Daytime
television newcomer Jason Cook couldnt have asked for better "soap opera"
genes; his character, Shawn-D, is the heir apparent to one of televisions
most beloved super-couples, Bo & Hope, on NBCs 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."
Jasons first foray into show business was as a
pianist. By age twelve, 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 is 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 Jasons theatrical debut. "My best friends 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, Ill help you."
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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 southern 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 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". Jasons birthday is September 13th. |