Freddie Smith
Smith at the 41st Daytime Emmy Awards
Born
Freddie Matthew Smith

(1988-03-19) March 19, 1988 (age 35)
Ashtabula, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materEdgewood Senior High School (class of 2006)
Occupation(s)Actor, director, producer, writer
Years active2005–2020
SpouseAlyssa Tabit Smith (m. 2020)

Freddie Matthew Smith (born March 19, 1988) is an American television actor. He is best known for his character Sonny Kiriakis, the first openly gay contract role on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. He also briefly portrayed Marco Salazar in the new franchise of 90210 aired on The CW.

Career

After high school, Smith moved to Los Angeles, beginning his acting career in 2008 appearing a cameo role in the paranormal series Medium playing a senior boy which is unaccredited during that episode.[1] He appeared in the short film titled Weak Species co-starring Erik Smith[2] and in the film One Wish released in 2010. He also has done commercials for Kay Jewelers, Taco Bell, Carl's Jr, McDonald's and Verizon.[3]

On January 9, 2011 it was reported that he had joined the cast of The CW series 90210, in a recurring role as Marco, a gay soccer player who will become involved with Teddy Montgomery (Trevor Donovan).[4][5] He appeared in 5 episodes of the third season including the season finale. On July 17, 2011 The CW announced that Marco will not return in season 4 as Teddy's boyfriend, having broken up with him over the summer.[6] Besides 90210, he took up the role of Jackson "Sonny" Kiriakis in Days of Our Lives, the first openly gay contracted character in the hit daytime soap opera (Ryan Scott had previously played the non-contract, openly gay role of Harold Wentworth between 2000 and 2003).[7][8] Smith's character would become romantically involved with Will Horton, played by Chandler Massey, garnering immense popularity with fans and becoming the show's first same-sex supercouple (commonly referred to by the portmanteau "WilSon").[9][10] In 2013, Smith received his first Daytime Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Younger Actor category.[11] In 2015, Smith won a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Younger Actor. That same year, Smith announced his decision to depart Days of Our Lives; Smith returned for a guest stint in the months following his departure.[12][13] In April 2016, it was announced that Smith had re-joined the soap, and is scheduled to first appear in July.[14] In October 2017, the actor's character took part in a double Salem wedding. When asked what the wedding meant for Sonny and Paul (Christopher Sean) and without giving away spoilers Smith stated, "I mean, it's huge for Paul. This is his very first wedding, his first and only … For Sonny, it's a huge step forward because it shows that he's officially able to move on from Will … It's a huge stepping stone in their relationship."[15] Ultimately, the characters would not wed and Smith's character would eventually reunite with and remarry his true love Will Horton after Massey returned to the series.[16] In February 2020, it was announced that Smith along with Massey would both exit the roles as the couple would be written out of the show.[17][18] Smith made his last regular appearance on September 1, 2020.[19]

Personal life

Freddie Smith was born in Ashtabula, Ohio to Fred and Renee Smith. He grew up as an only child but is very close with two of his cousins. Smith "lived and breathed basketball" until his senior year in high school when a friend suggested he take a theater art class.[20] Smith graduated from Edgewood Senior High School in 2006.[1]

On October 6, 2014, Smith crashed his car in Kingsville Township, Ohio, near his alma mater, critically injuring his passenger, Alyssa Tabit.[1] He pleaded guilty to vehicular assault and DUI and was sentenced on February 18, 2015.[21] He was sentenced to two years' probation. His driver license was suspended for one year. He also was ordered to pay $1,400 in fines. Tabit wrote a letter to the judge asking for Smith to be spared prison.[citation needed] Smith married Alyssa Tabit on December 31, 2020.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Weak Species Jock 3 Short film
2010 One Wish Sara's Boyfriend
2015 Hiker Ryan Howland also director, executive producer, writer and editor

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Medium Senior Boy Episode: "But for the Grace of God"
2011 90210 Marco Salazar Recurring role; 5 episodes
2011 ACME Hollywood Dream Role Himself Episode: "Freddie Smith"
2011–2020 Days of Our Lives Sonny Kiriakis Series regular; 2011–15, 2016–2020
2013 Addicts Anonymous Gary Goldberg Recurring role; 6 episodes

Music videos

Year Title Role Artist
2018 "Give Me Your Hand" Himself Shannon K

Awards and nominations

List of acting awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
2013
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives Nominated
[22]
2015
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives Won
[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c Terry, Shelley (October 8, 2014). "Soap opera star crashes car in Kingsville Township". Star Beacon. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  2. ^ jaayro (2 May 2009). "Weak Species (2009)". IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  3. ^ TERRY, SHELLEY (January 25, 2012). "Edgewood graduate in Valentine's TV commercial". Star Beacon.
  4. ^ "Freddie Smith joins cast *minor spoilers*". TV.com. CNET. December 9, 2010. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  5. ^ Z., Martha (December 9, 2010). "90210 - Freddie Smith joins cast". SpoilerTV.com. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  6. ^ Martin, Denise (Jul 17, 2011). "90210 Season 4 Spoilers! Is Teddy Gone? Can Adrianna Be Redeemed? Will Naomi Have a Baby?". TVGuide.
  7. ^ Rice, Lynette (Jun 17, 2011). "Official: 'Days of Our Lives' begins gay storyline -- EXCLUSIVE". EW.
  8. ^ Di Lauro, Janet (June 15, 2013). "25 Facts About Freddie Smith".
  9. ^ "Media: Will & Sonny: Days of Our Lives' new supercouple!". E Wall Streeter. American Media, Inc. March 17, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  10. ^ "The Daytime TV Power Couple That May (or May Not) Surprise You". July 4, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
  11. ^ Reiher, Andrea (May 1, 2013). "2013 Daytime Emmy Awards nominations: 'Young and the Restless' leads with 23". Zap2it. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  12. ^ Goldberg, Michael (September 16, 2015). "Freddie Smith Returning to 'Days of our Lives'". Serial Scoop. United States: Blogger (Google). Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  13. ^ "Freddie Smith's "Emotional" DAYS Comeback". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc. 40 (42): 5. October 19, 2015.
  14. ^ Goldberg, Michael (April 13, 2016). "Freddie Smith Returning to Days of our Lives". Serial Scoop. United States: Blogger (Google). Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  15. ^ Wilson, Lori (September 28, 2017). "Freddie Smith and Christopher Sean Preview PaulSon's Chaotic Wedding". SheKnows Soaps. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
  16. ^ Fix, Christine (June 17, 2019). "Will and Sonny Remarry With Marlena Officiating". Soaps.com. United States: SheKnows Media. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  17. ^ SOD (February 12, 2020). "Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey Off DAYS". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  18. ^ Ausiello, Michael (February 12, 2020). "Days of Our Lives: Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey Poised to Exit in 'Sad and Shocking' Cast Shake-Up". TVLine. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  19. ^ Fix, Christine (July 27, 2020). "Freddie Smith & Chandler Massey's Last Airdates as 'Wilson' on Days of Our Lives". Soaps.com. United States: SheKnows Media. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  20. ^ Waldron, Robert (August 30, 2011). "Sonny Days". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. 36 (35): 44–46.
  21. ^ Terry, Shelley (February 19, 2015). "Smith avoids jail time in drunk driving crash". Star Beacon. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  22. ^ "The 40th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York, New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 1, 2013. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  23. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (April 26, 2015). "Daytime Emmy Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 27, 2015.

External links

Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series
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