Matthew Nile Ashford
As an actor, Matthew Ashford is very familiar with change of the personal, professional and spiritual kinds. His joy is found in the growth that these changes provoke.
The sixth of eight children, Matthew Ashford grew up in Davenport, Iowa. When he was a teenager, his family relocated to Fairfax, Virginia, where he began acting in high school productions. Upon graduation, Matthew attended the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. He earned his first professional paycheck during the summer months as a street performer in Myrtle Beach.
New York City was the next stop after graduation. He almost immediately was put under contract by ABC-TV, playing the role of Drew Ralston on One Life to Live from 1982 to 1983. He then was cast on the daytime drama, Search for Tomorrow, from 1984 to 1986.
In 1987, Mr. Ashford married singer/actress Christina Saffran and moved to Los Angeles. He was soon cast in the role of Jack Deveraux on Days of our Lives and received three Soap Opera Digest Awards for his work during his six years on the daytime series.
Matthew's additional credits include the science-fiction thriller, Species, with Ben Kingsley; and playing the lead in a theatrical production of Dracula. Mr. Ashford is most proud of his work with the Interact Theatre company of North Hollywood. He co-starred with John Rubenstein in their critically acclaimed production of Counselor At Law.
One Life to Live
Stephen Haver
December 10, 2003 to
March 22, 2004
General Hospital
Dr. Tom Hardy
1995 to 1997
Days of our Lives
Jack Deveraux [#3]
1987 to 1993;
February 6, 2001 to October 2003; 2004 to
September 21, 2006;
April 2 and 4, 2007;
September 23 2011 to August 15, 2012
Search For Tomorrow
Cagney McCleary
1984 to 1986
One Life to Live
Drew Ralston
1982 to 1983
Friends
Himself
The One With The Soap Opera Party (2003)
Dharma & Greg
Trey
Dharma Does Dallas (2001)
Providence
Mr. Henderson
Home for the Holidays (1999)
Charmed
Roger
Something Wicca This Way Comes (1998)
Pacific Blue
1997
Burke's Law
1994
Quantum Leap
TV Husband
May 4, 1985 (1992)
Paper Bullets
Ron
1999
Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss
Whitey
1998
Species
Guy in Club
1995
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actor (2012)
Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actor (2006)
Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actor (2003, 2012)
Soap Opera Digest Awards Winner, Best Villain (1989)
Soap Opera Digest Awards Winner, Super Couple (1991)
Soap Opera Digest Awards Winner, Best Wedding (1992)
Soap Opera Digest Awards Winner, Best Comedic Performance (1992)
PLACE OF BIRTH: Davenport, Iowa
DATE OF BIRTH: January 29th, 1960
MARITAL STATUS: Married; Christina Saffran [Jun 6, 1987)
CHILDREN: Two; Grace Saffran Ashford [Jun 15, 1992], Emma Ashford [1997]
News Archive: Ashford to return to DAYS after long hiatus. [Dec 11, 2000]
News Archive: Ashford's Jack to be killed by DAYS' serial killer. [Aug 25, 2003]
News Archive: Ashford re-joins OLTL, this time as a profiler. [Nov 10, 2003]
News Archive: Reeves exiting, Ashford offered new contract. [Jun 19, 2006]
News Archive: Despite new contract, Ashford will exit DAYS. [Jul 13, 2006]
News Archive: Matthew Ashford to return to DAYS. [May 17, 2011]
News Archive: Matthew Ashford comments on possible DAYS return [Oct 24, 2015]
News Archive: Matthew Ashford's DAYS Jack attack extended? [Feb 19, 2016]
News Archive: Matthew Ashford returns to DAYS for serious suicide storyline [Dec 15, 2017]
News Archive: Matthew Ashford reportedly making a DAYS return [Jun 19, 2018]
News Archive: Matthew Ashford teases DAYS return, says storyline ahead is "really good" [Nov 13, 2018]
News Archive: Matthew Ashford's DAYS return comes with a bump [Jan 2, 2019]
News Archive: Matthew Ashford and Melissa Reeves exit Days of our Lives [Jan 3, 2022]
News Archive: Matthew Ashford returns as Days of our Lives' Jack Deveraux [Feb 14, 2022]
News Archive: Cady McClain returns as Days of our Lives' Jennifer; Matthew Ashford also back as Jack [Jun 10, 2022]
News Archive: How Melissa Reeves brought Matthew Ashford to tears on the Days of our Lives set [Apr 15, 2024]
News Archive: Days of our Lives comings and goings: Deverauxs return as Matthew Ashford and Casey Moss make their comebacks [Jun 13, 2024]