Biography
Mitch Longley grew up in Rowayton CT. As a child and teenager, he performed in local community and school plays, acting and singing. He was a student at Brien McMahon High School and was involved in various after school programs and athletics including band. He became an avid tennis player and his passion for this sport continues to the present day. On March 13, 1983, after attending a Senior class party, Mitch was involved in a serious car accident. He was 17 and a half years old when he learned he suffered a spinal cord injury and would be a paraplegic. While in rehabilitation, he graduated from high school and walked with the aid of braces on graduation day, accepting his diploma. A year later, Mitch entered college, attending Northeastern University in Boston Massachusetts. He majored in Speech Communications with a minor in Philosophy. During his college years, he gave talks at several Boston colleges regarding disability related issues, and sang in the Northeastern University choir. He completed internships through Northeastern such as working with disabled children in San Francisco.
After graduating in 1989, he returned to his hometown in Rowayton, CT. In 1990, through a friend, he was able to meet the famed fashion photographer Bruce Weber. Mitch subsequently met designer Ralph Lauren and was hired by Lauren to be a fashion model in his ad campaigns. A director of the daytime soap opera, "Another World", noticed Mitch's modeling shots in fashion magazines, and she was interested. In 1991, he was hired for his first professional acting job, young attorney Byron Pierce. His personality and looks, including his beautiful long flowing mane of hair, were a hit with the fans of "Another World". Mitch stayed at the soap for a year and then left of his own accord. For a while, he spent his time traveling to places far and wide, everywhere from Denver to Cairo, Egypt. In December of 1993, he permanently relocated to Southern California to pursue his acting dreams.
In 1997, Mitch was hired as an original cast member on the "General Hospital" spin-off, "Port Charles". His character, Dr. Matt aka Eric Mancusi, was hugely popular. After three years on PC, Mitch was ready for prime time, and again, as with "Another World", left PC of his own choosing. It was now the spring of 2000. The CBS hit series, "Judging Amy", soon came calling. Mitch auditioned for the fun role of a JFK type lawyer, and won the role. He appeared in seven episodes of this series, and while there, a second calling opened up to him. His co star at JA, Tyne Daly, encouraged him to study vocal performance, after she was impressed with his singing voice. Ms. Daly recommended him to her very own vocal teachers. In 2001, he began singing lessons, and vowed to perform in his own concert featuring famous songs. Mitch's role on Judging Amy came to an end, and in 2003, he took the part of Mitch Sassen, surveillance expert extraordinaire, on the NBC series "Las Vegas". In 2008, when "Las Vegas" ended, Mitch left Los Angeles behind and moved back to his hometown of Rowayton, CT.
