ead role on a national television show? Got it.
Featured in People magazine’s 50 Sexiest Men issue? Old news.
Play reading with Tom Hanks? Not a problem.
Winchester native Matt Long’s to-do list is a bit shorter and quite different than the average 24-year-old since he began portraying the character of Jack McAllister on the WB series “Jack and Bobby.”
The 2002 Western graduate’s big break came in September 2004, only a month and a half after he moved to New York to pursue his lifelong dream of acting.
Long showcased his talent at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, and it was there that he was noticed by his current manager and was signed on the spot.
After auditioning for “Jack and Bobby,” Long said he felt terrible about his performance. Regardless, his phone rang two days later with good news on the other end.
“It was nuts,” he said. “After only three days, I got a job on national TV.”
“Jack and Bobby” is set in the fictional town of Hart, Missouri and details the relationship between two brothers and the people around them who shape their lives, particularly their eccentric single mother. One of the McAllister sons grows up to be a great American president, so viewers get to see interviews set in the year 2040 from the First Lady and White House staffers.
Prior to the days of national television, Long was busy acting on stage, doing musicals and children’s theatre in high school before moving up to Shakespeare and Greek tragedies during his days at Western.
Long said college provided him with the opportunity to really grow as an actor.
“Undergrads got tons of opportunities to do lights, sound and stage production,” he said. “It was crucial for me, because I got to see what I liked and didn’t. It was the chance to hone skills and learn from my mistakes.”
David Young, assistant professor of theatre and dance, helped and watched Long transform from a solid actor into an exceptional actor during his four years at Western.
“Matt worked hard to learn how to take a moment and dig down to find out what’s really going on with a character,” Young said. “He pushed himself to grow, and he did.”
Young also said that he believes Long’s talent and personality will no doubt lead him to great opportunities in the future.
“(Long’s) performances are clean, simple, honest, direct and powerful,” Young said. “He’s smart, has a good work ethic and is a level-headed, nice guy. He deserves success.”
In the meantime, Long’s success will likely come from a ghostly source.
Long will begin filming “Ghost Rider” in Australia at the end of May, which also stars Nicholas Cage and Eva Mendes. In the movie, Long will portray a 17-year-old version of Cage’s character.
The long run is a little foggy, but Long said he has big dreams.
“I hope to be doing films, being able to support myself as an actor,” Long said. “I eventually want to go back to theatre. I want to go backpacking and traveling and get married.”
For now, Long said he is satisfied taking full advantage of what life has delivered him and will continue to be himself.
And that person is a nature-lover and big family guy. Long said when he’s not filming “Jack and Bobby,” he likes to drive an hour from his Los Angeles apartment to go hiking in the mountains or talk to his family via cell phone.
Theater professor James Brown is a friend and mentor to Long and can account for his character.
“In a short time, Matt became very famous,” Brown said. “He doesn’t exhibit that in his personality.”
Long said there is no reason to be pompous or to let fame go to his head, because he doesn’t know what tomorrow may hold for him.
He said he’s just thankful for what he has.
“I’m blessed beyond belief,” Long said. “The little things that go wrong day to day are molehills compared to what many people go through. It’s all phenomenal. I cherish each day.”
Reach Ashley Maines at features@wkuherald.com.
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