Walls & Ceilings logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube youtube Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Walls & Ceilings logo
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Drywall
    • Stucco/EIFS
    • Ceilings
    • Steel Framing
    • Fireproofing
    • Interior Plaster
    • Building Envelope
    • Insulation
    • Technology
    • Interior
    • Exterior
    • Women In Construction
  • COLUMNS
    • Up Front
    • All Things Gypsum
    • Art & Craft of Plastering
    • Stucco Stop
    • Steel Deal
    • Industry Voices
  • PRODUCTS
    • Buzz Guide
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • BUILD Expo
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Photo Galleries
    • BUILD26 Videos
    • Take our Quiz!
    • Infographics
  • EXCLUSIVE
    • Newsletters
    • Top 50 Contractors
    • Contractor of the Year
    • State of the Industry
    • W&C Store
    • Market Research
    • CEUs
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
  • DIRECTORY
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
DrywallWalls and Ceilings News

Washington Drywaller Shows Resilience in “Tough as Nails” Competition

Contractor with Tool Belt

Photo courtesy of EHStock via iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection

August 12, 2024

When CBS aired its 2020 “Tough as Nails” reality TV competition, Danny Moody started having nightmares again, reported Ed Condran of The Spokesman-Review. He had been in the running for the top prize of $200,000 and a Ford truck, but he had an issue sawing a wood block and finished in second place.

Prior to the mishap, Moody had won three of the 10 contests. However, the drywaller from Spokane, Washington, still received a consolation prize of $18,000.

“For a month after we did the show, I kept having these dreams,” Moody said. “It started in February when I came back [from Los Angeles] after we were done taping. I would go to bed thinking about everything that happened, have the dreams and wake up thinking about it again. I just couldn’t let it go for a solid month. When the shows aired, the dreams started happening again.”

To Moody, it wasn’t just about the cash and the new vehicle. He has always been competitive, going back to his days as a wrestler, which started in childhood.

“I want to win at everything I do,” Moody said.

Moody already won over his son Elijah, who gave his dad a big thumbs-up after watching the finale.

“Elijah said, ‘It’s all right, Dad. You worked really hard,’” Moody said.

Moody displayed impressive tenacity, giving his all in each competition.

“I had so much fun on the show and developed some friendships along the way,” Moody said. “I wish I won it, but I had a great time. It was a challenge, but I did pretty well. I know TV shows make things seem more real than they are. They made me look like I was wiped out at times. The point I’m making is that I was dog-tired, but I still had something left in the tank when I was out there trying to win.”

Moody has plenty to be proud of, as he fared well each week tackling work on job sites, which tested his strength, endurance and mental toughness. He won the “Mind over Matter” challenge, where contestants had to break a concrete slab into pieces with a sledgehammer and fit them through a small opening.

“It wasn’t easy, but I was up for whatever they threw at me,” Moody said. “At the beginning of the season, they said there would be no doubt who would be the toughest, and I wondered, ‘How would they determine that?’ Me and Murph [competition champion Kelly Murphy] had a conversation about it.

“My goal was to win every single competition,” Moody added. “I went in with this underdog mentality. I’m just this little guy from Spokane. But, after a while, I felt the competition was mine to lose. I never placed third in any competition. I was always first or second.”

However, Moody is looking at the bright side of his surreal adventure.

“I’m thrilled to have been part of it,” Moody said. “A friend from Montana found out about ‘Tough as Nails’ [in 2019] and thought the reality show would be right for me. It was perfect for me.”

Moody had a teleconference interview with Phil Keoghan, the producer and host of “Tough as Nails,” and auditioned in Las Vegas before being selected as a contestant.

“The experience was amazing,” Moody said. “I loved that there was no backstabbing or that you couldn’t be voted off, like with ‘Survivor.’ Looking back, it was a great experience competing and even watching with my family. With the exception of my wife and dad, who were with me [in Los Angeles], nobody else knew what would happen. So, there was a lot of hootin’ and hollerin’ with each episode at home. There [were] some sad voices when the last show aired, but it’s all right. It was a good experience overall.”

If you look up “Danny Moody,” it now shows his vocation as an actor, which excites him.

“That’s so cool since I would love to act,” Moody said. “Acting was one of my childhood dreams. We’ll see what happens. I’ve looked into other TV opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Moody is available for drywall anywhere in the Spokane area.

“The day after I got back from Los Angeles in February, I was back on the job,” Moody said. “This is what I do and I’m proud of it.”

Moody and Sons, led by his father, Allen Moody, will always be there for the third-generation drywall expert. If a television career doesn’t pan out, Moody has plenty to fall back on with his job and family, which includes his wife, Kelly, and children Elijah, Lena, Davie Jo and Remi Marie.

“My family means everything to me,” Moody said. “My joke on the show was that I have a blue-collar dad body. My job gave me my guns and my kids gave me my gut. I play with them instead of working out. At least I cut down from two bowls of ice cream to one bowl.”

KEYWORDS: business management seen on TV Washington

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Abercrombie & Fitch

    EIFS in 2026: How Specialty Finishes Are Redefining Exterior Wall Systems

    As building codes, owner expectations, and design demands...
    Stucco/EIFS
    By: Regi Mendoza
  • proper air and vapor control

    From Energy Efficiency to Moisture Management: Why Air and Vapor Control Matter

    How proper air and vapor control within building...
    Building Envelope
    By: Benjamin Meyer AIA, LEED AP
  • Linear Metal Ceiling Beam Baffles

    Top 25 Ceiling Contractors of 2026

    Suspended ceilings demand precision, code compliance and...
    Ceilings
    By: John Wyatt and Tanja Kern
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Newsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Walls & Ceilings audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Walls & Ceilings or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • medical professionals moving a patient on a stretcher through the halls of a medical building
    Sponsored byNational Gypsum Company

    What Does High Performance Mean When It Comes To Gypsum Boards?

Popular Stories

drywall contractor sanding ceiling

D.C. Drywall Contractors to Pay $302K in Worker Case

Wichita Biomedical Campus

Wichita Drywall Worker Dies After Scaffolding Fall

Okan Tower in Miami, Florida

OSHA Opens Investigation Into Fatal Okan Tower Column Collapse

Construction workers in safety vests install drywall

Gypsum Sales Hold Amid Market Shifts in the U.S.

Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

See our full library of webinars

View All Submit An Event

Products

2026 National Painting Cost Estimator

2026 National Painting Cost Estimator

See More Products

Related Articles

  • WC0622-FEAT-Crane-p1FT-FLCrane-3_19-Magazine-006.jpg

    Tough as a Crane

    See More
  • Cloud

    Leaning on Cloud Technology in Tough Times

    See More
  • ROCKWOOL AFB Product Feature Picture

    ROCKWOOL's Build for Greater Resilience in Wildfire-prone Areas

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Accidents Waiting to Happen: Best Practices in Workers' Comp Administration and Protecting Corporate Profitability

  • Drywall: Professional Techniques for Great Results, 4th Edition

See More Products

Related Directories

  • RAiNA (Rainscreen Association in North America)

    Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) is the leading authority on proper rainscreen design and construction. RAiNA is a diverse community of industry professionals who volunteer their time towards optimizing rainscreen performance expectations among a variety of stakeholders. They achieve this by influencing codes and standards, while increasing the safety and resilience for rainscreen assemblies and components
×

Connect with the industry’s leading resource for unparalleled insights and education.

Join thousands of industry professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing