Matthew Barker

Matthew Barker was born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Bart and Patti Barker. When Matthew was born his father was a reporter with the Deseret News in Salt Lake City and a journalism major at the University of Utah. Before finishing his degree, at the age of 25 he was elected as a Salt Lake County Commissioner and was re-elected twice, serving from 1980 - 1990. Matthew's mother had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom. Matthew is the oldest of 7 children. As a child, Matthew loved the arts and enjoyed the creative process. He loved to draw, paint, make up games (such as board games), write poetry and short stories, etc. When Matthew was about 10 years old his friends older brother was making a home movie with his friends and allowed Matthew and his friend to have a small part and a seed was planted. At the age of twelve the family moved back east where his father had been hired as the vice president of a software company in Fairfield, Connecticut. During their time in Connecticut Matthew developed an interest in acting. He loved the movies Newsies and Mighty Ducks and wrote to the directors, asking how he could get into acting. One of the people with Mighty Ducks was very kind and sent Matthew a package with pictures from the set, as well as some promotional materials and a letter of encouragement and advice. Soon after, Matthew began taking acting classes at the Soap Set Acting Studio. At the age of 15 Matthew's family moved back to SLC to be near to family. Matthew continued his acting classes by enrolling at the Professional Actors Workshop with Lance Williams. At this time he found representation with a local agency and had professional acting head shots taken. Shortly thereafter he landed his first role as a skateboarder on an industrial promotional spot. He then auditioned for and landed the supporting role of Simon in Wish Upon a Star, alongside Katherine Heigl. Over the next few years Matthew acted in commercials, television and films, acting alongside Kristen Bell, John Ritter, Freddie Prince Jr, Henry Winkler, Rick Schroeder and others and was featured in the very first commercial for Overstock.com. Matthew has shifted his focus to writing and entrepreneurialism. Matthew still has a great love for film and for acting and may again, one day, return to the screen.