| Matt Davis | |
| Birth Name: | Matthew Wadsworth Davis |
| Birth Date: | 8 May 1978 |
| Birth Place: | Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Occupation: | actor |
| Years Active: | 2000–present |
| Children: | 2 |
| Alma Mater: | University of Utah |
Matthew Wadsworth Davis (born May 8, 1978) is an American actor. He is mostly known for his roles as Warner Huntington III in Legally Blonde, Adam Hillman on the ABC comedy-drama What About Brian from 2006 to 2007 and Alaric Saltzman on The CW fantasy drama The Vampire Diaries from 2009 to 2017 as well as the spin-off series Legacies from 2018 to 2022. He starred on the short-lived CW mystery and horror drama Cult as Jeff Sefton, and had a recurring role on the CBS police drama as Sean Yeager.
Davis was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He attended Woods Cross High School[1] and the University of Utah.
In 2000, Davis was cast in the Vietnam War film, Tigerland as Private Jim Paxton and in the second installment of Urban Legend film series as Travis / Trevor Stark.[2] [3] The following year, Davis co-starred with Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair in the comedy Legally Blonde (2001), as Witherspoon's love interest Warner Huntington III.[4] [5] The film was a commercial success and garnered generally positive reviews from critics, grossing over $96.5 million in North America and $141.7 million worldwide.[6] He also appeared in Michael Bay's war drama, Pearl Harbor as Second Lieutenant Joe McKinnon in 2001.[7] Davis then played the role of Matt Tollman in the 2002 surfing movie Blue Crush.[8]
In the mid-2000s, Davis appeared in films such as Seeing Other People (2004), Heights (2004), Into the Sun (2005), BloodRayne (2005) and Bottoms Up (2006). That same year he began starring in the ABC comedy drama television series What about Brian as Adam Hillman, a lawyer and the best friend of the titular character.[9] He was in the show for two seasons until it ended in 2007.
Davis starred in The CW fantasy drama The Vampire Diaries, as Alaric Saltzman since 2009 and starred in the short-lived CW mystery and horror drama Cult, as Jeff Sefton that same year. He also played the role of Jeff Drake, an award-winning director of adult films in the comedy film Finding Bliss in June 2010.[10] [11] [12] Davis had a recurring role in the CBS police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation from 2013 to 2014 in the 14th season, as swing shift CSI Sean Yeager.[13] [14] He appeared in the sixth episode titled "Passed Pawns", the eighth episode titled "Helpless", and the 13th episode titled "Boston Brakes".[15] He later returned to the hit The CW show The Vampire Diaries for its sixth season as Alaric Saltzman once again as a series regular.[16]
Davis starred in The CW series Legacies, a spin-off of The Originals, from 2018 to 2022 where he reprised his role as Alaric Saltzman.[17] [18] He also starred as Nick Sinclair in the 2019 Hallmark Christmas film, Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses alongside Jill Wagner.[19]
In April 2024, it was announced that Davis will be starring in the upcoming NBC drama pilot Grosse Pointe Garden Society.[20]
Davis was married to actress Kiley Casciano on December 23, 2018, and their two daughters were born in 2020 and 2022, respectively.[21] [22] [23] [24] The couple's marriage ended in February 2024. Davis and Casciano share joint custody of their daughters. [25]
In April 2020, the headline #matthewdavisisoverparty trended on Twitter following a series of controversial posts by Davis that many fans had deemed racist and xenophobic. In response, he tweeted: "What I am NOT: is a racist, bigot, xenophobic, transphobic, homophobic, white supremacist, pedophile. All vile names I’ve been called by those on the Tolerant Left. Anyone who knows me knows these slanderous and despicable accusations are flagrantly untrue."[26] [27]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Tigerland | Private Jim Paxton | ||
| Travis Stark / Trevor Stark | ||||
| 2001 | Pearl Harbor | Joe McKinnon | ||
| Legally Blonde | Warner Huntington III | |||
| 2002 | Lone Star State of Mind | Jimbo | ||
| Blue Crush | Matt Tollman | |||
| Below | Odell | |||
| 2003 | Something Better | Skip | ||
| 2004 | Seeing Other People | Donald | ||
| Shadow of Fear | Harrison French | |||
| Heights | Mark | |||
| 2005 | Into the Sun | Sean Mack | ||
| BloodRayne | Sebastian | |||
| 2006 | Mentor | Carter | ||
| Bottoms Up | Johnny Cocktail | |||
| 2007 | Wasting Away | Mike | ||
| 2009 | Finding Bliss | Jeff Drake | ||
| S. Darko | Pastor John Wayne | |||
| 2010 | Waiting for Forever | Aaron |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–2007 | What About Brian | Adam Hillman | Main role | |
| 2008 | Pearson Junior "PJ" Bartlett | Episode: "Trade" | ||
| 2009 | Limelight | David | Television film | |
| In Plain Sight | Lewis Folwer | Episode: "Rubble With A Cause"; as Matt Davis | ||
| 2009–2010 | Damages | Josh Reston | Recurring role | |
| 2009–2017 | The Vampire Diaries | Alaric Saltzman | Main role (seasons 1–3, 6–8); recurring role (season 4); guest star (season 5) | |
| 2013 | Cult | Jeff Sefton | Main role | |
| 2013–2014 | Sean Yeager | 3 episodes | ||
| 2017–2018 | The Originals | Alaric Saltzman | Special guest star (seasons 4–5) | |
| 2018–2022 | Legacies | Alaric Saltzman | Main role | |
| 2019 | Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses | Nick Sinclair | Main role |