Matthew Ashford stars as Jack Deveraux/Billy Johnson on NBC's top-rated
daytime drama, Days of Our Lives. Matthew grew up in Davenport,
Iowa, with eight siblings. At the age of 13, he joined the local Junior
Theatre group. After his family moved to Fairfax, Virginia, Matthew decided
he had found his calling and devoted most of his energies to participation
in the high school dramatics program. Upon completing high school, he was
accepted to the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts, where he
continued his studies. After graduating from college, Matthew began his
television career playing the role of Drew Ralston on One Life to Live.
Matthew's second soap opera role began on Search for Tomorrow, where
he played Ganey McCleary until the show's cancellation in December of 1986.
In 1987, Matthew took time out to marry actress Christina Saffran, and
the newlyweds moved to the West Coast. One of Matthew's first auditions
was for the role of Billy/Jack on Days of Our Lives. In 1989, Matthew
received the Soap Opera Digest award for Best Villain. He is in the process
of creating on of daytime's most memorable characters.
