Daytime television newcomer Jason Cook couldn't have asked for better "soap opera" genes; his character, Shawn-D, is the heir apparent to one of television's most beloved super-couples, Bo and Hope, on NBC's number-one daytime drama, "Days of our Lives".
Originally from New Jersey, the Cooks moved to Los Angeles when Jason was born. "I thought I wanted to play professional soccer when I was a kid," Jason explains. "One of my earliest memories is getting a soccer ball from my parents when I was a baby. I still have that ball."
Jason's first foray into show business was as a pianist. By age 12, Jason was adding to his allowance by playing the occasional wedding on the weekends and winning piano competitions. The promising musician never considered acting as a career until the lead in "Whodunnit?," the West Lake High School play, dropped out at the last minute. "I stepped in and learned the part in a week," Jason recounts. "After opening night, I came home and said, 'Mom, this is what I want to do with the rest of my life.'" As luck would have it, a very influential man was in the audience during Jason's theatrical debut. "My best friend's Dad, Bill Civitella, is a theatrical manager and after the play, he came up to me and said, 'Jason, if you want to be an actor, I'll help you.'"
Jason soon landed his first professional acting gig as the host for the Disney Channel's "Project Time," an arts and crafts demonstration show, which Jason juggled with his high school curriculum and rank as lead scorer on the soccer team. Jason starred as Tony in "West Side Story" and recently portrayed Dimitrius in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Civic Arts Shakespeare Summer Festival in Thousand Oaks, California.
Along with some friends, Jason recently formed the improv sketch comedy troupe "Severe Head Drama." The young thespian will demonstrate his improvisational skills this fall when he guest stars on Nickelodeon's "The Amanda Show."
Jason recently completed his freshman year at Moorpark College, where he was active on the speech and debate team, a skill he honed while at high school. Last year, the orator and his debate partner placed first in the California Community College Forensics Association Speech Competition.
Jason resides with his family in Los Angeles, California. His father, Bill, is an engineer who constructs rides for amusement parks and his mother, JoAnn, is a pre-school teacher and "devoted Mom." Jason has three siblings; older brother Michael owns a 'rent to own' store, younger sister Janean is a sophomore in high school, and older sister Michelle, a huge "Days" fan, is a human resource manager for American Express. The Cooks have two dogs, Cobi and Zoe, and a lizard named Diablo.
In his spare time, the 20-year-old actor unwinds by reading; Michael Crichton and Ken Follet are his favorite authors. Jason is currently working on a screenplay.
Jason has brown hair and brown eyes and stands 5' 11". Jason turns 20 on September 13 2000.
Shawn Brady was born to Bo and Hope Brady. Shortly after his birth, The Bradys left on a three-year cruise around the world. Although he has spent a good portion of his life without Hope, he has formed bonds with several "step-moms." He has always wished for a tight family unit and, with his mother's recent return to Salem, Shawn's dreams are coming true. The Brady's were put through quite an ordeal when Shawn was kidnapped by Stefano DiMera's thugs. Stefano planned to "save" the boy and thereby make himself out to be a hero. Shawn escaped, however, before Stefano's devious plan was carried out. Later, Shawn's jacket was found floating in the river and the Brady household braced themselves for the worse. Bo launched a search for his son and was relieved to find him still alive.
When Hope made the transition to Gina, she sent Shawn to the Westborough Academy. Recently, Shawn "broke out" of the boarding school and returned to Salem with a new bad-boy look and attitude to match. Back at home, Shawn openly voiced his concerns about his "mother." He sensed that something wasn't right about "Hope" but his father was too blinded by love to see the truth. Later, Gina/"Hope" forced Shawn to jump over the balcony during a wedding reception party at the penthouse grill. Shawn was injured and rushed to the hospital. Later, when "Hope" eventually died they found out that she may be Gina and Hope might still be alive, Shawn accompanied his father and family back to France to find his mother. Recently, the real Hope has returned to Salem and Bo and Shawn are enjoying a more stable family life.
Back at Salem High, Shawn established himself as a dominant force. He has managed to win the attention of the girls and has made fast enemies with Philip Kiriakis. Initially, Shawn and Philip were in competition over Belle Black, but most recently, Phillip has been trying to win Chloe Wesley's attention, and Shawn and Belles friendship and casual flirting is become a little more...
