Jason John Cook (born September 13, 1980) is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and film producer best known for the soap opera television roles of Shawn-Douglas Brady on Days of Our Lives (1999–2006, 2015), and Matt Hunter on General Hospital from 2008 to 2012. He is the writer, director, and producer of the feature film The Creatress, and most recently Four For Fun. Early life and education Cook was born in Camden, New Jersey to Bill Cook (a licensed civil engineer in California) and JoAnn (a pre-school teacher). Growing up in Somerdale, he has two sisters, Michelle and Janean, and a brother, Michael. When he was very young, his family moved to California. At an early age, Jason began studying the piano. As his musical skills improved, he got occasional jobs performing at weddings. He did not consider acting until high school, when he served as an emergency replacement in Whodunnit. A friend of Jason's mother, whose husband was an agent and manager for child actors, helped Jason get his first auditions and roles. Jason attended Westlake High School in Westlake Village, California and graduated in 1998. Jason attended Moorpark College, a two-year junior college, in Moorpark, California and completed his freshman year in the spring semester of 1999. While attending Moorpark College he was active on the speech and debate teams, competing nationally. Career Cook portrayed Shawn-Douglas Brady on Days of Our Lives from October 1999 and was very popular with fans, especially in Shawn's relationship with Belle Black. Cook elected to leave the show when his contract with Days of Our Lives expired in September 2006. On May 28, 2015, it was announced that he would reprise the role for the show's 50th anniversary in the fall of 2015. While on the show, Cook turned his attention to writing and directing films, making the indie film The Making of Triassic Park and later Social Security Guard, starring General Hospital co-star John Ingle. He left the show to pursue production full-time on Numb To Life, a documentary exploring pharmaceutical drug abuse, as his first feature documentary. On April 23, 2008, it was announced that Cook would be returning to Daytime TV on General Hospital as new character Matt Hunter. His first appearance was on June 26, 2008. Cook elected to leave General Hospital at the end of his contract to once again return to projects behind the camera.