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Chandler Massey

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Chandler Massey
Massey in February 2015
Born (1990-09-10) September 10, 1990 (age 34)
Norcross, Georgia, U.S.
EducationNorcross High School
Alma materUCLA
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active2008–present
Parent(s)Lewis A. Massey
Amy Reichard Massey

Chandler Abit Massey (born September 10, 1990)[1][2] is an American actor and singer, best known for his portrayal of Will Horton on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives.

Massey was awarded the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series three years in a row – in 2012,[3] 2013,[4] and 2014,[5] and is the first actor ever to receive the Daytime Emmy Award for playing a gay character.[3] In 2018 and 2020, Massey was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.[6][7]

Personal life

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Massey was born and raised in Norcross, Georgia.[8] He is the son of Lewis A. Massey, former Secretary of State of Georgia, and Amy Reichard Massey. He has two younger siblings: Cameryn 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 the lead roles in Little Shop of Horrors, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,[8] Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Later that year, he moved to Los Angeles to attend the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and to pursue an acting career.[8] At UCLA, he played on the Ultimate Frisbee team, where he was given the nickname "Bamm Bamm."[9][10] While working on Days of Our Lives, Massey roomed with his friend and Days co-star Casey Deidrick.[11][12]

In March 2023, Massey got engaged to long time girlfriend Stephanie Bennett.[13]

Acting career

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Days of Our Lives

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"Massey brings a pureness to the role of Will that makes you love him. This is a brilliant young actor who will move you to tears based on a look alone."

Jessica Radloff, Glamour Magazine[14]

In December 2009, after completing his first quarter at UCLA, Massey successfully auditioned for the role of Will Horton on NBC’s daytime drama Days of Our Lives,[8] joining the cast in 2010. He had previously auditioned for Will when Dylan Patton was cast.[15] For this role, Massey became the first actor in history to win the Daytime Emmy Award for portraying a gay character, when he won the Outstanding Younger Actor category in 2012.[3] He had been nominated in the same category the previous year. In February 2013, Massey's younger brother, Christian, appeared as a young Will Horton on Days of Our Lives in a flashback.[16] In June 2013, Massey won his second consecutive Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actor.[4][17] Massey revealed that he intended to return to school instead of renewing his contract, which was set to expire in December 2013.[18] Days executive producer Ken Corday stated that his character would not be recast, and that the door would be open in case Massey decided to return;[19] but Massey expressed that he would support a recast.[20] On August 23, 2013, it was announced that Massey had taped his final episode that day, and that a recast had already been made.[21][22] Massey was let out of his contract early, for which he thanked Days and NBC.[21] On June 22, 2014, Massey won his third consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series.[23] Massey made Daytime Emmys history with his three consecutive wins in the Younger Actor category. While he is the second actor to win the category three times – following Jonathan Jackson, who won for General Hospital in 1995, 1998, and 1999 – he is the first to do so in consecutive years.[24][25][26] Massey is also the first actor from Days of Our Lives ever to win three Emmys, consecutive or otherwise.[25][5]

"There is a reason that Massey has three Daytime Emmys to his name. His work is at once understated, powerful, truthful, and has the ability to touch the hearts of millions"

Michael Fairman, MichaelFairmanTV.com[27]

On May 8, 2017, Entertainment Weekly announced that Massey was reprising the role of Will on Days of Our Lives,[28][29] and Massey expressed excitement at bringing the character back.[28] His new episodes began airing on September 15, 2017.[30] Kristyn Burtt of SheKnows said Massey's return was a "huge watershed moment" for the network;[31] in 2018, Massey was again nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award, this time for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.[6]

On March 10, 2022 Chandler Massey has returned to Days of our Lives in a recurring role.

Other work

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Massey has made guest appearances in several drama series, including One Tree Hill and Army Wives, as well as appeared in the HBO comedy series, Eastbound & Down. In 2011, he starred in his first feature film, 16-Love, in which he portrayed Farrell Gambles, a fun-loving junior tennis player, and the love interest of Lindsey Shaw's lead character, Ally Mash. Backstage wrote that he gave "levels to his character" as the "boyish, smitten, too-romantic-to-be-true athlete next door."[32] Following its release in January 2012, the film topped iTunes' Sports Movies chart for several weeks.

Massey is also a musician, serving as the keyboardist and one of the two clean vocalists in the metal band And Still I Rise.[33]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2009 For What I Had to Fear Ben Tucker Short film
Directed by Andrew Schwab
2012 16-Love Farrell Gambles Feature film debut
Directed by Adam Lipsius
2014 Angels in Stardust Angelo Directed by William Robert Carey
2016 The Standoff Chris Goodman Directed by Ilyssa Goodman
2016 I Remember You AJ Short film
Directed by Michael W. Catlin 		[34]
2017 Aquarians Danny Directed by Michael M. McGuire [35]
2017 Butterfly Caught Terry Directed by Manny Rodriguez, Jr. [36][37]
2018 Hide in the Light Shane Directed by Mikey McGregor [38][39]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2009 One Tree Hill Actor Lucas Episode 6.16: "Screenwriter's Blues"
Eastbound & Down Pliny Caldwell Episode 1.03: "Chapter 3"
Army Wives Ben Goldsmith Episode 3.13: "Duty to Inform"
2010–14, 2017– Days of Our Lives Will Horton Series regular (2010–14, 2017–20)
Guest appearances (2020–)
2015 Bad Judge Derek Episode 1.10: "The Fixer"
2015 AfterBuzz TV's Spotlight On Himself Interview on August 16, 2015.[40]
2016 Bunk'd Noah Episode 1.17: "For Love and Money"
2021 Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem Will Horton Miniseries
2021 Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas Will Horton Television film
2021 Next Stop, Christmas Ben Lee Television film (Hallmark Channel)
2022 Heart of the Matter Henry Lowery Television film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)
2022 A Tale of Two Christmases Drew Television film (Hallmark Channel)
2023 The Professional Bridesmaid Henry Whittington Television film (Hallmark Channel)
2023 Mystic Christmas Sawyer Adams Television film (Hallmark Channel)
2024 A '90s Christmas Matt Television film (Hallmark Channel)

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2011 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives Nominated [41]
2012 Won [42]
2013 Won [43]
2014 Won [5]
2018 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated [6]
2020 Nominated [7]

References

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  1. ^ "Southern Comfort". Soap Opera Digest. February 28, 2012.
  2. ^ "Will & Grace". Soap Opera Digest. October 30, 2017. pg. 44.
  3. ^ a b c Halterman, Jim (June 24, 2012). "Chandler Massey On His Emmy Win: "It Was Crazy!"". LOGO NewNowNext. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
  4. ^ a b Townsend, Megan (June 17, 2013). "Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards: Chandler Massey and 'Days of Our Lives' Win Big". glaad.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Nordyke, Kimberly (June 22, 2014). "Daytime Emmy Awards Winners 2014: Complete Results List". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2016-05-14. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  6. ^ a b c Sheehan, Paul (April 29, 2018). "2018 Daytime Emmys full list of winners: Every category, every nominee at the 45th Daytime Emmy Awards". GoldDerby. Archived from the original on 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2018-04-30.
  7. ^ a b Hipes, Patrick (2020-05-21). "Daytime Emmy Nominations: 'General Hospital', 'Sesame Street', 'The View' Top List; CBS, Amazon Prime Lead Networks". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2020-05-21. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  8. ^ a b c d "Days of our Lives - Cast Biographies". Sony Pictures. 2010-09-28. Archived from the original on 2010-09-28. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  9. ^ Di Lauro, Janet (June 15, 2013). "Profile of Chandler Massey". About.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-05.
  10. ^ "DC #608: DAYS' "Chill" aka Casey Deidrick and Chandler Massey Talk Soaps, Comedy and Doing Me". Daytime Confidential. March 9, 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-11-04. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Chandler Massey 411". Soap Opera Digest. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23.
  13. ^ Mistretta, Amy (2023-03-23). "Days of Our Lives' Chandler Massey Is Engaged — Maybe Even Already Married! Meet the Special Someone Who Stole His Heart". Soaps.com. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  14. ^ Radloff, Jessica (April 9, 2012). "Why All of a Sudden, We Can't Stop Watching Days Of Our Lives (Again)". Glamour. Archived from the original on 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  15. ^ Chandler Massey Interview. AfterBuzz TV's Spotlight On. August 16, 2015. 3:31 – 4:01 mark.
  16. ^ Hernandez, Greg (February 8, 2013). "Christian Massey plays a younger Will Horton on Days". Greg In Hollywood. Archived from the original on 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  17. ^ "The Emmy for Younger Actor in a Drama Series goes to– @ChandlerMassey #DOOL! Congratulations! #DaytimeEmmys". June 16, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  18. ^ "Leaving As A Class Act!". Ins&Outs. Soaps In Depth. Bauer Media Group: 13. July 15, 2013.
  19. ^ Fairman, Michael (July 2, 2013). "The Ken Corday Interview – Days of Our Lives". On-Air On-Soaps. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  20. ^ 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. Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  21. ^ a b Hernandez, Greg (August 24, 2013). "Exclusive: US soap star Chandler Massey done with gay role on Days of Our Lives". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  22. ^ "Exclusive! Chandler Massey Off DAYS – Effective Immediately!". Soap Opera Digest. August 24, 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  23. ^ "Chandler Massey Wins Third Daytime Emmy Award, Endures Epic F*ck-Up". Logo NewNowNext. June 22, 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  24. ^ Note: Two actresses won three consecutive awards in the Younger Actress race prior to Massey's hat-trick: Jennifer Finnigan (The Bold and the Beautiful, 2002–2004) and Jennifer Landon (As the World Turns, 2006–2008)
  25. ^ a b Montgomery, Daniel (April 22, 2014). "Chandler Massey ('Days of Our Lives') could make Daytime Emmys history with third win". www.goldderby.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-19. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  26. ^ "Gold Derby on Twitter". twitter.com/goldderby. June 22, 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2018-03-26. @ChandlerMassey wins Younger Actor at #DaytimeEmmys; he's only 3rd actor to win 3 in a row
  27. ^ Fairman, Michael (August 26, 2018). "Days of our Lives' Chandler Massey Named 'Power Performance of the Week'". MichaelFairmanTV.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
  28. ^ a b Rice, Lynette (May 8, 2017). "Days of Our Lives Welcomes Back Chandler Massey". Entertainment Weekly. United States. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  29. ^ "Chandler Massey Back To DAYS". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc. Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. May 8, 2017. Archived from the original on May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  30. ^ Soaps SheKnows (August 15, 2017). "Chandler Massey returns to Days of Our Lives as Will Horton". Soaps.com. United States: SheKnows Media. Archived from the original on 2017-09-09. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  31. ^ Burtt, Krystyn (September 26, 2017). "Sonny Kiriakis & Will Horton Had the Most Important Relationship in TV". SheKnows. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-14.
  32. ^ Gardner, Jessica (January 20, 2012). "16-Love". Backstage.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
  33. ^ "And Still I Rise – discography, line-up, biography, interviews, photos". spirit-of-metal.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16.
  34. ^ "I Remember You on irymovie.com".
  35. ^ "Aquarians: World Premiere Notice". twitter.com/AquariansMovie. August 26, 2017. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  36. ^ "Butterfly Caught: World Premiere Notice". twitter.com/BCaught_movie. September 14, 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  37. ^ Digioia, Anthony (October 23, 2017). "Butterfly Caught - #SDiFF2017 Official Selection – Review". The Silverscreen Analysis. Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  38. ^ "Hide in the Light: World Premiere Notice". facebook.com/hideinthelight. Come see our film's world premiere at the FirstGlance Film Fest Los Angeles 18!
  39. ^ "'Hide In the Light' (2018) Movie Review". pophorror.com. Jamil Ventures. 28 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  40. ^ "AfterBuzz TV's Spotlight On". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15.
  41. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (May 11, 2011). "2011 Daytime Emmys | Nominations". Soap Central. United States. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  42. ^ THR Staff (June 23, 2012). "Daytime Emmy Awards 2012: The Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. United States: Eldridge Industries. Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  43. ^ "The 40th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Winners". National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. emmyonline.org. June 16, 2013. Archived from the original on June 20, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
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