Mitch Longley
Encyclopedia
Mitch Longley is an American
actor. He is known for his role of Dr. Matthew "Matt" Harmon on the soap opera
Port Charles
from 1997-2000.
to John and Betty, a Food Services Executive and a Surgical Nurse. He was the second child born to the family, having an older brother named Matthew. At the age of 5, his family relocated to Rowayton, Connecticut
, and had his first yearnings to become an actor. As he was growing up, he performed in local plays, acting and singing. He was a student at Brien McMahon High School and was involved in various after school programs and athletics including band. He became an avid tennis player and his passion for this sport continues to the present day.
After graduating in 1989, Longley returned to his hometown in Norwalk, Connecticut
. In 1990, through a friend, he was able to meet the famed fashion photographer, Bruce Weber. Mitch subsequently met designer, Ralph Lauren
, and was hired by Lauren to be a fashion model in his ad campaigns. A director of the daytime soap opera Another World
noticed Longley's modeling shots in fashion magazines, and she was interested. In 1991, he was hired for his first professional acting job, young attorney, Byron Pierce. His personality and looks, including his beautiful long flowing mane of hair, were a hit with the fans of Another World. Longley stayed at the soap for a year and then left of his own accord. For a while, he spent his time traveling to places far and wide, everywhere from Denver to Cairo, Egypt. In December 1993, he permanently relocated to Southern California
to pursue his acting dreams.
Television Roles
Longley has appeared in several television roles since his debut in 1995.
Soap Opera Roles
Longley has appeared in several soap opera roles since his debut in 1991.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor. He is known for his role of Dr. Matthew "Matt" Harmon on the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Port Charles
Port Charles
Port Charles was a daytime soap opera which aired on ABC from June 2, 1997 to October 3, 2003. It is a spin-off of the serial General Hospital, which has been running since 1963 and takes place in the fictional city of Port Charles, New York...
from 1997-2000.
Early life
Mitch Longley was born in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
to John and Betty, a Food Services Executive and a Surgical Nurse. He was the second child born to the family, having an older brother named Matthew. At the age of 5, his family relocated to Rowayton, Connecticut
Rowayton, Connecticut
Rowayton is a section of Norwalk, Connecticut. Located on the Long Island Sound just 45 miles from New York City, Rowayton is a coastal New England village...
, and had his first yearnings to become an actor. As he was growing up, he performed in local plays, acting and singing. He was a student at Brien McMahon High School and was involved in various after school programs and athletics including band. He became an avid tennis player and his passion for this sport continues to the present day.
Career
Mitch attended college at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. He majored in Speech Communications with a minor in Philosophy. During his college years, he gave talks at several colleges in Boston regarding disability related issues, and sang in the Northeastern University choir. He completed internships through Northeastern such as working with disabled children in San Francisco.After graduating in 1989, Longley returned to his hometown in Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
. In 1990, through a friend, he was able to meet the famed fashion photographer, Bruce Weber. Mitch subsequently met designer, Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is an American fashion designer and business executive; best known for his Polo Ralph Lauren clothing brand.-Early life:...
, and was hired by Lauren to be a fashion model in his ad campaigns. A director of the daytime soap opera Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
noticed Longley's modeling shots in fashion magazines, and she was interested. In 1991, he was hired for his first professional acting job, young attorney, Byron Pierce. His personality and looks, including his beautiful long flowing mane of hair, were a hit with the fans of Another World. Longley stayed at the soap for a year and then left of his own accord. For a while, he spent his time traveling to places far and wide, everywhere from Denver to Cairo, Egypt. In December 1993, he permanently relocated to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
to pursue his acting dreams.
Television Roles
Longley has appeared in several television roles since his debut in 1995.
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- Van Driver (1996) - Vanishing SonVanishing SonVanishing Son is a short-lived syndicated action television series that was part of Universal Television's Action Pack. Starting as a series of four made for television movies in 1994, the series debuted on January 16, 1995...
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Soap Opera Roles
Longley has appeared in several soap opera roles since his debut in 1991.
- Port CharlesPort CharlesPort Charles was a daytime soap opera which aired on ABC from June 2, 1997 to October 3, 2003. It is a spin-off of the serial General Hospital, which has been running since 1963 and takes place in the fictional city of Port Charles, New York...
- Dr. Matthew 'Matt' Harmon (1997–2000) - General HospitalGeneral HospitalGeneral Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
- Dr. Matthew 'Matt' Harmon (1997–1999) - Another WorldAnother World (TV series)Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
- Byron Pierce (1991–1992)
Personal life
On March 13, 1983, after attending a Senior class party, Mitch was involved in a serious car accident in which he fell asleep at the wheel of his car a few blocks from home wrecking his car by plowing into a wall. He was 17 and a half years old when he learned he suffered a spinal cord injury and would be a paraplegic. While in rehabilitation, he graduated from high school and walked with the aid of braces on graduation day, accepting his diploma. Since the accident, Longley uses a wheelchair due to the accident leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.Quotes
- My disability is a huge thing to some people, but to me it's just a personal characteristic like hair color. I'm hoping that in a few years, it won't even be an issue for me as an actor because it will be so commonplace.
- I wanted to be an actor since I was a child, and my injury didn't change that.