Matthew Ashford plays Jack Deveraux on NBC's daytime drama "Days of our Lives."

Ashford has been colorful character in Salem since he first arrived to take over the role in early 1987 - and now, some 24 years later, he continues to see "Jack" through some of his darkest and lightest moments.

Before "Days," Ashford graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Drama department to head to New York where he started work as "Drew Ralston" on ABC's "One Life to Live," then Cagney McCleary on NBC's "Search for Tomorrow." Then he went out to LA where he joined the "Days" family.  

Theatrically, Ashford has enjoyed a varied stage career - first national tour of "Mamma Mia!" and regionally "Sound of Music," "Annie Get Your Gun," "9 to 5," "1776," "Guys and Dolls," "I Do! I Do!" "Into the Woods," "110 in the Shade," "Music Man," "Urinetown," "Councilor at Law," "Midsummer Night's Dream," "Sunday in the Park with George," "Chess," "Caligula" and "Antony and Cleopatra." He is a 27-year member of the InterAct Theatre Company and a member of Soka Gakkai of America, a Buddhist lay organization committed to world peace through daily life and people everywhere.

Ashford is married to actress/teacher Lana Buss and has four children - Grace, a reporter for the New York Times, and Emma, an actor/singer in NYC. Henry, age 8, and Willa, age 5, keep him busy at home and rolling in material that he can use with Jack's onscreen children Abigail, JJ and now Gwen!