jensen on the web series The Bay (2010 to 2023). He was also a producer on the series, which has won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2017, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for his work on The Bay. Ashford has also produced several films.

Early life

[edit]

Ashford was born in Davenport, Iowa.[1] He is the sixth of eight children, with three sisters and four brothers. He is of Irish descent. His sisters got him involved in acting when they joined junior theater classes and workshops, eventually bringing him along.[2] His family moved from Iowa to Fairfax, Virginia when he was thirteen years old. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. During his college years, Ashford performed with the Ragamuffin Magic and Mime Company in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.[3]

Career

[edit]

After graduating from college, Ashford moved to New York City. In 1982, he was cast as Drew Ralston on One Life to Live. He stayed on the show until 1983, when the character of Drew was killed off.[2][4]

Ashford was cast on The Hamptons, a 1983 summer replacement series, but he had to turn down the job because he was still under contract with One Life to Live.[2] He joined a touring company production of The Member of the Wedding, co-starring with Esther Rolle.[3] In 1984, Ashford was cast as Cagney McCleary on Search for Tomorrow. He played the role until the show's cancellation in December 1986.[1][5]

In 1987, Ashford joined the cast of the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, playing Jack Deveraux. The part had previously been played by James Acheson. The character of Jack was initially written as a villain and raped Kayla Brady. After Ashford began playing the role, the character was redeemed. He was paired romantically with Jennifer Horton (Melissa Reeves).[6] In 1989, Ashford won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Villain.[7] In 1991, he and Melissa Reeves won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Super Couple: Daytime.[8] In 1992, they won Soap Opera Digest Awards for Best Love Story and Best Wedding.[9]

Ashford played Jack Deveraux in the Days of Our Lives television film One Stormy Night (1992).[10] He guest starred on Quantum Leap.[1] He played Jack Deveraux in another Days of Our Lives television film, Night Sins (1993).[11] Ashford won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Comic Performance.[12] In September 1993, he left Days of Our Lives when the producers decided not to renew his contract.[13][14] The role was recast with Mark Valley in 1994 and Steve Wilder in 1997.[6]

Ashford was cast as Tom Hardy on General Hospital, first airing on February 17, 1995. The part had previously been played by David Wallace. Ashford won the role without an audition.[15] He appeared in the science fiction film Species (1995).[16] He guest starred on Burke's Law.[1] He left General Hospital in 1997 and guest starred on Pacific Blue.[1] Ashford played Whitey in the romantic comedy film Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (1998).[17][18] He guest starred on Charmed and Providence.[19] He played Ron in the action film Paper Bullets (1999).[1]

In December 2000, it was announced that Ashford would be returning to Days of Our Lives as Jack Deveraux. His first airdate was February 6, 2001.[6][20][21] He also guest starred on Dharma & Greg in 2001.[19] He stayed on Days of Our Lives until October 2003, when Jack was murdered by a serial killer called The Salem Stalker.[6][22] In 2003, Ashford guest starred as himself on Friends.[19]

Ashford returned to One Life to Live on a recurring basis as a new character, Stephen Haver. His first airdate was December 10, 2003.[4] Stephen, a college professor, was discovered to be a serial murderer known as the Music Box Killer. Ashford left the show when the character was killed off in February 2004.[23] In 2004, Ashford returned to Days of Our Lives when it was revealed that The Salem Stalker's victims, including Jack, were alive and being held captive on a tropical island. Ashford left the show again on September 21, 2006.[6][24]

Ashford returned to Days of Our Lives for a short time in April 2007.[25] In May 2007, Ashford played Mike in a production of No Strings at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. He co-starred with Scott Bakula.[26] He played Father Michael in the horror film Chronicles of an Exorcism (2008). He was also one of the film's producers.[27]

In 2010, he guest starred on 90210.[28] He began playing the recurring role of Steve Jensen on the web series The Bay, co-starring with his former Days of Our Lives castmate Mary Beth Evans.[29] Ashford is also a producer on the series, which has won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards.[30] From February to June 2010, he played Bill Austin in the North American tour of Mamma Mia!.[31][32] The final performances were cut short due to security concerns with the G20 Summit in Toronto, which was held nearby.[33][34] He appeared in the science fiction short film The Historian Paradox (2011).[35]

Ashford returned to Days of Our Lives, first airing September 23, 2011.[36] He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Days.[37] In April 2012, it was announced that he had been dismissed from his role on Days, along with three other actors.[38] His last airdate was August 15, 2012. The character of Jack died when an elevator crashed with him inside.[6]

In September 2012, Ashford played Franklin Hart Jr. in the musical 9 to 5 at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine. He co-starred with Sally Struthers.[28] He appeared on the web series Outside the Box.[39] He played Chris Valentine in the film Fuzz Track City (2012).[40] Ashford starred as Coach Loren DeJong in Winning Favor (2012), a film based on the true story of a group of friends in Iowa who became basketball players.[41][42][43] He appeared in the television film The Good Mother (2013).[44] Ashford and his former Days co-star Deidre Hall guest starred on the web series Dating in the Middle Ages.[45]

In November 2015, it was announced that he would return to Days of Our Lives as the ghost of Jack, airing in a 2016 episode.[46] He made another return as a ghost in December 2017.[47] In 2017, Ashford was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for his work on The Bay.[48] He played Valentine in the action film The Fuzz.[49]

In November 2018, it was announced that Ashford would be returning to Days of Our Lives as a regular cast member. Jack returned from the dead in the New Year's Eve episode.[50][51] In 2020, Ashford guest starred on NCIS.[52]

Personal life

[edit]

Ashford met singer-actress Christina Saffran in 1985, when he auditioned for the World Peace Festival, a production she was choreographing. They were married on June 6, 1987.[3] They have since divorced.[53] They have two daughters, born in 1992 and 1997.[1]

In 1998, Ashford and Saffran's youngest daughter was diagnosed with retinoblastoma. She received chemotherapy.[54] She is now healthy and working as an actress and producer.[51]

In May 2010, while on tour in Toronto, he obtained U.S.-Canadian dual citizenship. Ashford's father was born in Canada, which made him and his siblings eligible to become Canadians without relinquishing their American citizenship.

Ashford married Lana Buss in November 2016. They have a son, born in May 2013, and a daughter, born in December 2015.[53]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1995 Species Guy in Club
1998 Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss Whitey
1999 Paper Bullets Ron
2006 Deceit Michael Video
Social Security Guard Hugh Short film
2008 Chronicles of an Exorcism Father Michael Also producer and writer
2011 The Historian Paradox Thomas Short film
2012 Fuzz Track City Chris Valentine
Winning Favor Coach Loren DeJong
Bad Blood Dr. Stringer
Catch of a Lifetime Billy Joe Crawley Also producer
Hi Mitch Phil Short film
2016 The Unlikely's Brock Chapman Also producer
2017 The Fuzz Valentine
2021 Blood Runs Thick Marshall
2022 Spirit Pops Also executive producer

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1982–1983 One Life to Live Drew Ralston Contract role
1984–1986 Search for Tomorrow Cagney McCleary Contract role
1987–1993, 2001–2007, 2011–2012, 2016–2017, 2018–2023, 2024 Days of Our Lives Jack Devereaux Contract role (1987–1993, 2001–2006, 2011–2012, 2018–2023)
Guest role (2007, 2016–2017, 2024)
1992 One Stormy Night Jack Deveraux Television film
Quantum Leap TV Husband 2 episodes
1993 Night Sins Jack Deveraux Television film
1995 Burke's Law Harold 'Spider' Arthur Episode: "Who Killed the Tennis Ace?"
1995–1997 General Hospital Tom Hardy Contract role
1997 Pacific Blue Thomas Leffler; Antonio; Ted Miller; Jeff Armstrong Episode: "Soul Mate"
1998 Charmed Roger Episodes: "Unaired Pilot", "Something Wicca This Way Comes"
1999 Providence Mr. Henderson Episode: "Home for the Holidays"

Credited as Matthew N. Ashford

2001 Dharma & Greg Trey Episode: "Dharma Does Dallas"

Credited as Matthew N. Ashford

2003 Friends Himself Episode: "The One with the Soap Opera Party"
2003–2004 One Life to Live Dr. Stephen Haver Recurring role
2010 90210 Peter Upton Episode: "2021 Vision"
2013 The Good Mother Peter Television film
2016–2017 This Just In Dr. Majishon 3 episodes
2020 NCIS Rick Martel Episode: "Schooled"

Web series

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2010–2023 The Bay Steve Jensen 75 episodes

Also producer

2012 Outside the Box Dirty Harry Episode: "Dirty Harry"
2013 Dating in the Middle Ages Nick Hamilton; Medieval Captain 2 episodes

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1989 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Daytime Villain Days of Our Lives Won [7]
1991 Soap Opera Digest Award Favorite Daytime Super Couple (shared with Melissa Reeves) Days of Our Lives Won [8]
1992 Soap Opera Digest Award Best Daytime Wedding (shared with Melissa Reeves) Days of Our Lives Won [9]
Soap Opera Digest Award Best Love Story Daytime or Primetime (shared with Melissa Reeves) Days of Our Lives Won [9]
1993 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Comic Performance Days of Our Lives Won [12]
2012 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives Nominated [37]
2017 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series The Bay Nominated [48]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "About the Actors: Matthew Ashford". Soap Central. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Payne, Andrea (June 19, 1984). "Going with the Flow". Soap Opera Digest. 9.
  3. ^ a b c Rout, Nancy E.; Buckley, Ellen (1992). The Soap Opera Book: Who's Who in Daytime Drama. Todd Publications. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-915344-23-9.
  4. ^ a b Kroll, Dan J. (November 9, 2003). "Former Days star Matthew Ashford moves to Llanview". Soap Central. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  5. ^ Reichardt, Nancy M. (June 26, 1986). "'Search' Never Says Die: Celebrates 9,000th Show". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Who's Who in Salem: Jack Deveraux, Sr". Soap Central. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "The Soap Opera Digest Awards 1989". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on August 9, 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "The Soap Opera Digest Awards 1991". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on August 9, 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "The Soap Opera Digest Awards 1992". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on August 9, 2004. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  10. ^ Slate, Libby (January 10, 1992). "For Soap Awards, a Nighttime 'Days' : Television: The special 'Days of Our Lives' episode will precede the first prime-time Soap Opera Digest Awards broadcast". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  11. ^ "Days of Our Lives: Night Sins". tcm.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "The Soap Opera Digest Awards 1993". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on August 9, 2004. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  13. ^ Carter, Alan (August 20, 1993). "Matt Ashford Leaves "Days of Our Lives"". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  14. ^ Collymore, Terrie (January 4, 1994). "Dazzling Departures: Hasta La Vista Baby!". Soap Opera Digest. 19 (1): 77.
  15. ^ "Late-Breaking News: Matthew Ashford Checks into GH". Soap Opera Digest. 20 (5): 4. February 28, 1995.
  16. ^ "Species - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  17. ^ "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss". tcm.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  18. ^ "Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Matthew Ashford: Credits". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
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  21. ^ "Matthew Ashford Returns to 'Days'". Chicago Tribune. December 30, 2000. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  22. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (August 24, 2003). "Ashford fired – again". Soap Central. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  23. ^ "Matthew Ashford Plays His Last Note as OLTL's Music Box Killer". Soap Opera Digest. March 22, 2004. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  24. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (July 13, 2006). "Ashford leaving Days after all". Soap Central. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  25. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (February 1, 2007). "Matthew Ashford gets another shot as DAYS's Jack". Soap Central. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  26. ^ Gans, Andrew (May 8, 2007). "Reprise! No Strings — with Bakula, Brown, Ashford and Williamson — Begins May 8". Playbill. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  27. ^ "Chronicles of an Exorcism - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  28. ^ a b "'Days of Our Lives' Matthew Ashford joins the 9 to 5 the Musical". Foster's Daily Democrat. September 13, 2012. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  29. ^ Logan, Michael (February 18, 2011). "Exclusive: Online Soap The Bay Looking For a TV Home". TV Guide. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  30. ^ Papadatos, Markos (December 30, 2020). "Matthew Ashford talks 'The Bay,' 'Days of Our Lives,' and success (Includes interview)". digitaljournal.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  31. ^ "Ex-Days of our Lives' Matthew Ashford Touring With Mamma Mia!". soaps.sheknows.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  32. ^ Hawley, David (March 10, 2010). "Comic roles rule in touring 'Mamma Mia'!". minnpost.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  33. ^ "Mamma Mia! Closes at the Toronto At The Princess of Wales Theatre 6/6". BroadwayWorld. June 6, 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  34. ^ "G20 security fence going up in downtown Toronto". toronto.ctvnews.ca. June 7, 2010. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  35. ^ "The Historian Paradox". adornstudios.org. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  36. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (May 17, 2011). "Matthew Ashford brings Jack back to Salem". Soap Central. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  37. ^ a b "Daytime Emmy Awards 2012: The Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. June 23, 2012. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  38. ^ "Huge Exits at Days!". Soap Opera Digest. April 10, 2012. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  39. ^ Diamond, Robert (November 19, 2012). "TV Exclusive: Outside the Box - Season 1, Episode 6 - Matthew Ashford & More!". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  40. ^ "Fuzz Track City - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  41. ^ "Winning Favor - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  42. ^ Johnson, LeAnn (February 19, 2010). "Durham's new film hits Orange City: Movie follows Iowan basketball team". beacon.nwciowa.edu. Archived from the original on July 7, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  43. ^ Gallagher, Tim (October 7, 2012). "Gallagher: Orange City Film Finds Winning Mix". Sioux City Journal. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  44. ^ "The Good Mother". tcm.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  45. ^ Deese, Hollie (July 30, 2013). "Interviews: Dating In The Middle Ages Season Two Debut". soaps.sheknows.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  46. ^ Iannuci, Rebecca (November 30, 2015). "TVLine Items: Days Brings Jack Back, Transparent Arrives Early and More". tvline.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  47. ^ Clifford, Kambra (December 14, 2017). "Matthew Ashford returns to Days for life and death storyline". Soap Central. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  48. ^ a b Kroll, Dan J. (April 28, 2017). "Technically speaking, Days comes out on top". Soap Central. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  49. ^ "The Fuzz - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  50. ^ Clifford, Kambra (November 13, 2018). "Matthew Ashford teases Days return, says storyline ahead is "really good"". Soap Central. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  51. ^ a b Di Lauro, Janet (January 8, 2019). "ICYMI: Matthew Ashford Interview". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  52. ^ Young, Candace (March 17, 2020). "Episode Date Change for Matthew Ashford's 'NCIS' Appearance Involving a Dead Body Floating in a Lake". soaps.sheknows.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  53. ^ a b "Baby On Board!". ABC Soap's In Depth. August 28, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  54. ^ "The Eyes Have It: The importance of..." Chicago Tribune. September 16, 1998. Archived from the original on August 11, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
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