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Jason Cook (actor)
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Jason John Cook (born September 13, 1980) is an American actor and filmmaker best known for the soap opera television roles of Shawn-Douglas Brady on Days of Our Lives (1999–2006, 2015), and Matt Hunter on General Hospital from 2008 to 2012. He is the writer, director, and producer of the feature film The Creatress, and most recently Four For Fun.
Key Information
Early life and education
[edit]Cook was born in Camden, New Jersey to Bill Cook (a licensed civil engineer in California) and JoAnn (a pre-school teacher). Growing up in Somerdale, he has two sisters, Michelle and Janean, and a brother, Michael. When he was very young, his family moved to California. At an early age, Jason began studying the piano. As his musical skills improved, he got occasional jobs performing at weddings. He did not consider acting until high school, when he served as an emergency replacement in Whodunnit. A friend of Jason's mother, whose husband was an agent and manager for child actors, helped Jason get his first auditions and roles. Jason attended Westlake High School in Westlake Village, California and graduated in 1998.
Jason attended Moorpark College, a two-year junior college, in Moorpark, California and completed his freshman year in the spring semester of 1999. While attending Moorpark College he was active on the speech and debate teams, competing nationally.
Career
[edit]Cook portrayed Shawn-Douglas Brady on Days of Our Lives from October 1999 and was very popular with fans, especially in Shawn's relationship with Belle Black. Cook elected to leave the show when his contract with Days of Our Lives expired in September 2006. On May 28, 2015, it was announced that he would reprise the role for the show's 50th anniversary in the fall of 2015.[1]
While on the show, Cook turned his attention to writing and directing films, making the indie film The Making of Triassic Park and later Social Security Guard, starring General Hospital co-star John Ingle. He left the show to pursue production full-time on Numb To Life, a documentary exploring pharmaceutical drug abuse, as his first feature documentary.
On April 23, 2008, it was announced that Cook would be returning to Daytime TV on General Hospital as new character Matt Hunter. His first appearance was on June 26, 2008.
Cook elected to leave General Hospital at the end of his contract to once again return to projects behind the camera. His first project was a philanthropic reality show co-produced with the Mandela family titled LifeCHANGE. This was followed up with the production of State of Bacon, a mockumentary surrounding the largest Bacon festival in the world, held yearly in Des Moines, Iowa.
In 2012, he participated in Fox's dating game show The Choice[2] and portrayed 2014 James Thomas in Dean Jones' mystery thriller film Dark Awakening.[3] opposite Lance Henriksen and Valerie Azlynn.
In 2018, he wrote, produced, and directed The Creatress, a film about a writer following up a bestselling debut novel starring Lindy Booth, Peter Bogdanovich, and Fran Drescher.[4]
Filmography
[edit]Writer/Director
[edit]- A.I. Heart U (TBA) (as writer/director/producer)[5]
- Four For Fun (2022) (as writer/director/producer)
- The Creatress (2018) (as writer/director/producer)
- State of Bacon (2013) (as writer/director/producer)
- The Age of Airships (2013) (YA novel, author)
- LifeCHANGE (2012) (as director/producer)
- Chop This (2012) (as creator/director)
- East Meets South (2011) (commercial)
- High On the Hog (2011) (music video, as director)
- Two Buck Chuck (2010) (commercial)
- The Boy and His Gryphon (2009) (YA novel, author)
- The Vacation Epic (2008) (as writer)
- Gregg's Story (2008) (as writer)
- Numb To Life (2007–2009) (as writer/director/producer)
- I Arise (2007) (as writer)
- Social Security Guard (2007) (as writer/director/producer)
- School Spirit as Writer (2006) (as writer)
- The Making of Triassic Park (2004) (as writer/director/producer)
Actor
[edit]- Dark Awakening or Nevermore (2013) as James Thomas
- The Son of an Afghan Farmer (2011) as Ken
- General Hospital (2008–2012)(TV) as Matt Hunter
- Turbulent Skies (2010) (TV) as John Wilson
- Days of Our Lives (958 episodes, 1999–2006, 2015) (TV) as Shawn-Douglas Brady
- The Amanda Show (2 episodes, 1999) (TV)
- Project Time (15 episodes, 1998) (TV) as Jason
Host
[edit]- Miss World 2011 (London, 2011, TV)
- Miss World 2012 (Ordos, 2012, TV)
- Miss World 2016 (Washington DC, 2016, TV)
Awards and nominations
[edit]Jason Cook has received recognition for his work on Days of Our Lives:
- 2001, Won Soap Opera Digest Award for 'Outstanding Younger Lead Actor'
- 2003, Won Boomerang Award for Outstanding Actor
- 2005, nominated for Soap Opera Digest Award for 'Favorite Triangle'
- 2005, nominated for Soap Opera Digest Award for 'Outstanding Younger Lead Actor'
- 2005, nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards Special Fan Award for 'Irresistible Combination'
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Exclusive! Jason Cook Back to Days". Soap Opera Digest. May 28, 2015. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
- ^ Hibberd, James (May 8, 2012). "Fox's 'The Choice' cast revealed! Joe Jonas, Dean Cain, The Situation, many more -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ Hibberd, James (May 8, 2012). "Dark Awakening". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ "Fran Drescher & Peter Bogdanovich Join 'The Creatress'; Tilda del Toro Boards 'Night School'; Jaden Piner Cast in 'BOO!'". 22 September 2017.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 12, 2025). "T.J. Miller Joins Indie Techno-Thriller Movie A.I. Heart U". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
External links
[edit]Jason Cook (actor)
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Early life
Jason Cook was born on September 13, 1980, in Somerdale, New Jersey.[7] His family relocated to Los Angeles, California, shortly after his birth.[1] Cook grew up in a close-knit family; his father, Bill Cook, worked as a civil engineer specializing in the design and construction of amusement park rides, while his mother, JoAnn, was a preschool teacher.[1] He has three siblings: an older brother named Michael, an older sister named Michelle, and a younger sister named Janean.[1] The family resided in Westlake, California, where they shared their home with two dogs, Cobi and Zoe, and a lizard named Diablo.[1][2] During his childhood, Cook developed an early interest in music, beginning to study piano at a young age.[2] By the time he was twelve, he was performing at weddings and participating in piano competitions, which supplemented his allowance.[1] These experiences fostered his initial passion for the performing arts.[2]Education
Cook attended high school in the Los Angeles area, where he developed an interest in performance through participation in speech and debate programs.[1] His acting skills began to emerge during this time when he stepped in as an emergency replacement for the lead role in the high school drama club's production of Whodunnit?, an experience that sparked his passion for acting.[7][1] Following high school, Cook enrolled at Moorpark College in 1998, a two-year community college in Ventura County, California, where he pursued studies as a speech and debate major.[7] There, he remained active on the speech and debate team, honing public speaking and performance abilities that complemented his emerging acting interests.[1] In 1998, during his time at the college, Cook and his debate partner achieved first place in the California Community College Forensics Association Speech Competition, marking a significant academic and performative accomplishment.[1] These extracurricular activities at Moorpark further built his confidence in front of audiences, laying a foundational skill set for his future career in entertainment.[7]Career
Soap opera career
Jason Cook began his soap opera career with a breakout role on the NBC daytime drama Days of Our Lives, portraying Shawn-Douglas "Shawn" Brady from October 15, 1999, to September 22, 2006.[8] As the son of the iconic supercouple Bo and Hope Brady, Shawn evolved from a rebellious teenager navigating high school rivalries—particularly a love triangle with Philip Kiriakis over Belle Black—into a young adult grappling with family secrets and personal tragedies.[8] Key storylines during Cook's tenure included Shawn's claim of paternity over Jan Spears' baby during a chaotic school trip to Puerto Rico, which strained his budding romance with Belle; his abduction by Jan, who exploited his amnesia to force a marriage to Philip while concealing that their daughter Claire was Shawn's biological child; and a dramatic flight with Belle and Claire to evade Philip's custody battle, culminating in a reconciliation and planned wedding disrupted by infidelity.[8] These arcs highlighted Shawn's growth from impulsive youth to devoted father and partner, emphasizing themes of loyalty, deception, and redemption central to the Brady family legacy.[9] Cook departed Days of Our Lives upon the expiration of his contract in 2006, seeking new opportunities beyond the long-running series.[7] He briefly reprised the role in 2015 for the show's 50th anniversary, appearing for two months starting October 23 to join the search for his father Bo and support family amid ongoing crises.[10] This short stint reinforced Shawn's enduring ties to the canvas, delighting longtime viewers who cherished Cook's portrayal.[6] In 2008, Cook transitioned to ABC's General Hospital, debuting on June 27 as Dr. Matthew "Matt" Hunter, a brilliant but arrogant neurosurgery resident at General Hospital.[2] The character, revealed as the illegitimate son of Noah Drake and half-brother to Patrick Drake, featured in arcs exploring sibling rivalry and paternal reconciliation, including Matt's initial clashes with Patrick over professional and personal matters.[11] Matt's romantic entanglements, notably with Maxie Jones—sparked by her scheme to provoke jealousy in Spinelli and evolving into a genuine bond marked by a spontaneous supply closet hookup after Matt heroically intervened during a hospital shooting—added layers of vulnerability to his cocky facade.[11] Other pivotal plots involved medical crises, such as being poisoned by a patient smuggling drugs and facing a malpractice suit after a surgery complication, which tested his skills and ethics.[11] Cook's tenure ended on June 11, 2012, as he chose not to renew his contract, wrapping up Matt's storyline with a move to Seattle for career advancement.[12] Cook's soap opera roles solidified his status as a fan favorite in daytime television, particularly for embodying Shawn's passionate dynamic with Belle, which became a defining supercouple pairing and drove significant viewership engagement on Days of Our Lives.[9] His General Hospital stint, reuniting him onscreen with former Days co-star Kirsten Storms as Maxie, brought fresh energy to the show's medical ensemble and highlighted his versatility in blending charm with intensity.[7] Overall, Cook's contributions enriched the genre's tradition of multigenerational family sagas and romantic turmoil, leaving a lasting impression on audiences through authentic emotional depth.[6] Following his soap exits, he shifted focus to independent film projects.[12]Film and directing career
Jason Cook's transition from soap opera acting to feature films began with supporting roles in independent productions, leveraging his established television presence to secure opportunities in the indie sector. His prior success on shows like Days of Our Lives provided the visibility needed to enter film acting, where he took on roles such as James Thomas in the supernatural thriller Dark Awakening (2014), a project that highlighted his versatility beyond serialized drama. Similarly, in The Creatress (2019), Cook appeared in a minor capacity while primarily serving behind the camera, blending his on-screen experience with emerging creative ambitions.[13] Cook's directing career emerged concurrently with his acting pursuits, marking a deliberate shift toward creative control in independent cinema. He made his feature directorial debut with State of Bacon (2014), a mockumentary comedy that he also wrote and produced, inspired by the real-life Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival and developed in partnership with branded content collaborators to navigate limited budgets typical of indie projects.[14] This film exemplified his approach to low-budget filmmaking, where soap opera-honed skills in character-driven storytelling informed the quirky ensemble dynamics, though funding constraints required innovative financing strategies like corporate tie-ins rather than traditional studio support.[15] Building on this foundation, Cook directed and wrote The Creatress (2019), a black comedy-drama starring Lindy Booth as a novelist seeking revenge on a critic, which explored themes of artistic integrity drawn from his own frustrations with industry gatekeeping during his soap tenure.[13] The production faced common indie challenges, including securing distribution for a narrative-driven film without major stars initially attached, ultimately relying on festival circuits for exposure.[16] In 2022, he helmed Four For Fun, an ensemble drama about interpersonal relationships at a dinner party, which premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival and underscored his evolving style of intimate, dialogue-heavy indie features influenced by the emotional depth of soap narratives.[17] These projects reflect how Cook's television background shaped his indie ethos, emphasizing character evolution over spectacle while grappling with distribution hurdles in a market favoring blockbusters. Cook's soap experience directly facilitated this pivot, as his recognition from long-running roles enabled access to collaborators and initial funding that might elude newcomers, though it also imposed expectations to conform to familiar genres.[12] Currently, he is in post-production on the upcoming techno-thriller A.I. Heart U (TBA), which he is directing and writing; the project gained momentum with the announcement on March 12, 2025, that T.J. Miller had joined the cast alongside Zach Gilford and Heather Morris, focusing on a startup's descent into chaos amid booming AI technology in Portland.[18][19]Producing and other work
In addition to his on-camera and directorial roles, Jason Cook has established himself as a producer and writer, focusing on independent films, documentaries, and branded content through his production company, Digital Cuvée, which he founded to create long-format, cross-platform projects.[20] Active in the entertainment industry since 1986, Cook's producing career spans over three decades, encompassing philanthropic initiatives and narrative-driven media.[1] One of Cook's notable producing efforts is the 2012 philanthropic reality series LifeCHANGE, which he co-produced and directed as an executive producer alongside Arianne Zucker and Todd Zucker.[21] The project, aimed at a multi-platform release including internet and potential television distribution, followed six young participants through transformative experiences in locations such as Boise, New Orleans, London, and Los Angeles, with filming set to begin in summer 2012.[21] Earlier, from 2007 to 2009, Cook produced Numb to Life, his debut feature-length documentary examining pharmaceutical drug abuse, which involved international shooting and marked his full-time shift toward behind-the-scenes work.[22] Cook has also contributed writing to projects he produced and directed, such as the 2019 feature film The Creatress, where he crafted the screenplay about a bestselling author seeking revenge against a critic through a fabricated memoir.[23] The film, produced under Digital Cuvée and starring Lindy Booth, Peter Bogdanovich, and Fran Drescher, was shot in 15 days across 29 locations and released digitally on August 27, 2019, following festival awards and international theatrical runs in Spain, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador.[23] This writing-producing overlap extends to other Digital Cuvée ventures, including the recently completed Four For Fun, a feature film blending his multifaceted production approach.[20] Beyond film production, Cook has engaged in hosting and media appearances, including co-hosting the Miss World pageants in London (2011) and Ordos, China (2012), as well as a guest spot on the Fox dating show The Choice.[12] These roles highlight his versatility in live television and event hosting, complementing his broader content creation through Digital Cuvée, which has also yielded projects like the mockumentary State of Bacon and the short horror film Love Afterlife.[20]Filmography
Television
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2002 | The Amanda Show | Various | 2 episodes[7] |
| 1997–2006, 2015 | Days of Our Lives | Shawn-Douglas Brady | 958 episodes[1] |
| 2008–2012 | General Hospital | Dr. Matt Hunter | 308 episodes[1] |
| 2016 | American Crime Story | Matt Lauer | TV miniseries episode[24] |
Film and Television Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Turbulent Skies | John Wilson | TV Movie | |
| 2012 | The Son of an Afghan Farmer | Ken | Film | [25] |
| 2014 | Dark Awakening | James Thomas | Film | |
| 2017 | A Christmas Cruise | Arlo Sands | TV Movie | |
| 2021 | Abduction Runs in the Family | Tony | TV Movie | [26] |
| 2023 | Sins of the Preacher's Wife | Dan | TV Movie | |
| 2023 | Something's Brewing | David | TV Movie |
Directing and writing credits
Jason Cook has directed and written several independent films, often taking on multiple creative roles in projects that blend comedy, drama, and personal themes. His directorial debut came with the feature film State of Bacon (2014), a comedic exploration of a bacon festival, which he also wrote.[14][27] In 2017, Cook directed the short film Love Afterlife, a poignant story about love and loss, marking an early foray into shorter formats while honing his multifaceted approach to filmmaking.[28][15] Cook's subsequent feature The Creatress (2019) showcased his skills as both director and screenwriter, centering on a writer's quest for revenge in the literary world, and featured notable performances from actors like Fran Drescher and Peter Bogdanovich.[13][29] His most recent directorial effort, Four for Fun (2022), a feature examining interpersonal dynamics at a dinner party, was also penned by Cook, continuing his pattern of self-written projects that premiered at film festivals.[17][30]| Year | Title | Roles Performed | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | State of Bacon | Director, Writer | Feature |
| 2017 | Love Afterlife | Director | Short |
| 2019 | The Creatress | Director, Writer | Feature |
| 2022 | Four for Fun | Director, Writer | Feature |
| 2025 | A.I. Heart U | Director, Writer | Feature |
Producing credits
Jason Cook's producing career spans independent films, documentaries, and reality series, often overlapping with his directing and writing efforts in philanthropic and narrative projects. His credits demonstrate a focus on indie features exploring social issues, personal growth, and genre storytelling.Key Producing Credits
| Year | Project | Role | Medium | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Numb to Life | Producer | Documentary | Explores pharmaceutical drug abuse; Cook's first feature documentary.[20] |
| 2012 | LifeCHANGE | Executive Producer | Reality Series | Philanthropic series aiding individuals in personal transformation, co-developed with branded content partners.[21][31] |
| 2014 | State of Bacon | Executive Producer | Film | Comedy feature.[14] |
| 2017 | Love Afterlife | Producer | Film | Romantic drama. |
| 2019 | The Creatress | Producer | Film | Literary thriller starring Fran Drescher.[23] |
| 2022 | Four For Fun | Producer | Film | Interactive choose-your-own-ending thriller.[30] |
| 2025 | A.I. Heart U | Producer | Film | Techno-thriller on artificial intelligence.[18][19] |