“It’s the start and the end of my entire being,” says Greg Vaughan when asked what fatherhood and, in particular, Father’s Day, means to him.
Vaughan, a devoted and single dad of three, is in the midst of dropping off sons Jathan, 10, Cavan, 7, and Landan, 5, at various after-school activities when Digest catches up with him. “The everyday journey — it’s chaos at its finest,” sums up Vaughan with a laugh. “It’s just boys being boys … interactive, engaging, full of questions. They’re blossoming every day and growing so fast. I’m just doing my best to have a tremendous impact on their growth, raising them from boys to young men. We have an open line of communication, from my oldest to my youngest. Everything impacts them differently. There’s nothing I want them to be afraid to ask. They can be crazy and ornery, or very emotional and sensitive. So whatever I face, I deal with it as I see it.”
Fatherhood has been a welcome life change for the actor. “It has its most challenging moments and most remarkable encapsulated in this role, for which I am truly blessed,” he reflects. “I’m juggling three opinionated young minds. My eldest is like the mayor. He got the most attention, as most firstborns do. He’s a very social butterfly. He’s very creative and shy at the same time. My middle one is creative in an artistic way, but he’s very sensitive. He’s a ladies’ man, loves the girls, and the girls chase him at school, so he finds that to be amusing. My youngest is fearless and because he’s the youngest, he’s learning everything at a much faster speed.”
Vaughan feels that the key to maintaining the strong connections he has with his boys is coming up with activities that they can do together. “It’s like trying to burn their energy,” he smiles. “They like to be out and about. We go hiking, to the beach, go swimming. Last weekend we picked strawberries. We do homework together. Last night we read and prepped for a spelling test. I try to have a steady balance between their individual sports and their bonds with their friends.”
Despite the time involved in raising his brood while also being a working actor, Vaughan chooses not to see it as a challenge. “I face it head-on,” he explains. “I think as a parent, I made a choice to bring life into the world and they picked me to be their father, so I try to live beyond the expectations I have of myself. I try to give them everything and more. I always say in my household that it takes a team. So we have to be unified as one group, and we all help out. If I’m cooking and they’re eating, they have to take their plates and contribute to the house. Just being a helping hand teaches them to be independent.”
The most rewarding thing about fatherhood, Vaughan says, is “their joy. The pure gratification of giving them something. It could be the littlest thing. My eldest just turned 10 [in May]. Instead of something extravagant, he said, ‘I just want a birthday party at home,’ which was very fulfilling for me. I had about 25 of his buddies and teammates from sports and school. They all came over and had a big play date. It was amazing.”
Equally rewarding is the feedback that he receives from the parents of his kids’ pals. “The best compliment is when other parents invite your children to come over, or stay overnight. Afterward, I hear how well-behaved and respectful they were. I think that’s one of the most wonderful compliments you can get as a parent.”
Vaughan would love to see his Salem alter become a dad, but doesn’t expect it to happen in the near future. “Eric is still dealing with the death of Daniel,” he notes. Before returning to DAYS last summer to begin filming, he had a chance to talk to the producers and contribute ideas about the direction his character would take. When he exited in 2015, Vaughan admits he wasn’t happy with the way Eric was being written. “He had become a bit of a wuss,” the actor candidly assesses. “Now that he’s back, he has been changed by his time in prison. He has a stronger point of view.” Also changed is Vaughan’s appearance, with Eric now sporting scruff. “I think it’s really important for the character,” voices Vaughan. “It adds another layer to the changes that he’s gone through. It’s almost like a tool I can use as an actor to show what Eric has been through.”
Besides his work on DAYS, Vaughan will be back as Calvin for the second season of QUEEN SUGAR on OWN, which premieres on June 20 and 21. “Working on that show has been one of the best experiences of my life,” he beams. “[Creator/Executive Producer] Ava [DuVernay] has such a strong vision. We’re dealing with issues that are happening in the world today. It’s exciting as an actor to be a part of it. I’m honored and so proud. We filmed on location in New Orleans and everybody came together as a family.” That feeling of unity comes from the top, Vaughan points out. When the series was named Outstanding Drama Series at the NAACP Awards in February, Vaughan received flowers and a bottle of champagne from Executive Producer Oprah Winfrey. “She included a heartfelt letter,” he shares. “It meant so much to me that she took the time to write a letter thanking me for being a part of QUEEN SUGAR.”
Vaughan juggled his DAYS role with QUEEN SUGAR’s production schedule, which meant flying from coast to coast to film. “Both sides were so gracious in making it work,” he praises. Now, one thing Vaughan craves is sleep. “With three boys, I require more nap time,” he confesses. “It’s hard to accept, but I’m getting older!”
Screen Queens
The aftermath of Daniel’s untimely death brought Jennifer and Eric together. “They were two addicts carrying around all this pain,” Vaughan observes. “It was a completely unexpected pairing but it made sense.” Vaughan enjoys working with Melissa Reeves (Jennifer). “She’s very much like Ari [Zucker, Nicole]. You can throw her anything and she always comes through.” As for Zucker, who has announced her departure from the show, Vaughan supports her decision to pursue other opportunities. “Ari is a very talented actress. It’s good to step away and see what’s out there. Who knows? By leaving, maybe later the job will come back to her. It’s what happened to me.”
JPI
Did You Know?
• Vaughan first met co-star Galen Gering (Rafe) when they were modeling in Miami.
• His first steady gig was the 1996 series MALIBU SHORES, which also featured Susan Ward (ex-Meg, PASSIONS).
• He is a big fan of the New York Yankees.
Just The Facts:
Birthday: June 15
Hometown: Dallas, TX. “I still consider myself a country boy.”
My Boys: Vaughan has three sons, Jathan, 10, Cavan, 7, and Landan, 5, with ex Touriya.
On Location: When Vaughan filmed an upcoming Christmas movie, he brought his sons with him. “We filmed north of Toronto. The challenge was working and having my three boys with me. So during any downtime or off days, we were at the aquarium, Raptor games, bowling, snowball fighting and drinking lots of hot chocolate!”
Male Influence: “Growing up, I was surrounded by many great men in my life. I watched them and learned, taking it in like a sponge.”
As Seen On TV: Vaughan relishes any chance he gets to work with Josh Taylor, who plays his TV dad, Roman. “He is a good anchor for Eric. They really touched upon that when Eric was about to leave for prison. Roman knew just when to step in and when to step out. I think they have a great rapport and a solid relationship.”
