Austin Peck
A daytime television heartthrob for over a decade, he brought charm and turmoil to the fictional town of Salem on 'Days of Our Lives.'
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actor·Birthday: April 9·Generation X
Biography
Austin Peck found his calling in the high-stakes, fast-paced world of soap operas. With his all-American looks and earnest demeanor, he landed the role of Austin Reed on NBC's 'Days of Our Lives' in 1995, quickly becoming a central figure in the show's tangled romantic plots, most notably his character's epic love story with Carrie Brady. For eight years, he navigated amnesia, kidnappings, and countless weddings, endearing himself to a dedicated fanbase. After a departure from Salem, he jumped to CBS's 'As the World Turns,' playing another doomed romantic, Brad Snyder. While his career has been largely defined by these two long-running daytime parts, Peck has also appeared in independent films and on stage, demonstrating a versatility often overshadowed by his soap fame. His legacy is etched in the memories of 1990s soap viewers who tuned in daily for his character's latest emotional crisis.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Austin was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Austin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Austin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Austin Reed on the long-running NBC soap opera 'Days of Our Lives' from 1995 to 2003, becoming a central romantic lead.
- Joined the cast of CBS's 'As the World Turns' as Brad Snyder, a role he played from 2005 to 2009.
- Won a Soap Opera Digest Award in 1997 for Hottest Male Star for his work on 'Days of Our Lives'.
Did You Know?
He is a trained musician and played the saxophone in his high school jazz band.
Before acting, he worked as a model and appeared in commercials.
He made a brief return to 'Days of Our Lives' in 2022 for the show's limited-series sequel 'Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem'.
“In soaps, you learn to make big choices and live with the consequences.”
