Matt Locker: A Life in Broadcasting and Entertainment

Early Life and the Birth of a Broadcaster

Matt Locker was born in New York City to Dr. Daniel Locker, a dentist whose family had once owned "Dr. Locker's Bungalow Colony" in the Catskills, and his wife Gesine. From an early age, Matt's destiny in broadcasting seemed written in the stars. At just four years old, he became captivated by the PBS series "The Electric Company," particularly fascinated by its innovative visual effects. Meanwhile, his father was an devoted listener to classical station WQXR.

One evening, a pivotal moment occurred that would shape Matt's future career. He heard a classical composition on WQXR that had been featured in "The Electric Company," and excitedly rushed to the television, only to discover with disappointment that radio and television were entirely different mediums. This moment planted the seed of a future broadcaster. His fascination with media deepened at age five when his mother pointed out a news crew filming a teacher's strike, which later aired on "Channel 2 News with Jim Jensen." Young Matt began to notice how different television channels had distinct sets, anchors, and musical themes.

Island Life and Early Media Exposure

In 1973, the Locker family embarked on a new adventure when Dr. Locker relocated his practice to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. Gesine established her own business selling the prestigious Erno Laszlo skin care line. Matt's education took place across multiple institutions: he attended grades one through three at the newly established Antilles School campus, spent fourth through sixth grades at All Saints School downtown, and returned to Antilles to complete his high school education.

Matt's first real taste of broadcasting came in seventh grade when WIUJ, a modest 10-watt FM station, launched and offered each island school an afternoon to learn about radio. His initial attempt was short-lived—station manager Leo Maron pulled him off the air after just a couple of weeks, declaring that Matt "did not have a voice for radio." Undeterred, Matt persevered and managed to return to WIUJ in eighth grade. By his senior year, he had evolved into a key contributor, working alongside Valerie Selke to gather, write, and deliver campus news for the weekly "High School Report" that aired on commercial station WSTT-FM (T-101).

The Television Awakening

The Locker family maintained a unique lifestyle, with Matt and his younger brother Josh remaining on St. Thomas during the school year while spending summers at the family's New Jersey house. These summers proved instrumental in Matt's broadcasting education. By 1983, he was not only watching but videotaping New York City news broadcasts, conducting his own comparative analysis between the sophisticated NYC productions and the local "Channel 10 News" on CBS affiliate WBNB-TV in St. Thomas.

One particular difference struck him: the weather graphics. While New York stations featured polished, easy-to-read weather graphics, St. Thomas anchors were still using write-and-wipe boards to hand-draw maps. Rather than simply observe this disparity, Matt took action. He visited a stationary store, purchased supplies, and created a professional package of weather graphics for the local station—his first contribution to improving broadcast production quality.

Breaking Into Television

Matt's entry into television came through sheer determination and curiosity. During WBNB-TV's live coverage of the annual Carnival parade, he managed to work his way into the control room and convinced the staff to let him observe how television production worked. This bold move led to an internship, which eventually became an afternoon and summer job. At "Channel 10," Matt immersed himself in every aspect of television production: camera operation, editing, audio, graphics, lighting, engineering, and master control. His dedication paid off when he advanced to directing and technical directing "NewsCenter 10."

Matt credits his success to his first television mentors: Page Stull, JoAnn Newhart Crebbin, Sam James, and the entire Channel 10 family. When the station became an affiliate of WPIX's "Independent Network News," Matt leveraged this connection to secure unofficial internships at WPIX, bringing valuable knowledge back to his work at WBNB. His summers weren't entirely devoted to television—in 1983, he also attended Stagedoor Manor, a performing arts summer camp in the Catskills.

Educational Foundations and Radio Experience

In 1985, Matt pursued higher education at Genesee Community College (SUNY) in Batavia, New York, where he helped launch WGCC-FM, a Top 40/Rock hybrid station broadcasting at 90.7 with 889 watts. The station's signal reached the outskirts of both Buffalo and Rochester. Alongside his college radio work, he gained commercial radio experience with weekend shifts at WBTA/WBTF. After earning his Associate of Arts degree, Matt relocated to the Finger Lakes region, where he produced local television commercials with TeleMedia Productions for CableVision's "Cable 12" in Canandaigua while working weekend overnight shifts at 101.7 (then WECQ, CQ 102), a hot adult contemporary format.

Finding both positions financially insufficient, Matt made the strategic decision to continue his education. He moved back to New Jersey and enrolled at William Paterson University, where his timing proved impeccable. The university was launching a new hot AC/CHR station at 88.7, WPSC-FM, and Matt was appointed program director. He also played a crucial role in launching two live college television programs: "Hour Style," which he directed and technical directed, and "NewsLine," where he served as weather anchor and occasional main anchor. His creative contributions extended to designing and helping construct one of the news sets.

Crisis and Opportunity

Hurricane Hugo in 1989 marked a turning point in Matt's career when it destroyed Channel 10. Rather than see this as a setback, Matt pivoted to work with FEMA's media department, coordinating information distribution to local shelters and managing press conferences for state officials. This experience in crisis communication would prove valuable throughout his career.

Following his FEMA stint, Matt received two significant job offers that would showcase his versatility. "Country 104" (WIYC), a 50,000-watt station, had fallen into bankruptcy and receivership. The equipment had been seized by the local Marshall's office, and Matt was asked to literally wire the station back together. He not only accomplished this technical feat but also became their morning show host. The station later rebranded as "Paradise 104," adopting an adult contemporary format.

Simultaneously, Cable TV's "Community 2" sought his production expertise. Matt successfully juggled both positions until WIYC went off the air and was transferred under a Local Marketing Agreement to WJKC, "Isle 95" on St. Croix. He also contributed to the local PBS station WTJX, co-hosting telethons, providing voiceovers, and operating shoulder cameras during Carnival parade coverage.

Hollywood Calling

The early 1990s brought a film industry boom to St. Thomas, with numerous commercial shoots and major motion pictures choosing the island as their location. Matt seized this opportunity, taking his first film job as a production assistant on the troubled production of "Christopher Columbus: The Discovery." Despite the grueling experience, he remained undaunted and moved on to multiple roles in "Weekend at Bernie's 2," serving as set dresser, behind-the-scenes videographer, and ultimately earning the speaking role of "Johnny," the hotel porter. This performance earned him his Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card.

Matt's on-camera career expanded with roles in the first three Corona Light beer commercials, where he played "the guy on the beach," and an appearance in an AT&T commercial. However, when "Weekend at Bernie's 2" was released, Matt had a moment of honest self-reflection. While he had enjoyed the experience immensely, he recognized that he needed professional training to truly excel in acting.

Professional Acting Development

This realization led Matt back to the New York metropolitan area, where he researched various acting schools before settling on ATC Studios. There, he received professional coaching from industry veterans Joel Robertson (known for "Cats" and "Les Misérables"), Kathleen Kellaigh (from "The Guiding Light"), and Bob Sapoff for improvisational skills.

This training culminated in Matt's off-Broadway debut in "The Fourth Chair," followed by appearances in several other New York City productions including "Bent," "Brilliant Traces," "Not Enough Rope," and "Perspective." During return visits to St. Thomas, he continued his theatrical work with performances in "The Fantasticks," "Full Moon Café," and "The Last Talk Show on Television."

Commercial Success and Broadcasting Leadership

After completing his Bachelor of Arts in Communication at William Paterson University, Matt established himself as a sought-after on-camera spokesperson. His client roster included major corporations such as Ricoh, Celexa, Monopril, Lockheed/NASA, Heidelberg-Hell, Huffman Koos, Makita Power Tools, Panasonic, and Nabisco. He appeared in memorable commercials for "1-800-YES-LOAN," Thumann's Deli, and numerous automotive dealership campaigns.

A particularly notable project involved his work with "Group M," the in-house advertising agency for MSI Building Supplies. As Home Depot entered the market, Matt helped develop a counterprogramming strategy, positioning MSI as the choice for "hurricane tough" construction—a message that resonated deeply in hurricane-prone regions.

Between 1990-1991, Matt expanded his on-air radio experience across multiple formats and markets, working as a personality for WTBQ (Middle of the Road format in Warwick, NY), WNNJ (Contemporary Hit Radio in Newton, NJ), and WKOJ (Adult Album-Oriented Rock in Middletown, NJ). He also pursued modeling work from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s.

Program Director and News Innovation

In 1994, Matt took on one of his most significant leadership roles when a small AM station in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, transitioned from "WKER" to "WGHT" with an oldies format. Starting in production and on-air fill-in work, Matt quickly advanced to Program Director. His vision extended beyond music programming—he created "The North Jersey NewsCenter," focusing on local Northern New Jersey news coverage. His hiring decisions proved prescient: he brought on Noam Laden (WABC New York) as news director and Kevin Burkhardt (who would go on to call the Super Bowl) as sports director. The station's success was measurable, with Accu-track ratings showing a remarkable 40% gain in listenership among women aged 35 and older.

During this period, Matt also operated a creative side business, producing original jingles and news themes in collaboration with musician Frosty Lawson. Additionally, he remained on call as a fill-in weather anchor for Time Warner's "Channel 10 News" in Bergen County.

Return to Television and Network News

The year 2000 marked Matt's return to television news with the creation of "The Staten Island NewsCenter" for Staten Island Cable (later acquired by Time Warner). He partnered with Tina Cervasio (now with Fox Sports) as his co-anchor, establishing a professional news operation that served the Staten Island community. When Time Warner consolidated their news operations, Matt transitioned to "Ebru America," an English-language, Turkish-owned network.

At Ebru America, Matt wore multiple hats as reporter, anchor, and weather specialist. He served as fill-in anchor for the evening edition and eventually became writer and anchor for the weekend program "The Weekly Report." When political turmoil in Turkey led to Ebru's closure, Matt had already expanded into their film dubbing division, where he provided the English voice dubbing for Till Schweiger's lead character in the feature film "Nick: Off Duty." He also appeared as the lead vampire in the 2006 cult film "Requiem For a Vampire."

Entrepreneurial Ventures and Innovation

Matt's innovative spirit extended beyond broadcasting into technology and business. In the early 2000s, he founded "Winbeam Light Labs," where he developed an improvement on full-spectrum fluorescent lighting. His "loaded spectrum" lamp featured a peak of scotopic energy that enhanced visual acuity. While maintaining the bluish appearance of natural skylight, the lamp was uniquely rich in red wavelengths—a feature absent in competing products. This innovation resulted in healthier-looking skin tones and superior color matching capabilities. The product, named "The Skylighter," became popular among retailers and dental professionals. However, as traditional lighting technology improved and LED systems became dominant, Winbeam Light Labs could no longer compete and eventually closed.

Recent Career and Voice Acting Excellence

In 2017, Matt returned to the director's chair in Washington, D.C., directing four episodes of "Trending China" for the Bravo network. Today, he continues to freelance in television and film production while maintaining a thriving voice acting career from his professional studio.

His most celebrated voice acting role came as "The Preacher" in "Powder Burns: An Audio Western Drama," created by David A. Gregory and starring John Wesley Shipp. The production featured many cast members from "One Life to Live" and notably included the final performances of legendary actors Ed Asner and Robert Vaughn. Matt's contribution to this production earned him a Voice Arts and AudioVerse award nomination.

Current Activities and Teaching

Matt continues to build his voice acting career while giving back to the industry through education. He teaches "Intro to Voice Acting" at ATC Studios, provides private coaching, and produces voiceover demo reels for aspiring voice actors. Additionally, he serves as a screener and casting director for ATC's "Fridays At The Studio" series.

Notable Anecdotes and Recognition

Matt's career is filled with memorable moments that speak to both his talent and his ability to seize opportunities. His very first job before entering television was selling and servicing fire extinguishers at O'Brien Fire Control on St. Thomas—a humble beginning that taught him the value of hard work and customer service.

One of his most amusing career stories involves his role in "Weekend at Bernie's II." Originally cast as a silent extra, Matt was unaware that extras weren't supposed to speak. He improvised dialogue during his scene with Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman, and the ad-libbed performance was so effective that it was kept in the final film. This upgrade from extra to speaking role also elevated his on-set treatment—while extras received water and granola bars, Matt gained access to the actors' superior craft services.

Professional recognition came in various forms throughout his career. While anchoring "The Staten Island NewsCenter," a viewer complimented his delivery style, comparing him to a cross between legendary New York anchors Roger Grimsby and Chuck Scarborough. In a serendipitous moment, Matt later found himself dining near Chuck Scarborough and introduced himself to the veteran anchor, who responded with recognition: "Yes, I know who you are."

A Legacy of Versatility

Matt Locker's career represents a unique journey through virtually every aspect of broadcasting and entertainment. From his childhood fascination with "The Electric Company" to his current work in voice acting and education, he has consistently demonstrated adaptability, innovation, and a genuine passion for the craft of communication. His story illustrates how curiosity, persistence, and the willingness to embrace new challenges can lead to a rich and varied career in the ever-evolving world of media and entertainment.

Whether directing television news, developing innovative lighting technology, coaching the next generation of voice actors, or bringing characters to life through his voice work, Matt Locker continues to contribute to the industry that first captured his imagination as a four-year-old watching PBS in New York City.