Lamon Dezjon Archey (/lʌmoʊn/; born April 9, 1981) is an American model and actor best known for his recurring role as Mason Wilder on The Young and the Restless. In 2017, Archey joined the cast of the NBC soap opera, Days of Our Lives in the contract role of Eli Grant.
Early life
Born in 1981, Archey was raised in San Mateo, California by his grandparents. Archey played baseball and football during his first two years of high school. Archey has had very little contact with his father, who died when he was 20 years old. After high school, Archey worked as a carpenter installing floors for two years. He then moved to Los Angeles with his uncle where he found work as an emergency medical technician. Archey has 12 tattoos.
Career
Living in Los Angeles, Archey took up modeling after he was scouted at a job fair. He credits modeling with helping him break out of his shell. He was later advised by manager Michael Bruno to get into acting classes so he could get a gig on a soap. After about two years of acting classes with no results, Archey was ready to give up when he booked two under-five roles on Days of Our Lives. In December 2012, Archey was cast in the recurring role of Mason Wilder on The Young and the Restless. Archey vacated the role in early 2014. In 2016, Archey returned to Days of Our Lives in the newly created contract role of Eli Grant. He appeared onscreen in February 2017.In March 2017, Archey appeared in the television film Can't Buy Love.
Personal life
Archey began dating model and actress Mercedes Cornett in February 2006. The couple had previously met at a fashion show in 2003 and kept in contact. The couple became engaged in 2010. They have a son, Caden (born July 9, 2009) and daughter, Gaia (born May 29, 2012). Archey has another son, Machiah (born September 8, 2002) from a previous relationship. In 2018, Archey stated that he and Cornett planned to wed in February 2019 in a small ceremony.