“I’m the kind of person that needs something to challenge me or I’ll go crazy,” says Chandler Massey, who left DAYS in 2014 after a three-year run that also earned him three Daytime Emmys. “It really helped to have something to do.”
As Massey’s college studies winded down, DAYS invited him back and he jumped at the chance to bring a new spin to his portrayal as Sami and Lucas’s first-born son, Will. “I was 19 when I started on DAYS,” he points out. “For me, at that time, the world was still black and white. Soaps are all about complex emotions, and I wasn’t able to fully understand them all because I hadn’t experienced them. It’s been seven years since I first started on the show and I feel like I’ve grown up a little bit. I can better relate to these flawed characters on the show that sometimes make very poor decisions. So I think, hopefully, that has made me a better actor.”
Massey made an indelible impression with viewers as Will struggled with his sexuality in 2012 and finally found the courage to come out. “I had the benefit of being cast when they wrote the coming-out story,” he demurs. “So I just happened to be the actor who was on-screen when that happened. I’ve heard from a lot of people who said how much it meant to them and I’m proud that I was a part of it. I still have a box of letters that I keep at my desk.”
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Massey describes his first day back as surreal. “It felt simultaneously like yesterday and another lifetime,” he describes. “It also felt like being home. I went and sought out Galen [Gering, Rafe], because he’s the guy who makes everyone’s day better. When I see Galen on the call sheet, it just makes me smile.”
DAYS eased Massey back onto the canvas, carefully doling out his appearances, first using him as a vision that came to an inebriated Lucas, and next, haunting Sonny in his dreams. “It was awesome,” states Massey, “but it was also difficult for me because I wasn’t playing Will. The Will in drunk Lucas’s mind was very pure. He wanted what was best for his dad, and he was stern, telling Lucas to stop drinking. In Sonny’s dream, Will was very loving. I guarantee you that’s not who Will is going to be when he comes back, but that’s who he needed to be, because it’s how Lucas and Sonny remembered him.”
Working with Bryan R. Dattilo (Lucas) and Freddie Smith (Sonny) again was a welcome treat. “It’s great to work with Bryan and Freddie, because they’re both phenomenal actors and just so much fun,” praises Massey. “Both of them have this easy manner, and they joke around, which really helped dispel a lot of my nervousness.”
During Massey’s time away from DAYS, he followed the show whenever possible and witnessed Will’s affair with Paul. “Honestly, part of me was glad that I didn’t have to be there for that,” he candidly admits. “It would have been hard to play and still keep Will a sympathetic character.” The actor had a chance to meet Christopher Sean (Paul) at the DAYS 50th anniversary party in 2015. “I watched when Paul came out and spoke in Japanese on the phone with his grandfather. He was incredible. What I like about Christopher is he has a stillness on camera that is very powerful. I really like the character that he has crafted. When Paul was involved with both Sonny and Will, it would have been easy for a lesser actor to play him as weak or wishy-washy. He’s been trying to get me to work out with him, but have you seen his arms? He’s like a body builder. I’m not even close! But I love working with the guy.”
Whenever there is time, Massey goes to lunch with Smith and Sean. “Christopher always tries to buy our lunch,” says Massey. “You’ve gotta be really sneaky to try and pay for lunch before he does. He’s gotten me two or three times. Before one lunch, I went up to the cashier to pay and she said, ‘Oh, no. It’s already been paid.’ When I asked by who, she pointed at Christopher. So now we have this little competition going on to see who will pay for lunch.”
As he prepares to be back in the thick of things on the show, Massey notes, “My Twitter mentions have gone up. What is so amazing to me is, even though I was off the show for almost three years, people would daily post about Will, or wonder how I was doing. I was shocked that people still remembered. I’m even more shocked that they’re so excited, which is probably the reason why I’m so nervous. I hope that I can meet their expectations.” Fortunately, Massey is bolstered by what viewers will see happen. He enthuses, “The story Ron [Carlivati, head writer] has created is incredible.”
JUST THE FACTS
Birthday: September 10. “I’m not a big birthday guy. As a kid I never had parties. So my birthday this year was very relaxing. I played soccer, watched the Falcons game and FaceTimed with my family. It was good.”
Fare Thee Well: “I was sad that Ari [Zucker, Nicole] left the show. When I started, she was part of a Mount Rushmore of talent at DAYS that included Ali [Sweeney, Sami], James [Scott, EJ] and Galen [Gering, Rafe]. She’s an incredible actress. I’m sorry I didn’t get to work with her before she left.”
Three Peat: Of his Emmy wins, Massey says, “I was surprised the first time. The second time I wasn’t because I felt really strong about the work that Deidre [Hall, Marlena] and I did. The third time was the biggest surprise. I had been off the show for almost a year and I thought, ‘No way will they give it to me.’ I had also only submitted barely three minutes of work. I was honored to receive the award.”
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Hi, Neighbor: Massey’s dressing room neighbor is Marci Miller (Abigail). “She’s in my old dressing room, and a couple of times I’ve totally gone into her room by accident. Fortunately, she wasn’t in the room. If she had been in there changing, it would have been very awkward.”
Social Standing: Follow him on Twitter @ChandlerMassey or Instagram @therealcmassey.
DID YOU KNOW?
- He plays the keyboard.
- He changed his major from Mandarin Chinese to economics. “I’ve always been strong at math. I feel like I’m Sherlock Holmes solving the mysteries of the market.”
- His middle name is Abit.
CLOSE TO YOU
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During his time away from Salem, Massey kept in touch with DAYS actors, past and present. “I’ve stayed in touch the most with Deidre [Hall], Freddie, and Camila [Banus, Gabi]. Kate [Mansi, Abigail] and Casey [Jon Deidrick, ex-Chad] are still great friends. I text with Blake [Berris, ex-Nick].”
Now that he’s back, the actor enjoyed a reunion with twins Sydnee and Harper Udell (Arianna). “They’ve grown up to be just the cutest things ever,” he smiles. “When I was first on the show, I would spend a lot of time in their dressing room. I wanted them to be comfortable and feel safe around me. I didn’t want one of them to start crying because my face wasn’t familiar to them. But after being gone for three years, I came back and they were all about Camila. I used to be their favorite, now Camila has taken over, so I’ve gotta win their affection back.”
Getting back in the groove with Banus was seamless. “I kind of grew up a little bit with Camila at DAYS,” he notes. “We kind of just picked up where we left off. I don’t know what she’s been eating, but she has turned into the most gorgeous person. She’s absolutely beautiful.”
