Chandler Massey

Chandler Massey

Chandler Massey, February 2015
Born Chandler Abit Massey
September 10, 1990
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Education Norcross High School
Alma mater UCLA
Occupation Actor
Years active 2008-present
Parent(s) Lewis A. Massey

Chandler Massey (born September 10, 1990)[1] is an actor, best known for his portrayal of Will Horton on the daytime soap opera, Days of Our Lives.

Massey received the 2012 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series, becoming the first actor ever to receive a Daytime Emmy Award for playing a gay character.[2] He won his second and third consecutive Emmy awards in the category in 2013 and 2014.

Personal life

Massey was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the son of Lewis A. Massey, former Secretary of State of Georgia and Amy Massey. He has two younger siblings, Camryn and Christian.

He graduated from Norcross High School in May, 2009. While there, he was active in its drama club and took part in many of the school productions, including playing lead roles in Little Shop of Horrors, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Later that year, he moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA and pursue an acting career. While attending UCLA, Massey was on the Ultimate Frisbee team and earned the nickname "Bamm Bamm".[3][4] He is roommates with his former Days co-star, Casey Deidrick. [5][6]

Acting career

Days of our Lives

In December 2009 after completing his first quarter at UCLA, Massey auditioned for the role of Will Horton on NBC’s daytime drama, Days of Our Lives and got the role.

In 2012, Massey became the first actor in history to win a Daytime Emmy for portraying a gay character, winning in the Outstanding Younger Actor category.[2] He had been nominated in the same category the previous year. In 2013, Massey won his second consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actor category.[7]

In February 2013, Massey's younger brother, Christian, appeared as a young Will Horton on Days in a flashback.[8]

It was revealed in June 2013 that Massey intended to return to school instead of renewing his contract, which was up in December 2013.[9] It had been stated that his character would not be recast, and that the door would be open in case Massey decided to return.[10] Despite the statement, Massey expressed that he would support a recast.[11] On August 23, 2013, it was announced that Massey had taped his final episode that day, and that a recast had already been made.[12][13] Massey was let out of his contract early, to which he thanked Days and NBC.[12] He continued to appear on the show through December as the show films approximately four months in advance.[12]

On June 22, 2014, Massey won his third consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actor category.[14]

16-Love

In January 2012, Massey appeared in a teen comedy movie called 16-Love as Farrell Gambles.

Other work

Massey has made guest appearances in several drama series, including One Tree Hill and Army Wives, as well as appearing in the HBO comedy series, Eastbound & Down.

In 2010, he starred in his first feature film,16-Love. The film topped iTunes' Sports Movies chart for several weeks, following its release in January 2012.

Massey is also the pianist and a vocalist of the metal band, And Still I Rise.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2012 16-Love Farrell Gambles
2014 Angels in Stardust Angelo
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2009 One Tree Hill Actor Episode: "Screenwriter's Blues"
2009 Eastbound & Down Pitcher Episode: "Chapter 3"
2009 Army Wives Ben Goldsmith Episode: "Duty to Inform"
2010-2014 Days of Our Lives Will Horton Contract role
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series (2012, 2013, 2014)
Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series (2011)
2015 Bad Judge Derek Episode: "The Fixer"

Awards and nominations

Year Recipient Award Result
2011
Days of Our Lives
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series
style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated[15]
2012
style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won[16]
2013
style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won[17]
2014
style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won

Chandler Massey has made Daytime Emmys history with three consecutive win in the Younger Actor category. He's only the second actor to win the category three times – following Jonathan Jackson, who won for "General Hospital" in 1995, 1998, and 1999 – and the first to do so in consecutive years. The only two actresses who have won three awards in a row both did so in the Younger Actress race: Jennifer Finnigan ("The Bold and the Beautiful," 2002-2004) and Jennifer Landon ("As the World Turns," 2006-2008). Even more impressive, Massey is the first actor from "Days of Our Lives" ever to win three Emmys, consecutive or otherwise.[18][19]

Notes

  1. "Southern Comfort". Soap Opera Digest. February 28, 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Chandler Massey On His Emmy Win: "It Was Crazy!" AfterElton.com
  3. Di Lauro, Janet (June 15, 2013). "Profile of Chandler Massey".
  4. "DC #608: DAYS' "Chill" aka Casey Deidrick and Chandler Massey Talk Soaps, Comedy and Doing Me". DaytimeConfindential. June 15, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  5. Deidrick, Casey (June 15, 2013). "@anaritam @ChandlerMassey living with your best friend is awesome until he eats all my peanut butter". Twitter. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  6. "Chandler Massey 411". Soap Opera Digest.
  7. "The Emmy for Younger Actor in a Drama Series goes to– @ChandlerMassey #DOOL! Congratulations! #DaytimeEmmys". June 16, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  8. ""Christian Massey plays a younger Will Horton on Days"". Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  9. "Leaving As A Class Act!". Soaps In Depth (Bauer Media Group): 13. July 15, 2013. |chapter= ignored (help)
  10. Fairman, Michael (July 2, 2013). "The Ken Corday Interview – Days of our Lives". On-Air On-Soaps. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  11. Fairman, Michael (July 26, 2013). "DAYS Chandler Massey: "If they decide to bring someone else to play Will, I won’t be upset and bitter. I want what is best for WilSon!". On-Air On-Soaps. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Exclusive: US soap star Chandler Massey done with gay role on Days of Our Lives". August 24, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  13. "Exclusive! Chandler Massey Off DAYS - Effective Immediately!". August 24, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  14. "Chandler Massey Wins Third Daytime Emmy Award, Endures Epic F*ck-Up". thebacklot.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  15. "Kroll, D: "Supporting winners are back, first-timer winner guaranteed in Younger fields"". soapcentral.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  16. "‘General Hospital’ scores 5 Daytime Emmys, including best drama; ‘Today,’ ‘Jeopardy!’ also win". Associated Press. 2012-06-23. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  17. "The 40th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Winners". National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. emmyonline.org. June 16, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  18. "Chandler Massey ('Days of Our Lives') could make Daytime Emmys history with third win". Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  19. "Gold Derby on Twitter: ".@ChandlerMassey wins Younger Actor at #DaytimeEmmys; he's only 3rd actor to win 3 in a row: http://t.co/vSyOwbneoh http://t.co/ApGRdV1Zuf"". Retrieved 27 October 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chandler Massey.