Danny Masterson
Masterson at the Blender Sessions, Hard Rock Hotel, Chicago, 5 August 2007
Born	Daniel Peter Masterson (1976-03-13) March 13, 1976 (age 36) Albertson, New York, U.S.
Other names	DJ Mom Jeans, DJ Donkey Punch, Daniel P.
Occupation	Actor, disc jockey, businessman
Years active	1980–present
Spouse	Bijou Phillips (2011–present)
Website
http://www.djmomjeans.com/

Daniel Peter "Danny" Masterson (born March 13, 1976) is an American actor and disc jockey best known for his role as Steven Hyde in That '70s Show.

Career[link]

Acting[link]

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 on Broadway 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,^[1][2] including ones for Swift Premium sausage, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes,^[3] Hardee's,^[4] Hostess, Tang,^[5] and Clearasil.^[6]

In the early 1990s, Masterson landed a role in Beethoven's 2nd. He also starred as Justin in Cybill and Jimmy Girvin in Roseanne. 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.^[7] 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".^[3]

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.^[2][8] In 2011, Masterson guest starred as James Roland in USA Network's "White Collar" in the episode "Where There's A Will." Masterson will have a lead role in Spike's new television series, Playing With Guns.^{[citation needed]} 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. ^[9] It was filmed in September and October 2009.^[10] The film is based closely on the trial transcripts and most of the action takes place in the courtroom.^[11]

In 2012, the comedy series Men At Work premiered on TBS, co-starring Masterson and Michael Cassidy, James Lesure and Adam Busch.^[12] In 2012, Masterson will also appear in the film Alter Egos, directed by Jordan Galland.^[13]

Music[link]

Masterson began DJing in 1999 as a hobby, but it soon became a side business other than acting and owning several businesses.^[14] 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.^[15] Masterson is a self-described "rock and hip hop fanatic",^[7] and is also a fan of indie, electro, and funk music, all of which he primarily DJ's with.^[4][16][17] He is a fan of 1970s rock music,^[7] and his favourite band is Pearl Jam.^[2] Some of his other favourites 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.^[18][19] 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.^[16] The show was canceled in October 2008.

In 2009, Masterson planned to release an album of his music, but that album has not yet been released.^[17]

Other business ventures[link]

Masterson also owns or co-owns eleven restaurants.^[20] One is a Korean barbecue restaurant, Shin, located at 1600 Wilcox Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. He is a co-owner both Dolce (located at 8284 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA), and Geisha House (located at 6633 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA), restaurants he founded with That '70s Show co-stars Ashton Kutcher and Wilmer Valderrama, who are also his close friends.^[21] He also owns a boutique called Confederacy (located at 4661 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA) with longtime friend Ilaria Urbinati. Confederacy features quality selection of designer clothing for both men and women, accessories, beauty products, artwork and photography, in-store events, and a coffee shop.^[22][23][24] 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.^[25][26]

Masterson still models occasionally, and he has been on the covers of many magazines, including Paper Magazine^[5] and YRB Magazine.^[27]

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."^[28] He appeared as part of a poker team, the Unabombers, at a Poker Royale: James Woods vs. the Unabombers tournament on GSN.^[29] He has also hosted celebrity poker events, such as the Phat Farm Stuff Casino Weekend Poker Tournament, in which he won the tournament.^[30] Masterson, his brother Chris, and his That '70s Show costar Laura Prepon are all investors in Card Player magazine.^[5]

Personal life[link]

Masterson is a Scientologist.^[31] He started dating Bijou Phillips in 2005,^[32] they became engaged in 2009, and subsequently married on October 18, 2011.^[33]

Charity work[link]

Masterson has also been involved with the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project, a controversial organization ^[34] with ties to the Church of Scientology.^[35] He also played in a charity softball game in New York's Central Park to help raise money for children in need of neurosurgery,^[36][37] designed guitars for a MusiCares fundraiser,^[38] 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.^[39][40] He has also played on the World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational for the charity Chrysalis, with all proceeds going to said charity.^[41] He has also played the World Series of Poker's Ante up for Africa event.^[42]

Filmography[link]

Music videos[link]

Eduardo Fresco feat. Clayton Vice – The Way I Fiesta^[46]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Danny Masterson at the Internet Movie Database