Walt Willey

Walt Willey (born January 26, 1951) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Jackson Montgomery on the soap opera All My Children from 1987 to 2011.

Willey was born in Ottawa, Illinois and was a member of the class of 1969 at Ottawa Township High School. He attended Southern Illinois University, where he majored in sculpture. While in college, he played baseball against Drake Hogestyn, another future soap opera actor.

Stage

In 1981, Willey left Illinois for New York City. His first soap opera role was that of Joe Novak on Ryan's Hope. After numerous Off-Broadway productions, including Dust Off with Dan Lauria, and stints on Another World and Ryan's Hope, Willey joined the cast of All My Children.

Willey branched out into stand-up comedy in 1989, entertaining across the country. He headlined at famous comedy clubs such as Caroline's in Manhattan and the Comedy Store in California. In 2009, Willey starred in a live theater performance of "The Odd Couple" with fellow "All My Children" star Jill Larson at Ottawa Township High School in Ottawa, Illinois. He played Felix Unger in three performances on July 24–26. Walt will play Oscar in the upcoming production of the same show at Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven NJ (October 21 to Nov 1). He continued to produce community theatre in Ottawa, presenting "Arsenic and Old Lace", "Plaza Suite", "Harvey", "Deathtrap", and "Auntie Mame".

Other media

In July 2013, Willey joined the soap opera web series Tainted Dreams, portraying soap opera actor Gregory Ashford.

In October 2013, he joined the cast of Indie Soap Award-winning web series Thurston. He played Edmund Snead, father of the outlaw Snead boys and husband to Colleen Zenk's "madam" character, Agnes.

Willey's current projects are: The "Wild and Willey Comedy Tour" and his one man show:"Wild Bill! An Evening with James Butler Hickok" Video on YouTube. He also speaks to students in the character of Wild Bill Hickok about bullying in his new anti-bullying campaign.

In 2014, he guest co-hosted "You & Me This Morning" on WCIU, the U, a Chicago entertainment television show.

Willey was a People's Choice Award nominee in 1992, and was named All My Children's 'Most Valuable Player' by Soap Opera Update's Reader's Poll. He was again awarded this honor in 1993.

Willey regularly hosts charity fundraisers, and developed the "Willey World Endowment Fund," benefiting children's charities. He resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his son, Chance, and daughter, Merit.