Summary
- Barry Watson rose to prominence in the 1990s and 2000s for his role as the likable and outgoing Matt Camden in the family drama 7th Heaven.
- After 7th Heaven, Watson appeared in other television shows and films, including Gossip Girl and Ocean's Eleven. He took a break from acting due to a diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma but has since returned to acting.
- Watson's health issues have made him value his health and family more. He is focused on his role as a father and husband and continues to act in recent projects such as Naomi and the Lifetime remake of Highway to Heaven.
Barry Watson was a prominent film and television actor during the 1990s and 2000s known for his appearances in famous works such as 7th Heaven and Ocean's Eleven. 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?
Watson was born in April 1974 but did not get his acting career started until 1990. He made his feature film debut with Katie Holmes in Teaching Mrs. Tingle. 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.
What Barry Watson Has Done Since 7th Heaven
Barry Watson appeared in 155 episodes of 7th Heaven as Matt Camden. After last appearing in the season 10 finale of 7th Heaven, Watson continued his television acting career and expanded into feature films as well. 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. Watson was able to return for the 150th episode of 7th Heaven and returned as a guest until the series concluded after eleven seasons. He did not appear in the eleventh and final season of 7th Heaven and asked to take a break from the show after season 6.
Outside of 7th Heaven, Watson's most notable works include guest appearances in the popular FX comedy series Wilfred, the 2014 Showtime series Masters of Sex, and a main role in the Canadian-American series Date My Dad (2017). Watson 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.
Barry Watson's Health Issues Explained
Barry Watson was just 28 years old when he was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's lymphoma. 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. The entire ordeal slowed down his life in such a major way but Watson persevered through the difficult circumstances. Watson first detected that there might have been something wrong when he detected a small bump on his neck and reported feeling very lethargic, which inspired him to seek medical treatment.
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. Watson understandably has stated that going through that process has changed the way he values his health and life altogether. 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.
What Barry Watson Has Appeared In Recently
Watson has most recently appeared in the CW action series Naomi, which follows a young woman's journey as she becomes a superhero. Watson 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. He also 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.