Greg Vaughan Bio
James Gregory Vaughan Jr. (born June 15, 1973), known professionally as Greg Vaughan, is an American actor and former fashion model who has built a distinguished career in daytime television. Born in Dallas, Texas, Vaughan began his professional journey as a fashion model, working internationally for prestigious designers before transitioning to acting in Los Angeles. He has become widely recognized for his portrayals of iconic soap opera characters, including Lucky Spencer on General Hospital and Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives. Vaughan has also demonstrated versatility through roles on the supernatural series Charmed and the Oprah Winfrey Network drama Queen Sugar.
Early Life and Background
Greg Vaughan was born James Gregory Vaughan Jr. on June 15, 1973, in Dallas, Texas, United States. He attended Mesquite High School in his home state, where his path toward entertainment first began to take shape. At age 16, while getting a routine haircut, Vaughan discovered a “Back to School” modeling competition and decided to submit some photographs. Although he was selected as a finalist but did not win the competition, the experience proved pivotal when the winner encouraged him to pursue modeling seriously.
Vaughan signed with a modeling agency following this encouragement and soon after graduating from Mesquite High School, he received an invitation to travel to Milan, Italy. In Milan, Vaughan modeled for renowned designer Giorgio Armani for two and a half months, launching his professional modeling career on an international stage. His modeling work continued to expand, leading to campaigns with distinguished designers including Gianni Versace, Tommy Hilfiger, Banana Republic, and Ralph Lauren.
Path to Acting
While modeling in Miami, Vaughan began to feel dissatisfied with the lifestyle and aspired to pursue his true dream of becoming an actor. He made the decision to relocate to Los Angeles to begin his acting career. His first on-screen role came with an appearance on the popular television series Baywatch. He also booked a role in the pilot for Aaron Spelling’s 1996 series Malibu Shores, which opened doors to additional television appearances including Beverly Hills, 90210.
Vaughan’s career continued to gain momentum when he joined the cast of the supernatural series Charmed for its second season, portraying the character Dan Gordon from 1999 to 2000. This role marked his transition from guest appearances to more substantial television work and provided valuable experience that would prepare him for the significant opportunities that followed in daytime television.
Greg Vaughan Career
Early Career (1996-2002)
Following his move to Los Angeles in the mid-1990s, Greg Vaughan steadily built his acting resume through guest appearances on popular television series. His early work included appearances on Baywatch and Beverly Hills, 90210, establishing his presence in the competitive Los Angeles acting market. The role on Charmed from 1999 to 2000 gave him a notable recurring character and valuable experience in a long-running television series.
His breakthrough in daytime television came when he secured a major role from 2002 to 2003, portraying Diego Guittierez on the acclaimed daytime drama The Young and the Restless. This role marked his entry into the world of daytime soap operas and demonstrated his ability to connect with audiences in the intimate format of serial drama.
Breakthrough (2003-2016)
When Greg Vaughan’s character was written off The Young and the Restless in 2003, he received a significant career opportunity from the producers of General Hospital, who were seeking a new actor to portray Lucky Spencer. Lucky Spencer was the son of the legendary soap opera couple Luke and Laura, portrayed by Anthony Geary and Geneviève Bujold’s iconic characters from General Hospital’s history. Vaughan became the first actor to portray Lucky as a full-fledged adult, following earlier portrayals by Jonathan Jackson and Jacob Young as younger versions of the character.
Vaughan portrayed Lucky Spencer on General Hospital from 2003 to 2009, becoming widely recognized for this signature role. The character arc included significant storylines that made him a central figure in the soap’s narrative. On June 7, 2006, Vaughan achieved another milestone when he won the role of spokesperson for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter in a ceremony held in New York, created to replace the previous face of the brand, Fabio. In 2007, he appeared on The Tyra Banks Show to assist Tyra Banks through “soap opera school,” demonstrating his expertise in the craft he had mastered.
On September 28, 2009, Vaughan announced his departure from General Hospital as the role was being recast with original portrayer Jonathan Jackson. He made his final appearance on October 20, 2009, concluding a six-year tenure that had established him as a household name in daytime television.
Notable Works and Milestones
In 2012, Vaughan joined the cast of NBC’s Days of Our Lives as Eric Brady, a character who was ordained as a priest before returning to the fictional town of Salem. He first aired in this role on November 13, 2012, and became a prominent member of the show’s ensemble cast. He departed the role in 2016 but returned from 2017 to 2020, appeared briefly twice in 2021, and has continued in the role since 2022, demonstrating the enduring connection between the actor and this character.
In 2013, Vaughan appeared in “Second Chances,” a Hallmark Original Movie, alongside his Days of Our Lives co-star Alison Sweeney. The film had been shot before Sweeney and Vaughan became castmates on the soap opera. In 2016, Vaughan expanded his television work by joining the cast of Queen Sugar, the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, portraying Detective Calvin.
In October 2025, it was announced that Vaughan had joined the cast of Beyond the Gates, a new daytime television drama. He debuted in the role of Kial Rollins on December 8, marking a new chapter in his long-standing daytime television career.
Greg Vaughan Family
Greg Vaughan has three sons from his marriage to Dutch model and actress Touriya Haoud, whom he married on June 4, 2006. During their marriage, the family resided in Los Angeles, California, and Charlotte, North Carolina. On April 14, 2014, Haoud and Vaughan announced their separation, and following their divorce, their three children remained with Vaughan in the United States while Haoud returned to the Netherlands.
Personal Life
Following his divorce from Touriya Haoud in 2016, Greg Vaughan’s personal life continued to attract media attention. On December 24, 2019, he announced his engagement to actress Angie Harmon. However, in July 2021, Vaughan and Harmon announced that they had called off their engagement, ending their relationship. In 2024, Vaughan began dating model and actress Shanna Moakler, marking a new relationship in his personal life.