Career Highlights: Masquerade, Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn Story, Bonnie and Clyde: The True Story
First Major Screen Credit: Trick or Treat (1986)
Biography
No stranger to emotionally and psychologically challenging roles, Doug Savant broke through the fear barrier that separates many actors from achieving their full onscreen potential. In the process, he tackled many characterizations somewhat removed from himself. These included a sociopathic rapist (in the 1995 TV movie Fight for Justice: The Nancy Cohn Story), a gay social worker (Matt Fielding on the prime-time soap opera Melrose Place), and -- most prominently -- a businessman-turned-stay at home dad (Tom Scavo, on the domestic black comedy Desperate Housewives). The latter, of course, required less of a stretch for Savant; it was perhaps ironic, then, that the Scavo characterization (opposite actress Felicity Huffman) reeled in Savant's largest audience and virtually turned him into a household name. Savant's resumé also includes brief appearances in such features as Secret Admirer (1985), Teen Wolf (1985), The Hanoi Hilton (1987), and Godzilla (1998). His second wife is actress Laura Leighton, whom he met on the set of Melrose. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
From 1992 to 1997, Savant starred as Matt Fielding on Melrose Place, a role that was notable for being one of the first mainstream openly gay characters on television. His role was, however, censored greatly by the network - notably a kiss between Matt and guest star Ty Miller during the season two finale was edited out at the last minute by FOX. Savant left the series after five seasons and, a year later, his character was killed offscreen in a car crash.
Savant currently plays Tom Scavo on ABC'sDesperate Housewives. In the first season (2004-05), Tom was a recurring character, credited as a guest-star in the episodes he appeared. Married to Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), he was out of town regularly on business. However viewer response to Savant and his character led the producers to contract him as a series regular from season two onwards, and Tom and Lynette have since been portrayed as the most stable couple on the series.
Personal life
Savant was born in Burbank, California He is married and has two children, Jack and Lucy, with former Melrose Place co-star Laura Leighton. He also has two daughters Arianna and Madeleine with his previous wife Dawn Savant.