Norcross native Chandler Massey, who now resides in Los Angeles, initially appeared in the limelight when his father, former Secretary of State Lewis Massey, announced his run for the governor’s seat in 1998. A family friend had seen the boy hamming it up and suggested that Chandler introduce his father at a rally.
While Massey did not win, Chandler’s career is now starting to pick up steam. He recently scored the plum role of Will Horton on the daytime drama “Days of Our Lives” (weekdays, 1 p.m.; channel 11; NBC) and just wrapped his first feature film “Smash” in which he plays the lead.
The 19-year-old, who is quick to laugh and possesses a boy-next-door charm, had always wanted to act and found an early outlet via his parents’ video camera. Like a modern-day Little Rascal, Chandler would rally the neighborhood gang and direct and star in his own home movies.
“The main character was usually kind of a nerd who drank magic juice and instantly became the cool popular kid,” Chandler told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’d be pretty embarrassed if anyone saw those now.”
Chandler said his “Days” character started out as a “good kid,” but his character eventually follows a darker path. As Farrell Gamble in “Smash,” a tennis-centric teen romance, Chandler plays the love interest to a tennis star who experiences puppy love only when she is sidelined by an injury. Banking on his heartthrob good looks, the film is slated for release around Valentine’s Day, 2011.
His parents encouraged him to pursue acting, mostly because they saw that it made him happy, but also because Shay Griffin-Bentley, an Atlanta talent agent, and Gina Parrish, his high school drama coach at Norcross High School, saw something unique. They suggested taking his act on the road. When the Masseys expressed reluctance on the big move to Hollywood, it was reassurance from Parrish that helped push them to take the plunge.
“I told them that this was a rare opportunity in a child’s life,” Parrish said. “Besides, Chandler is the complete package. He’s got the looks, talent and the personality.”
Leaving his two younger siblings at home with dad, Chandler’s mother, Amy Massey, packed up and moved to Los Angeles last year with her son and within a year he scored TV roles on “Army Wives,” “Eastbound & Down,” and “One Tree Hill.” After returning to Norcross to graduate with his class, Chandler enrolled in classes at UCLA with a concentration in international business as a fail-safe and decided to make the West Coast his home. With his parents’ blessing, studies are on hold for now and he recently moved out of the dorms and into his first apartment.
“My first night in my own apartment felt a little strange, but then I got really excited when I felt the freedom,” Chandler said. “I thought to myself, hey, I can eat whatever I want!”
In spite of his newfound independence, Chandler confesses that he still calls his mother every day.
“We’re fortunate that Chandler is really down-to-earth and naturally humble,” Massey said.
Talk about grounded; what did Chandler spend his first big paycheck on?
"Well, it wasn't that big," laughed Chandler. "I didn't have a television and I didn't have anywhere to sit, so I got a big sofa along with cable and the Internet."
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
