A clean-cut heartthrob who racked up a handful of TV guest spots before landing his breakthrough role on the family-friendly
7th Heaven, Watson spent six seasons making teenage girls swoon. He segued to the big screen (
Teaching Mrs. Tingle and the cross-dressing comedy
Sorority Boys, which proved he could be equally dreamy in drag) during his tenure, before leaving the show in 2002 to pursue other projects. His plans came to a halt when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease that same year. After taking time off to tend to his health, Watson returned to the biz and to his small-screen family as a frequent
Heaven guest. In 2006, he landed a role as the title character in ABC's relationship drama
What About Brian?.
Barry Watson Fast Facts:
- Father was a lawyer and mother was a paralegal.
- Did some modeling as a teen; also parked cars at the House of Blues in Los Angeles.
- First professional acting job was a small role in the soap Days of Our Lives.
- Diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in 2002; helped out as a writer on 7th Heaven while undergoing chemotherapy.
- The mother of his child, Tracy Hutson, is a designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
- Barry Watson Relationships:
- Christie - Sister
- Felix Watson - Son
- Karen Watson - Mother
- Kip Watson - Brother
- Laura Payne-Gabriel - Ex-wife
- Michael Watson - Father
- Oliver Watson - Son
- Scott Watson - Brother
- Tracy Hutson - Fiancée