Born Matthew Chandler Cowles on the 28th September 1944, in New York City USA, he was a stage, film, and television actor, best known to the world as Billy Clyde Tuggle in the TV series “All My Children” (1984-1990, and again in 2013), and as Ferry Captain in the film “Shutter Island” (2010), among many other differing appearances. Matthew passed away on the 22nd May 2014 from congestive heart failure.
Have you ever wondered how rich Matthew Cowles was, at the time of his death? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Cowles’ net worth was as high as $10 million, earned through his successful career as an actor, which was active from the ‘60s until his death. Aside from TV and film appearances, Matthew also was successful on stage, appearing in such productions as “Malcolm” (1966), “The Indian Wants the Bronx” (1968), and “Dirty Jokes” (1976), for which he received Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play.
Matthew Cowles Net Worth $10 Million
Matthew was the son of Chandler Cowles, who was an actor and theatre producer, and his first wife Katherine Drexel Henry. His parents divorced when he was five years old.
Matthew made his debut in the mid- ‘60s, on stage in Edward Albee’s adaptation of James Purdy’s comic novel “Malcolm on Broadway” at the Shubert Theatre. He then secured another stage appearance, in Israel Horovitz’s “The Indian Wants the Bronx”, next to Al Pacino, and John Cazale. Then he moved onto a screen role, making his debut in the TV crime-drama series “N.Y.P.D.” in 1969 as Joe Czernak, and the same year made his film debut in Fred Coe’s Golden Globe Award- winning comedy drama “Me, Natalie”, starring Patty Duke, James Farentino and Martin Balsam. Matthew continued with film roles, appearing in such productions as “The People Next Door” (1970), and “The Friends of Eddie Coyle” (1973), among others, which only increased his net worth. However, his roles were only brief appearances, and he just couldn’t find a breakthrough role until the late ‘70s, when he created the role of Billy Clyde Tuggle in “All My Children”, He first appeared in the series in 1977, and stayed on the show until 1980. He returned for 1989-1990 season, and portrayed Billy once again in 2013. He received two Daytime Emmy Award nominations, first in 1978 in category Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series, and the second one in 1981 for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series.
Matthew continued in daytime dramas, appearing as Lonnie in “As the World Turns” in 1983, and then portrayed Eban Japes in “Loving” (1986-1987), which increased his wealth to a large degree. In 1986 he also appeared in Richard Benjamin’s comedy “The Money Pit” (1986), starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long, while in 1989 he shared the screen with Beau Bridges, Vincent D’Onorfio and Arthur Kennedy in the drama “Signs of Life”, directed by John David Coles.
He started the ‘90s with a minor role in the romantic comedy “Stella” that featured Bette Midler in the lead role, alongside John Goodman and Trini Alvarado, while in 1996 he appeared in the drama thriller “The Juror”, with Demi Moore and Alec Baldwin. The following year he was chosen for the role of Curtis Love in the daytime drama “The Bold and the Beautiful”, and appeared in 13 episodes of the highly praised show.
The start of the new millennium didn’t change much for Matthew, as he continued with his acting career, making an appearance in Neil LaBute’s comedy “Nurse Betty”, with Renée Zellweger, Morgan Freeman and Chris Rock, while in 2002 he featured in the mystery drama “City by the Sea”, next to Robert De Niro and James Franco, which only further increased his wealth. The next year he had a supporting role in the horror thriller “Season of the Hunted”, and in 2007 appeared in the comedy “The Living Wake”. Matthew struggled to make an impressive appearance throughout his career, and despite having more than 50 film and TV appearance to his names, has mostly gone unnoticed, though in 2010 he was Ferry Captain in the mystery thriller “Shutter Island”, directed by Martin Scorsese. This was also one of his last roles, aside from portraying again Billy Clyde Tuggle in a continuation of the TV series “All My Children” in 2013. Before his death, Matthew appeared in the short film “Family in Board” (2014).
Regarding his personal life, at the time of his death he was married to actress Christine Baranski, with whom he had two children. The two met after a party, when Matthew offered Christine a ride home on his bike, and the two married in 1983. Matthew was an avid motorcyclist. Previously, he was married to his “All My Children” co-star Kathleen Dezina from 1980 until 1983.
