Interview with a Heartthrob: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Being a Board Game Boyfriend Card

GANG! Remember when I created a post about the teen game Heartthrob and stated how we need a where-are-they now post on the dudes? REJOICE: Now we have one! 

Once upon a time in late 1980s, sixteen-year-old Matt Cooney took a chance and landed his first modeling job: being one of the 60 boyfriend cards in the legendary game Heartthrob. Thanks to a series of fortunate events and the planets aligning ever just so, Matt—better known in game as “Chuck”—gives us the behind-the-scenes scoop about his experience and shares what he’s been up to since then.

Three cheers to Jen at the vintage board-game review site Idle Remorse for digging Heartthrob out of her immense collection and providing the pics of the Heartthrob dudes! She and her game group have also recently played the game—be sure to check out her review!

HAPPIMESS MEDIA: Thanks so much for agreeing to an interview for HappiMess Media! What were you like at the time of your Heartthrob experience?

MATT COONEY: Pretty shy, actually. I was interested in sports, especially baseball, but not a very good athlete. I was also interested in drama and would later become heavily involved in theater.

HMM: Were you, indeed, a heartthrob?

MC: I like to think so but not at all!

HMM: How did you find out about the Heartthrob opportunity? What made you pursue it? 

MC: A representative from the shoot actually approached my best friend and asked if he was interested. He declined, and the representative left behind some information about where and when auditions would take place. I thought, “What the heck? I’ll give it a shot.” And the rest is history (literally).

HMM: Where did this opportunity take place?

MC: It was at a tiny studio in Boston, on Newbury Street, on the second floor. This must have been the winter of 1988—I remember it was cold. My friend drove us in and we walked around a little bit afterward, getting a few slices of pizza and buying some CDs at Tower Records (since closed).

HMM: Did you realize the purpose of the photoshoot? 

MC: I did realize the purpose but I had no expectations—I had no experience with modeling prior to that. It was pretty close to what I imagined: a small studio, lots of clothes lying around, and a photographer giving direction. It was pretty relaxed. They told me what to bring in, in terms of clothing—what you see me wearing were clothes from my closet.

HMM: What was the audition/casting call like? 

MC: Models were asked to audition by representatives that went around to area high schools audition, but I think they were pretty relaxed about the casting process.

For example, my friend who drove us in wanted to see what a shoot looked like, so he came up to the studio with me. They saw him and said, “Great! You look like a perfect skiier/ski bum.” He was like, “Huh?” and they gave him a jacket, told him where and how to stand, and voila! He was suddenly in the game, too. He never auditioned—he just happened to be there and they liked his look.

HMM: How well did you know any of the other Heartthrob guys? 

MC: I knew quite a few: My neighbor was cast, as were about a dozen other guys with whom I went to high school. Jay Harrington from S.W.A.T. is in there, as is Timothy Dowling, screenwriter of Pixels starring Adam Sandler. Timothy and I had dinner last year and it was great to reconnect with him.

Enthusiam was high for the quest of finding out which Heartthrobs = Jay Harrington and Timothy Dowling. Several friends have attempted to Nancy-Drew the answer (yes, I verbed that), and it was most popularly believed that Dowling is either Vince or Ricky, while Harrington may be Neil, Rocky, or even the famed Trevor!

HMM: How were you impacted once the Heartthrob game hit shelves?

MC: Well, I think my mom bought every single copy in the greater Boston area so locally, the impact was probably minimized. I will say wherever I’ve gone, somehow, someone will know someone I knew who knew I was in it, and will happily share the fact. My involvement has seriously followed me everywhere I’ve lived.

HMM: Have you ever played Heartthrob? What was your impression of the game?

MC: I played it once, as a camp counselor, as a rainy-day activity with a cabin-full of 10-year-old girls. They liked the game but didn’t like my character, “Chuck.” I think it was my suspenders. My daughter has played it, too, and describes it as “interesting.” I think it’s fun!

HMM: What was your modeling experience after the Heartthrob experience?

MC: I went on to pursuing acting as a career for the better part of a decade, after I graduated from college, and actually landed a role in two movies. (In one, my line was cut, and the other [Tactical Assault] is possibly the worst movie ever made.)

During that time, I landed a few print jobs, one of which was for Carmax. Other than that, I didn’t pursue modeling on a dedicated basis.

HMM: Have you or any of the other guys ever been recognized because of the game?

MC: To the best of my knowledge, no. One of the former Heartthrobs was a vice president at a former employer of mine, and I’m certain he’s thrilled to not have been “re-discovered.”

HMM: In what ways, if any, has the “Chuck” persona worked to your advantage? (To be more specific, when I asked people what questions I should ask you, they definitely wanted to know if the game brought you success with the ladies.)

MC: At the time, if it did, I was unaware. Again, I was—and am—on the shy side. I have a real hard time with small talk. And back then, especially, it was difficult to naturally introduce [the fact] into conversation—the topic of being in a boardgame doesn’t typically come up, and I wasn’t otherwise modeling. I think in the years since, it’s been a fun conversation starter, for sure.

HMM: What have you been up to since achieving Heartthrob fame? 

MC: I was pre-law in college and had designs on pursuing a career in law as a lobbyist, but ended up moving abroad after graduation. I lived in Budapest for 3.5 years, and during that time, acted. (It was then I landed the film roles.)

After that, I moved to New York City for a year and a half and acted, booking commercials, mostly, and a national tour of Don Quixote. After moving into a more “conventional” career path in about 2005, I managed social media for organizations like MIT, Monster, and iRobot, and moved into virtual and augmented reality development. I now work with virtual reality for Fidelity Investments.

HMM: Finally, do you have any advice for today’s heartthrobs?

MC: Always, always, ALWAYS take a chance. You never know where life’s opportunities will take you and how they’ll help you learn about yourself. I promise that real growth takes place when you’re outside your comfort zone, so if there’s something you want to try, give it a shot!

Special thanks goes out to Matt’s sister-in-law for reaching out about the original Heartthrob post, and to Flip Florey, who breathed renewed life and motivation into this interview. Be sure to check out the Heartthrob episode of the podcast Flip the Table, as well as Flip’s new podcast, Flip Florey’s Super Saturday Board Game Serial, which has plans for a new Heartthrob episode in the works!

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