This page uses content from the Shane West biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Shane West (born Shannon Bruce Snaith on June 10, 1978) is an American television and film actor. He is probably best known for his roles on the television series ER and in the film A Walk to Remember.

Biography

Early life

West was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Don Snaith (a drugstore owner who was born in Jamaica) and Catherine, both of whom were musicians; he has a younger sister, Simone, and a much younger half-sister, Marli Ann. His parents divorced and at the age of 10, West moved to California with his mother.

He developed an interest in acting after being forced to take a Drama class in high school, needing that credit to graduate.

Career

His first major role was in 1999's television series, Once and Again, playing "Eli Sammler". West's film debut was a supporting role in the 1999 film Liberty Heights, director Barry Levinson's film about a Jewish family in Baltimore. He also co-starred in the teen comedies Whatever It Takes (2000) and Get Over It (2001).

West was subsequently cast opposite singer/actress Mandy Moore in 2002's A Walk to Remember, which was a box office success, grossing $41 million in the United States [1]. In 2003, West appeared in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and in 2004, he joined the cast of NBC's long running medical television series, ER. He recently starred in the independent film What We Do Is Secret, playing Darby Crash, a member of the 1970s punk band The Germs; the film has not yet been released. Members of the band were impressed by West's performance and re-formed the band with West taking the deceased Crash's place.

Personal life

West enjoys writing music and playing the guitar. One of his songs, "So What Does It All Mean?", was featured in the soundtrack of his film, A Walk to Remember. He performs in and around Los Angeles, California with his rock band, "Jonny Was" and with the recently reunited punk band, the Germs, filling in for the late Darby Crash.

West has dated actresses Rachael Leigh Cook, Marla Sokoloff, and Dina Meyer. He has also dated dancer and actress, Jenna Dewan.

Selected filmography

External links

Interviews

• FilmHobbit interview (July, 2003)
• UGO interview (July, 2003)
• collection of interview at "Shane West Unofficial"
• collection of older interviews

Web sites

• Jonny Was The band's website
• The Ray Barnett Fanlisting

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