Biography
Matthew Barker was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Bart and Patti Barker. At the time of Matthew’s birth, his father was a reporter for the Deseret News in Salt Lake City and a journalism student at the University of Utah. Before completing his degree, Bart was elected as a Salt Lake County Commissioner at age 25 and served three terms from 1980 to 1990. Matthew’s mother was a dedicated stay-at-home mom. He is the eldest of seven siblings.
From a young age, Matthew was passionate about the arts and creativity. He enjoyed drawing, painting, inventing games like board games, and writing poetry and short stories. Around age ten, he had a small part in a home movie made by a friend’s older brother, which sparked his interest in acting.
When Matthew was twelve, the family relocated to Fairfield, Connecticut, where his father took a position as vice president of a software company. During their time in Connecticut, Matthew’s fascination with acting grew. Inspired by movies like Newsies and The Mighty Ducks, he reached out to the directors to learn how to pursue acting. One person involved with The Mighty Ducks kindly sent him a package containing set photos, promotional items, and a letter with encouragement and advice. Shortly after, Matthew began taking acting lessons at the Soap Set Acting Studio.
At fifteen, the family returned to Salt Lake City to be closer to relatives. Matthew continued his acting education by enrolling in the Professional Actors Workshop with Lance Williams. He secured representation from a local agency and had professional headshots taken. Soon after, he landed his first role as a skateboarder in an industrial promotional spot. He then auditioned for and won the supporting role of Simon in Wish Upon a Star, starring alongside Katherine Heigl. Over the next several years, Matthew appeared in commercials, television shows, and films, working with actors such as Kristen Bell, John Ritter, Freddie Prinze Jr., Henry Winkler, and Rick Schroeder. He was also featured in the first commercial for Overstock.com.
Currently, Matthew has shifted his focus toward writing and entrepreneurship. However, his passion for film and acting remains strong, and he may return to the screen someday.
