Digital Journal | Greg Vaughan

Acclaimed actor Greg Vaughan chatted with Digital Journal about his 2018 Emmy win for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series," for playing Eric Brady on the hit NBC daytime drama series "Days of Our Lives."

On his 2018 Emmy win for "Outstanding Supporting Actor," Vaughan said, "That was overwhelming, exciting and unexpected. You just go with the greatest hopes and wishes, and hope for the best. I feel that we all came out as winners, regardless of what the outcome was. Being very close and dear to many of them, the show itself took the greatest prize of all, and it received accolades for best show, directing, writing and James Reynolds was recognized for 'Best Actor.' It was a night of much to celebrate."
In his Emmy acceptance speech, Vaughan gave a shout-out to his three children, and his mother for her guidance and support. "In that moment, there is so much emotion going on, and you are just trying to put all your thoughts and emotions into words. It's not an easy thing to do since it's unscripted. I pulled it all together and it came out better than I had hoped," he said. 'My mother was tremendously touched, and overjoyed with the recognition."

When asked what motivates him each day, Vaughan acknowledged that his three kids are his biggest motivation in life. "I don't take work for granted. I very much appreciate and value what I do for a living," he said. "I'm continuing the same journey, and I am always trying to add a little spark to everything that I do."

On the key to longevity in acting, he said, "Trusting your choices, and being true to who you are. Having a very strong faith in life, knowing that there is a sense of purpose, and a purpose for being here and making a difference in whatever way, shape and form that we can. I always remind my kids to follow their dreams. You have your obstacles in life, but at the same time, it doesn't mean that it's not in your path, or not meant to happen. It's the challenge, and I love it so much. I feel very grateful and I have so much respect for all those that work tirelessly in our job. We are the hardest working actors in our line of work."

Over the last 15 years, Vaughan admitted that with "age comes wisdom." "I see a lot of growth. I have a lot of life experience to draw from, and that has given me a lot of dynamic, and the ability to shape and create the character," he said.

Speaking of character, Vaughan reflected on his favorite and least favorite qualities of Eric Brady. "Being a twin, Sami being the rebel without a cause, and trying to live in a cleaner light, in the devil and the angel comparison, I will always be the 'good boy' to the viewer. I like that Eric is very strong to his core, he has family values and he fights for the truth," he said. "At the same time, he has his own flaws, and his own sense of purpose in life, and he is trying to be a better example. We are human and we are not perfect. Eric is his worst critic, and for him, trying to find true love is not the easiest thing."

Regarding his future plans, Vaughan said, "When one door closes, another door opens. That has always been my outlook in life. I never take life and every day for granted. I am grateful for what I have: I have three beautiful boys, and I keep enjoying the craft and the gift I have been given to do what I do, and to keep moving forward. It seems to be working out pretty good for me. I'm a 'Journeyman.' It has definitely been a journey."

In the drama series Queen Sugar on the Oprah Winfrey Network, Vaughan shared that he was privileged to work with director and executive producer Ava DuVernay, where he plays Calvin. "I got to work with the very recognized Ava DuVernay, and be amongst a cast with diversity in it. That is an accomplishment in itself," he said. "I love it and I am proud of it."

On the impact of technology on the entertainment business, Vaughan said, "It has changed dramatically, especially going from three networks that were on television when we were kids, to 400 scripted television shows that are streamed through so many platforms, which include broadband and apps. It's a new day and age, and everybody is trying to keep up with each other. With technology these days, my children know more things about their iPads than I even know. It just takes you back a minute. There is still a way to make it work, when it comes to the corporate way and business. It is overwhelming, but there are lot more opportunities."

A Dallas, Texas, native, Vaughan expressed his sincere gratitude for his loyal fans. "The fans have given me an enormous amount of love and support over the last 20 years that I have been in this industry. It is overwhelming, and I am grateful."

The daytime "Journeyman" concluded by furnishing his definition of the word success. "Being a present factor in my children's lives, and being able to put a roof over my head, and my children, and being able to put food on the table. It is somewhat old-school, but I feel very fortunate and I love it," he said. "No matter what I achieve or where I go, I am always grateful that I never stopped believing that I can achieve what I wanted in life."

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