# Barry Watson (actor)

Michael Barrett Watson known professionally as Barry Watson (born April 23, 1974) is an American actor known for his roles of Matt Camden on 7th Heaven, Brian Davis in What About Brian, Todd Deepler in Samantha Who? and Lachlan Murdoch in The Loudest Voice.

## Early life

Watson was one of four children of Karen, a paralegal, and Michael Watson, an attorney.

## Career

Watson had guest spots in several television series such as Baywatch and Sister, Sister. Eventually he was chosen for a minor role on the Aaron Spelling series Malibu Shores. Though his role was brief, it led him to Aaron Spelling's next project, 7th Heaven.
It was on The WB's 7th Heaven that Watson finally gained much recognition for his portrayal as Matt Camden. Watson said in 2016 that his mindset at the time was one of wanting to get paid despite his unsureness in the project or why the people involved wanted him to participate in the first place. He stopped being a full-time regular after the sixth season, mainly due to his cancer diagnosis, but continued in a recurring and guest star status on the show until its 10th season. In his break from acting on 7th Heaven, he was brought in to write an episode by series creator and producer Brenda Hampton. He did not appear at all during the eleventh and final season.
In 1999, he starred in his first feature film with fellow WB star Katie Holmes in Teaching Mrs. Tingle. Watson hoped that his role in the film would help him avoid being pigeonholed by his role in 7th Heaven. During the production, Watson felt "strange" at times due to his being the only male on set, but had "an amazing experience" working with his co-stars. Watson directed two episodes of 7th Heaven in 2005, and likewise directed one episode of The Secret Life of the American Teenager in 2010.
In 2002, Watson had a starring role as Dave and his alter ego Daisy in Sorority Boys; his performance was met with a mixed reception amid the film being panned. In a negative review, Lindy Keffer of pluggedin.com lamented that Watson's presence in the film would bring it additional attention.
On April 16, 2006, Watson starred as the lead character, Brian Davis, in the ABC series What About Brian. The show ended its run on March 26, 2007. Watson also starred as Todd in the ABC series Samantha Who? In 2011, he played Pax in My Future Boyfriend, an ABC Family original movie. In 2012, Watson appeared on Gossip Girl as Serena Van der Woodsen's boyfriend.
In 2014, he enjoyed guest-starring roles on the television shows Masters of Sex and Hart of Dixie. He also starred in the television films Far from Home and The Santa Con.
In 2019, Watson starred in the Showtime drama The Loudest Voice, which tells the story of Roger Ailes and the rise of Fox News. Watson played Lachlan Murdoch, the son of media mogul and owner of News Corp, Rupert Murdoch.

## Personal life

Watson has been married three times. His first marriage was to Laura Payne-Gabriel, whom he met through actress Tori Spelling. He and Tracy Hutson had their first son, Oliver, in May 2005, and their second son in November 2007, Felix Watson. They parted in 2010. In May 2012, Watson and girlfriend Natasha Gregson Wagner, daughter of actress Natalie Wood, had a daughter. They married on December 21, 2014.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Teaching Mrs. Tingle | Luke Churner | MTV Movie Awards (nominated) Teen Choice Awards (nominated) |
| 2001 | When Strangers Appear | Jack Barrett | |
| 2002 | Sorority Boys | Dave/Daisy | Teen Choice Awards (nominated) |
| 2004 | Love on the Side | Jeff Sweeney | |
| 2005 | Boogeyman | Tim Jensen | |
| 2012 | Kiss at Pine Lake | Luke | |
| 2014 | Far from Home | Nicholas Bell | |
| 2015 | Ominous | Michael | |
| 2017 | An Hour Behind | Parker | |
| 2019 | A Dog's Way Home | Gavin | |
| 2019 | My Mom's Letter from Heaven | Connor Johnson | |
| 2021 | Highway to Heaven | Bruce | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | Days of Our Lives | Randy | 3 episodes |
| 1993 | Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman | Teen Boy | Television film |
| 1994 | The Nanny | Greg | Episode: "Everybody Needs a Bubby" (uncredited) |
| 1995 | Sister, Sister | Barney | Episodes: "Thanksgiving in Hawaii: Parts I & II" |
| 1996 | Baywatch | Thomas Edward 'Cowboy' O'Hara | Episode: "The Incident" |
| 1996 | Co-ed Call Girl | Jack Collins | Television film |
| 1996 | Nash Bridges | Trent | Episode: "Home Invasion" |
| 1996 | Malibu Shores | Seth | 4 episodes |
| 1996–2006 | 7th Heaven | Matt Camden | Main role (seasons 1–6 & 9); special guest star (seasons 7, 8, & 10) |
| 2006–2007 | What About Brian | Brian Davis | Main role |
| 2007–2009 | Samantha Who? | Todd Deepler | Main role |
| 2010 | Drop Dead Diva | Evan | Episode: "Good Grief" |
| 2011 | My Future Boyfriend | Pax | Television film |
| 2011 | The Chateau Meroux | Chris | Television film |
| 2012 | Gossip Girl | Steven Spence | Recurring role |
| 2012 | Wedding Band | Boboroff | Episode: "We Are Family" |
| 2013 | Wilfred | Michael | Episode: "Suspicion" |
| 2014 | Hart of Dixie | Davis Polk | Recurring role |
| 2014 | Masters of Sex | Shelley Decklin | Episodes: "Fight", "Blackbird" |
| 2017 | Date My Dad | Ricky Cooper | Main role |
| 2017 | An Hour Behind | Parker | TV Movie |
| 2018 | A Very Nutty Christmas | Chip | TV Movie |
| 2019 | The Loudest Voice | Lachlan Murdoch | Recurring role |
| 2020 | Into the Dark | Henry Cameron | Episode: "The Current Occupant" |
| 2022 | Naomi | Greg McDuffie | Main role |