Jack Deveraux played by Matthew Ashford

When Jack Deveraux, the adopted son of Anjelica and Harper Deveraux, first appeared in Salem in 1987 he was suffering from Hodgkin's disease. Shortly after, Jack met Jennifer Rose Horton and put his horrible past behind him.

Jack wasn't always the nice guy. He raped his first wife Kayla and blackmailed his own father (a criminal in his own right). However, the day that Jennifer joined the newspaper's staff as a college intern was a turning point in Jack's life. Jack and Jennifer were married and had a beautiful daughter, Abby. Their relationship has been a nonstop ride every since. One of the wilder "developments" was when Jack unknowingly had a brief affair with Jennifer's mom, Laura. Of course, that ended once they realized each other's true identities, and Jack focused on winning Jennifer back from Peter Blake.

The family moved to Africa in 1998, and Jennifer returned to Salem solo a couple of years later. Alice Horton tipped Jack off, and he too returned to keep his family together.

Soon, Jack and Jennifer remarried and co-hosted a talk show, "In the House." After what seemed like only moments of re-wedded bliss, the Salem Stalker attacked Jack. As he hovered near death, Jennifer made the heartbreaking decision to "pull the plug." She didn't realize he wasn't really dead - and Jack continued to live on the island with other stalker victims. He was, in fact, integral to their eventual escape as he managed to send messages to Jennifer that convinced her, now pregnant, to go and search for him.

Miraculously, Jennifer and Jack found each other out in the jungle, where she gave birth to their son Jack Jr. with the assistance of Patrick Lockhart. During the later escape from the island, Jack was once again presumed dead - but was actually being held captive by Tony DiMera in a remote European castle.

Eventually, Jack made it back to Salem and enjoyed another blissful reunion with his true love, Jennifer. However, he was diagnosed with a deadly illness and staged his own death to save his family from the pain. Jennifer found out the truth and was as angry with him as she'd ever been for letting her think he was dead when he wasn't. They then discovered a new drug that made him healthy again.

When Jennifer returned to Salem in November 2010, she reported that Jack had gone on a "walk about" and had left her to find himself again. Her anger at his disappearance caused her to file for divorce.

Matthew Ashford plays Jack Deveraux

Matthew Ashford, graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, is widely known for playing Jack Devereaux on NBC'S, DAYS OF OUR LIVES and has just finished filming, WINNING FAVOR, FUZZTRACK CITY, THE UNLIKELY'S, SOCIAL SECURITY GUARD and CHRONICLES OF AN EXORCISM, which he co-wrote, produced and played Father Lucas. In addition to playing contract roles on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, SEARCH FOR TOMORROW, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, and GENERAL HOSPITAL, Matthew's film and television work include SPECIES, BILLY'S HOLLYWOOD SCREEN KISS, BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES, DHARMA AND GREG, PROVIDENCE, OH BABY!, BURKE'S LAW, QUANTUM LEAP, PACIFIC BLUE, CHARMED and Tom Clancy's miniseries NET FORCE. Most recently, Matt appeared as Steve Jensen on the indie drama THE BAY.

Theatrically, one of Matt's biggest roles came as Bill Austin in the National touring company of MAMMA MIA!. Matt has starred in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, FUNNY GIRL, COUNSELOR AT LAW, 110 IN THE SHADE, DRACULA, ARSENIC AND OLD LACE and THE NERD. Matt received rave reviews from the LA Times for his portrayal of Officer Lockstock in the LA Premiere of URINETOWN. He received the Artistic Director Achievement Award for Lead Actor in a Musical for INTO THE WOODS in which he portrayed the Wolf/Prince. Other roles include the Soldier/Alex in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, Carl Magnus in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, Mike in NO STRINGS , Walter in CHESS, and Thomas Jefferson in 1776.

Matt is a Founding Board member of Retinoblastoma International dedicated to the worldwide elimination of blindness and death due to this devastating infant eye cancer, (website-www.retinoblastoma.net). Matt is also a member of Soka Gakkai International, a worldwide peace organization, and a member of the Board of Visitors for the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Matt and his wife, singer/actress Christina Saffran Ashford, just finished the two-person show I DO! I DO! with the Sacramento Music Circus. Matthew will mark 2011 by appearing in the film CATCH OF A LIFETIME and by returning to the role of the much-loved Jack on DAYS OF OUR LIVES for its refresh on September 26th. He resides in Los Angeles with Christina Saffran Ashford, and their two daughters, Grace and Emma.