Age: 48
Birthplace: East Williston, New York, U.S.
Daniel Peter "Danny" Masterson (born March 13, 1976) is an American actor and disc jockey known for his role as Steven Hyde in That '70s Show. His most recent television work was as Jameson Bennett in The Ranch. He is also a mixing and mastering engineer and operates Danny Mastering and Mixing from his home studio.
Masterson was born on Long Island, New York, the son of Carol, a manager, and Peter Masterson, an insurance agent. His brother is actor Christopher Masterson, his half-brothers are Jordan Masterson and Will Masterson, and his half-sister is actress Alanna Masterson. Masterson was a child model from the age of four who was featured in magazine articles, as well as television commercials beginning at age five. Masterson was also involved in theater, and starred in musicals as a child at the age of eight, and began acting as well. His singing voice "disappeared" by the time he was a teenager. By the time he was sixteen, he had appeared in over one-hundred commercials, including ones for Swift Premium sausage, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Hardee's, Hostess, Tang, and Clearasil.
In the early 1990s, Masterson had a role in Beethoven's 2nd, and also starred as Justin in Cybill. These roles launched a film career, including a minor role in the John Travolta film Face/Off. After starring in the third and fourth seasons of Cybill, Masterson decided he wanted to move on from Cybill and audition for a show originally titled Teenage Wasteland, which later was changed to That '70s Show. The original casting director for That '70s Show, Debby Romano, resisted Masterson's audition because he was slightly older than the rest of the cast, but ultimately allowed him to audition. She stated that, "he came in and he was just so funny", and that he redefined where the role was going and made the role of Steven Hyde the, "tough, funny guy".
Masterson appeared in all eight seasons of That '70s Show. His appearance on That '70s Show launched a breakthrough in Masterson's career, allowing him to pursue other endeavours between tapings. After the show concluded Masterson starred in several movies and made guest appearances on television shows including Punk'd and MADtv. Along with Kutcher and Valderrama, he co-hosted the Fox TV special Woodstock 1999. He had a part in the 2008 comedy Yes Man. Masterson stars with his real-life wife, Bijou Phillips, in the 2009 drama The Bridge to Nowhere. In 2011, Masterson guest starred as James Roland in USA Network's White Collar in the episode "Where There's A Will." Masterson was supposed to have a lead role in Spike's new television series, Playing With Guns. Spike TV dropped the project in 2010, and was picked up by Comedy Central 2011, but also ended up being dropped. Masterson portrayed the high-profile American social activist Jerry Rubin in the 2010 movie, The Chicago 8, written and directed by Pinchas Perry. The Chicago 8 is a film based on the actual Chicago Eight in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and explores the events around the trial. It was filmed in September and October 2009. The film is based closely on the trial transcripts and most of the action takes place in the courtroom.
In 2012, the comedy series Men At Work premiered on TBS, co-starring Masterson and Michael Cassidy, James Lesure and Adam Busch. In 2012, Masterson also appeared in the film Alter Egos, directed by Jordan Galland.
In 2015, it was confirmed that Masterson will appear in the new series of Netflix The Ranch along with Ashton Kutcher and Elisha Cuthbert.
Masterson began DJing in 1999 as a hobby, but it soon became a side business in addition to his acting and entrepreneurial careers. Masterson frequently DJs at Los Angeles night clubs under the name DJ Mom Jeans, formerly DJ Donkey Punch. He came up with the name DJ Mom Jeans from That '70s Show, because Mila Kunis and Laura Prepon had to wear mom jeans regularly and he would make fun of them. Masterson is a self-described "rock and hip hop fanatic", and is also a fan of indie, electro, and funk music, all of which he primarily DJ's with. He is a fan of 1970s rock music, and his favorite band is Pearl Jam. Some of his other favorites include Broken Social Scene, The Strokes, Tokyo Police Club, and Midlake. He played a 2-hour set at the 2008 Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, played for the 2009 Lollapalooza, and for the 2010 Lollapalooza as well. Additionally, with local nightlife impresario Brent Bolthouse, he co-hosted a Monday night radio show titled Feel My Heat, on Indie 103.1 in Los Angeles for 6 years. The show was canceled in October 2008.
Masterson owns a lounge and bar in Park City, Utah called Downstairs, located at 625 Main Street. He often visits Park City to vacation and DJ at Downstairs.
Masterson still models occasionally, and he has been on the covers of many magazines, including Paper Magazine and YRB Magazine.
He is also a well-known poker enthusiast, stating "The most I've lost is a couple of grand and the most I've won is a lot more than that." He appeared as part of a poker team, the Unabombers, at a Poker Royale: James Woods vs. the Unabombers tournament on GSN. He has also hosted celebrity poker events, such as the Phat Farm Stuff Casino Weekend Poker Tournament, in which he won the tournament. Masterson, his brother Chris, and his That '70s Show costar Laura Prepon are all investors in Card Player magazine.
Masterson is a Scientologist. He started dating Bijou Phillips in 2005, they became engaged in 2009, and subsequently married on October 18, 2011. They had their first child, daughter Fianna Francis Masterson, on February 14, 2014.
Masterson has also been involved with the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project, a controversial organization with ties to the Church of Scientology. He also played in a charity softball game in New York's Central Park to help raise money for children in need of neurosurgery, designed guitars for a MusiCares fundraiser, and has performed in plays on stage for charities such as The Hollywood Police Activities League (a national youth development program for at-risk youth) as well. He has also played on the World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational for the charity Chrysalis, with all proceeds going to said charity. He has also played the World Series of Poker's Ante up for Africa event.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Beethoven's 2nd | Seth | |
1995 | Bye Bye Love | Mikey | |
1997 | Face/Off | Karl | |
1997 | Trojan War | Seth | |
1997 | Star Kid | Kevin | |
1998 | Wild Horses | Danny | |
1998 | Too Pure | Tipper | |
1998 | The Faculty | "Fucked-up" kid | |
1999 | Dirt Merchant | Dirt Merchant | |
2000 | Dracula 2000 | Nightshade | |
2001 | Alex in Wonder | Patrick | |
2002 | Hip, Edgy, Sexy, Cool | ||
2002 | Comic Book Villains | Conan | |
2002 | Hold On | ||
2005 | Pancho's Pizza | ||
2006 | Puff, Puff, Pass | Larry | |
2007 | Smiley Face | Steve | |
2007 | You Are Here | Derek | |
2008 | Yes Man | Rooney | |
2008 | The Brooklyn Heist | Fitz | |
2009 | Wake | Shane | |
2009 | Made for Each Other | Morris "The Executioner" Rodriguez | |
2009 | The Bridge to Nowhere | Kevin | |
2012 | The Chicago 8 | Jerry Rubin | |
2012 | Alter Egos | Jimmy | |
2012 | California Solo | Paul | |
2015 | In Passing | Neighbor | Short film |
2015 | The Polterguys | Tim Burr | Completed |
2015 | Killing Winston Jones | Ethan Jones | Post-production |
2015 | Hot Bot | Agent Koontz | Post-production |
2016 | Urge | Neal | Post-production |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | Jake and the Fatman | Butch | Episode: "After You're Gone" |
1993 | Joe's Life | Leo Gennaro | 11 episodes |
1994 | Roseanne | Jimmy Phillips | 2 episodes |
1994-1997 | NYPD Blue | John | 2 episodes |
1995 | Extreme | Skeeter | 7 episodes |
1996 | American Gothic | Ray | Episode: "Rebirth" |
1996 | Seduced by Madness | Seth | Television film |
1996 | Tracey Takes On... | King the Dog | Episode: "Family" |
1996 | Party of Five | Matt | 3 episodes |
1996 | Her Last Chance | Ryan | Television film |
1996-1998 | Cybill | Justin Thorpe | 15 episodes |
1997 | Sliders | Renfield | Episode: "Stoker" |
1998-2006 | That '70s Show | Steven Hyde | Main Cast; 200 episodes Nominated - Teen Choice Award for TV Choice Sidekick Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Best Performance in a TV Series by a Young Ensemble |
2001 | Strange Frequency | Randy | Television film |
2001 | Grounded for Life | Vince | Episode: "Baby You Can't Drive My Car" |
2001 | How to Make a Monster | Jeremy | Uncredited; Television film |
2002-2004 | MADtv | Various | 2 episodes |
2003 | King of the Hill | Chris | Voice; Episode: "Megalo Dale" |
2003 | Robot Chicken | Various | Voice; 2 episodes |
2003 | Stephen King's Dead Zone | Dr. Alex Conners | Episode: "Vanguard" |
2005 | Entourage | Himself | Episode: "Aquamansion" |
2006 | Kim Possible | Quinn | Voice; Episode: "And the Mole-Rat Will Be CGI" |
2011 | Raising Hope | Lucy's Boyfriend | Episode: "Don't Vote for This Episode" |
2011 | White Collar | James Roland | Episode: "Where There's A Will" |
2012-2014 | Men at Work | Milo Foster | Main cast; 30 episodes |
2012 | Supah Ninjas | Limelight | Episode: "Limelight" |
2013 | Haven | Anderson Harris | Episode: "Shot in the Dark" |
2014 | Royal Pains | David Van Dyke | Episode: "Ganging Up" |
2016 | The Ranch | Jameson “Rooster” | Series Regular; Filming |
2016 | @midnight | Himself | 1 episode |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Cheap Trick - That 70's Song (In the Street) | Hyde | With Cast of That 70's Show |
2011 | Eduardo Fresco - The Way I Fiesta (ft. Clayton Vice) | DJ |
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2008 | The Brooklyn Heist | Producer; Jury Award for Best Florida Comedy |
2014 | Men at Work | Producer; 10 episodes |
2016 | The Ranch | Co-Executive Producer |