Where Is Matt Shively Now? His Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth

Matt Shively is an American actor whose ascent into sitcom stardom was through his portrayals of memorable characters in TV series such as Ryan Laserbeam in “True Jackson, VP,” Sky in “Winx Club,” Jimmy O’Neal in “The Real O’Neals,” and Quentin Van Bryan in “Lopez vs Lopez.” His remarkable comedic timing and relentless pursuit to gain laughter from the viewing public have been the reasons why he has been given a steady flow of opportunities on TV since he took on his first role.

Early Years and Family

Matthew James Shively, Jr. was born on 15 September 1990, in Hanford, California. He spent his childhood in a middle-class suburban home with two siblings, raised by his mother and stepfather. Beyond these details, not much is known about his family, as Matt has been adept at keeping this aspect of his life private. In recent years, he has shared pictures of himself with his mother during special occasion, and.iIn heartfelt captions accompanying these posts, he expresses love and appreciation for his mom.

Those who knew him during his childhood often remarked that it was an understatement to say Matt was destined to be an actor. He caught the acting bug early in life, with anecdotes suggesting that he would casually recite lines from Shakespearean plays, much to the amusement of his parents. His early experiences in school and local community theatre provided him with a taste of eliciting feedback from an audience.

An often-repeated story highlights Matt’s inspiration to pursue a career in Hollywood after watching Shia LaBeouf on TV during fourth grade. Although he held immense respect for theatre actors and enjoyed performing on stage, in which he learned the intricacies of acting, Matt developed a fascination for performing in front of a camera.

Education

Limited information is available about Matt Shively’s educational background, except that his aspiration to become an actor began to take shape during his school years.

Career on Television

Matt has always been described as natural, a quality that made him stand out even in minor roles. Despite his innate talent, he quickly realized that Hollywood wasn’t all glitz and glamour. Like many aspiring actors, he faced numerous auditions and experienced rejection after rejection. However, his tenacity enabled him to overcome these challenges while juggling a part-time job. Matt also embraced guest appearances with minor, sometimes uncredited roles in movies and TV, viewing them as preparation for his breakout opportunity. Here are some of his notable works over the years:

“True Jackson, VP” (2008–2011)

While some actors attribute landing a main cast role to luck or describe their audition process as fun, Matt’s experience with “True Jackson, VP” was different. He underwent a grueling audition process at Nickelodeon network, being called back several times by the casting director. After reading the script for the role of Ryan Laserbeam, Matt was captivated by the character, firmly believing it was written for him. During the audition, he declared to the casting director that it would be the last time she’d see him, confidently stating, ‘I’m going to get this part.’ And he did.

The TV sitcom centered around 15-year-old True Jackson, played by Keke Palmer, who becomes the head of a fashion line for youth. Matt portrayed one of True’s best friends, a character who, despite being clumsy, eccentric, and not particularly intelligent, was always helpful and loyal. “True Jackson, VP” premiered in November 2008 and ran for three seasons. Matt’s performance revealed his ability to fully immerse himself in a character, with viewers finding it hard to differentiate Matt from Ryan. He quickly became a fan favorite, and some even attributed the sitcom’s popularity to his charming interpretation of his role.

“The Troop” (2011-2013)

Originally not part of “The Troop,” launched in 2009, Matt joined the series during its second season as a replacement for David Del Rio, who chose not to renew his contract, and Matt stepped in to help balance the storyline, portraying the character Kirby Bancroft-Cadworth III, a wealthy and smart young man. This role showcased Matt’s versatility, demonstrating a departure from his debut TV role and highlighting his ability to take on diverse characters.

“Winx Club” (2011-2015)

Matt showcased his natural talent for adapting to various characters and demonstrated a fearlessness in exploring different avenues of entertainment. In 2011, he extended his skills to lending his distinctive vocals to breathe life into one of the main characters in the animated series, “Winx Club.” Originally produced by Rainbow, Nickelodeon became involved in producing the latter seasons. Matt took on the voice role of Sky, and his performance was well-received, leading him to reprise the role until 2015.

“The Real O’Neals” (2016-2017)

After dedicated efforts to perfect his craft, Matt achieved another dream by securing a role in a mainstream network-produced TV series, “The Real O’Neals,” which aired on ABC. Matt shared that obtaining a part from mainstream networks was no easy feat, with some actors feeling as though they had won the lottery upon landing such roles. Despite undergoing the audition process three times before the casting director, Matt’s experience was generally smooth.

The TV series proved to be a hit, playing a pivotal role in solidifying his standing in the industry. The storyline centered around the O’Neal family, initially portrayed as a seemingly perfect Irish Catholic family that is shocked one day by a cascade of revelations. In the first episode, during a fundraising event attended by the O’Neals, a heartwarming discussion unfolded, with each family member sharing a long-held secret. The father revealed contemplation of divorce, the daughter admitted to being a thief and questioning her faith, the middle child came out as gay, and the eldest, Jimmy (played by Matt), disclosed his struggle with anorexia.

While the series garnered attention and received favorable ratings, it faced criticism, particularly from some members of the Catholic community who disliked the religious undertones targeting their faith. Additionally, certain misfired bisexual jokes drew scrutiny from some members of the LGBTQ community. Despite addressing sensitive issues that resonated with some viewers, the show lasted only a couple of seasons before studio executives decided to cancel it.

“Lopez vs Lopez” (2022 – present)

Matt claimed that being in the TV series, “Lopez vs Lopez,” was one of the greatest jobs he’s had in his career. He explained that he started filmed TV sitcoms in multi-cam in the first three years of his acting career, quite similar to performing on stage, which meant that all the scenes are filmed with the presence of a live audience. The actors could immediately receive a feedback from viewers. Apparently, he realized that he missed the experience, and was grateful to the series for making him enjoy it once again.

“Lopez vs Lopez” was a fictionalized version of real-life father and daughter, George and Mayan Lopez. Matt played the role of Quinten Van Bryan, Mayan’s boyfriend. He went to a grueling series of auditions, the last one was through an online video meeting. He was caught off guard as he never expected that George Lopez would be present in it. Matt was slightly nervous because when he received the call, he was in another house without the proper audition camera and lighting needed. He just taped the phone on the wall and just made do with whatever light he had in the house at that time. It was for a chemistry test between him, Mayan, and George. Matt shouldn’t have been stressed about it as it didn’t take long for him to receive a notification that he was chosen for the role. It premiered in November 2022 and was renewed for a second season.