Walt Willey

Walt Willey is an American actor. He is best known for playing Jackson Montgomery on the soap opera All My Children from 1987 to 2011. Willey was born in Ottawa, Illinois and was a member of the class at Ottawa Township High School. He attended Southern Illinois University, where he majored in sculpture. While in college, he played baseball against Drake Hogestyn, another future soap opera actor. In 1981, he left Illinois for New York City. His first soap opera role was that of Joe Novak on Ryan's Hope. After numerous Off-Broadway productions, including Dust Off with Dan Lauria, and stints on Another World and Ryan's Hope, Willey joined the cast of All My Children. Willey branched out into stand-up comedy in 1989, entertaining across the country. He headlined at famous comedy clubs such as Caroline's in Manhattan and the Comedy Store in California. He was a People's Choice Award nominee in 1992, and was named All My Children's 'Most Valuable Player' by Soap Opera Update's Reader's Poll. He was again awarded this honor in 1993. Willey regularly hosts charity fundraisers, and developed the 'Willey World Endowment Fund', benefiting children's charities.