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John Matthew Atkinson (born December 27, 1988)[1] is an American actor. He is best known for playing the roles of Austin Travers on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless (2014 to 2015) and Thomas Forrester on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (2019 to 2024). He was also a regular cast member on the ABC Family series Jane by Design (2012).
Matthew Atkinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Matthew Atkinson December 27, 1988 Marietta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Spouse | Brytnee Ratledge (m. 2023) |
Atkinson was born in Marietta, Georgia. He has one sibling, an older brother. His father was a salesman and the family moved frequently because of his work. They lived in Alabama and Mississippi before returning to Georgia and settling in Kennesaw.[2][3] While growing up, he was a skateboarder and he played baseball. He became involved in theater while he was in high school.[4] After graduation, he moved to Atlanta to take college courses. He eventually decided to move to Los Angeles and pursue acting.[3] Atkinson is of Native American and Irish descent.[5]
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Atkinson made his film debut in The Blind Side (2009).[6] He guest starred on One Tree Hill, Drop Dead Diva, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.[7][8] He appeared in the short films 3 1/2 and Why You Goin' Out With My Sister?[3]
In 2012, Atkinson guest starred on the web series Fletcher Drive.[9] He joined the cast of Hot Mess, a pilot for MTV that wasn't picked up.[10] He became a regular cast member on the ABC Family series Jane by Design, playing Nick Fadden.[11] After the cancellation of Jane by Design, Atkinson had a recurring role as Zach on Parenthood, playing the role from 2013 to 2015.[12][13] He guest starred on Newsreaders in 2014.[3]
Atkinson was cast as Austin Travers on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless in March 2014. The role was initially recurring, but he was soon put on contract. His first airdate was April 17, 2014.[14][15] The character was killed off in February 2015, but Atkinson continued to appear in flashbacks, last airing August 13, 2015.[16] He guest starred on The Middle and Young & Hungry in 2015.[7][8] He appeared in the short films Happily Ever After and All In.[3]
In 2016, Atkinson appeared in the Lifetime movie Inspired to Kill.[4] In 2017, he starred in the TV movie Sisters of the Groom.[17] Atkinson guest starred on Powerless. He also had a recurring role on NCIS: Los Angeles.[8] Atkinson played Josh in the film Eruption: LA in 2018.[18]
Atkinson joined the cast of the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Thomas Forrester. His first airdate was March 14, 2019. The role had previously been played by Pierson Fodé, who left the show in 2018.[19][20] Atkinson played Griff Shores in the Lifetime movie Psycho Party Planner in 2020.[21] He had a recurring role on Everyone is Doing Great in 2021.[22]
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Atkinson plays both acoustic and electric guitar. He has also played the saxophone, piano, xylophone, and drums, but mostly considers himself to be a guitarist.[2]
He has run marathons in Chicago, Big Sur, and Atlanta.[5]
Atkinson met actress Brytnee Ratledge at the gym and they later reconnected on social media. They were married in Lake Tahoe on November 8, 2023.[23] In July 2024, they announced that they are expecting their first child.[24]
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Blind Side | Valet Parker | |
| 3 1/2 | Secret Service No.1 | Short film | |
| 2010 | Why You Goin' Out with My Sister? | Alex | Short film |
| 2015 | Happily Ever After | Jake Ryan | Short film |
| 2016 | All In | Tommy | Short film |
| 2018 | Eruption: LA | Josh |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | One Tree Hill | Nathan Actor | Episode: "Screenwriter's Blues" |
| Drop Dead Diva | Kyle Nevins | Episode: "The 'F' Word" | |
| 2010 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Barry | Episode: "Fracked" |
| 2012 | Jane by Design | Nick Fadden | Series regular;
18 episodes |
| 2013 | Hot Mess | Nick Jones | Unaired pilot |
| 2013–2015 | Parenthood | Zach | 8 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | The Young and the Restless | Austin Travers | Series regular: April 17, 2014 – August 12, 2015 |
| 2014 | Newsreaders | Zack Frost | Episode: "The Journey of an iPhone; Restaurant Plague" |
| 2015 | The Middle | Finn | Episode: "Flirting with Disaster" |
| Young & Hungry | Jason | Episode: "Young & Earthquake" | |
| 2016 | Sisters of the Groom | Ben Reynolds | Television film |
| 2017–2018 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Keith Stiger | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Inspired to Kill | Jason | Television film |
| Powerless | Alex / Olympian | Episode: "Sinking Day" | |
| 2019–2024 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Thomas Forrester | Series regular |
| 2020 | Psycho Party Planner | Griff Shores | Television film |
| 2021 | Everyone is Doing Great | Jaxson "Jax" Bridger | 3 episodes |
Web series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Fletcher Drive | The Perfect Boyfriend | Episode: "The Perfect Boyfriend" |
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