Barry Watson: The Journey of a Prominent Actor
A detailed look at the life and career of Barry Watson, from his rise to fame in 7th Heaven to his battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma and his recent appearances in film and television.
Rise to Fame
Barry Watson rose to prominence with his role as a main cast member of the WB family drama 7th Heaven, playing the charming older brother Matt as part of the Camden family. After his breakthrough role on 7th Heaven, Watson went on to star in several other television shows including Gossip Girl, What About Brian, and Samantha Who?
7th Heaven Promo
Watson's Matt Camden was an emblem of a great big brother in that he was constantly trying his best to be a role model for the rest of the Camden kids. Matt is also very likable, outgoing, and easy to talk to, making him a clear fan-favorite character in 7th Heaven. Prior to 7th Heaven, Watson appeared in several television programs as a young adult, making his acting debut with Days of Our Lives in 1990 followed by guest appearances in The Nanny, Sister, Sister, Baywatch, and Malibu Shores.
Rise to Fame
Barry Watson made his feature film debut with Katie Holmes in Teaching Mrs. Tingle and later made an uncredited appearance as himself in Ocean's Eleven, which featured a star-studded cast of Matt Damon, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt. He starred in the 2005 horror film Boogeyman alongside Emily Deschanel and took a seven-year hiatus from acting in films until 2012's Kiss At Pine Lake.
Jill Scott and Barry Watson in Highway to Heaven
Health Battle and Recovery
Barry Watson was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2002, forcing him to step away from his acting career to focus on his health and recovery. He stopped acting to begin an intense six-month stretch of chemotherapy and was in remission when he started looking at life in a completely different way.
Watson is now 49 and is a survivor of Hodgkin's lymphoma. Watson told GQ in 2020 that he had been told three months into his chemotherapy sessions that the cancer had become undetectable but that he was still required to complete his six-month regimen. While Watson is still acting, he is much more focused on his family life and his joys and responsibilities as a father of several children. Watson married Natasha Gregson Wagner in 2014 and the two have been happily married since.
The entire ordeal slowed down his life in such a major way but Watson persevered through the difficult circumstances. Watson understandably has stated that going through that process has changed the way he values his health and life altogether.
Recent Work and Future Projects
Watson has most recently appeared in the CW action series Naomi, which follows a young woman's journey as she becomes a superhero. He also starred as Bruce in the 2021 Lifetime remake of Highway to Heaven based on the popular television series that ran from 1984 to 1989. Watson appeared in one episode of Into the Dark and portrayed Lachlan Murdoch in The Loudest Voice. Watson appeared in the 2019 movie A Dog's Way Home.
At the time of writing, Barry Watson has not announced any upcoming projects for 2024 but is fortunate to have his life, family, and acting career still intact.
