Shannon Elizabeth is an American actress and former fashion model. Elizabeth is well known for her roles in
comedyComedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
films such as
Scary MovieScary Movie is a 2000 comedy-parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, as part of Warner Bros. Entertainment. It is an American dark comedy which heavily parodies the horror, slasher, and mystery genres...
,
American PieAmerican Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz. American Pie was the directorial film debut of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, and the first film in the American Pie film series...
, and
Jay And Silent Bob Strike BackJay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a 2001 American action adventure comedy film written, directed by, and starring Kevin Smith as Silent Bob, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of his cult favorite Clerks...
. She is also well known for her work in
horrorHorror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
films such as Thirteen Ghosts, Cursed, and Night of the Demons. She became widely known as a
sex symbolA sex symbol is a celebrity of either gender, typically an actor, musician, supermodel, teen idol, or sports star, noted for their sex appeal. The term was first used in the mid 1950s in relation to the popularity of certain Hollywood stars, especially Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte...
for her role in the 1999
comedy filmComedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
American PieAmerican Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz. American Pie was the directorial film debut of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, and the first film in the American Pie film series...
.
Early life
Elizabeth's father is of
LebaneseThe Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
descent and her mother is of
EnglishThe English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
,
IrishThe Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, German, and
CherokeeThe Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
ancestry. She was born in
Houston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and raised in
Waco, TexasWaco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
. In
high schoolHigh school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, she was very much interested in
tennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and at one point even considered a professional tennis career. She worked as a model before she began a career in film.
Acting and modeling
Elizabeth appeared in several films, including the horror film
Jack FrostJack Frost is an American horror comedy film written and directed by Michael Cooney and released in 1996. The movie takes place in the fictional town of Snowmonton, where a truck carrying serial killer Jack Frost to his execution is involved in a freak accident with a truck carrying genetic...
and Dish Dogs, before being cast in 1999's
American PieAmerican Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz. American Pie was the directorial film debut of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, and the first film in the American Pie film series...
. Pie was a major box office success, and achieved cult status for her nude bedroom scene in the movie. Elizabeth subsequently appeared in several Hollywood films, including
Scary MovieScary Movie is a 2000 comedy-parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, as part of Warner Bros. Entertainment. It is an American dark comedy which heavily parodies the horror, slasher, and mystery genres...
,
Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackJay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a 2001 American action adventure comedy film written, directed by, and starring Kevin Smith as Silent Bob, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of his cult favorite Clerks...
, and
TomcatsTomcats is a 2001 American comedy film written and directed by Gregory Poirier.- Plot :The story concerns a group of guys who have made a deal to each invest in a fund, which would be paid to the last remaining bachelor of the group...
. Elizabeth starred in the
UPNUnited Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
series
CutsCuts is an American sitcom that aired on the UPN network from February 14, 2005, to May 11, 2006, and is a spin-off of another UPN series, One on One...
until the show was canceled in May 2006. Cuts and its parent show,
One on OneOne on One is an American sitcom that aired on the now-defunct UPN from its September 3, 2001 premiere until May 15, 2006. The series stars Flex Alexander as a single sportscaster, who becomes a full-time dad when his ex-wife decides to accept a job out of the country and his teenage daughter...
, were two of the many shows not to be picked up by The CW. Elizabeth appeared in
That '70s ShowThat '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979...
for a number of episodes.
In August 1999, she posed for a nude pictorial in
PlayboyPlayboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
. In 2000 and 2003, she was featured in
MaximMaxim is an international men's magazine based in the United Kingdom and known for its pictorials featuring popular actresses, singers, and female models, sometimes pictured dressed, often pictured scantily dressed but not fully nude....
. In June 2008 she was Maxims cover girl.
She provided the likeness and voice for Serena St. Germaine in the 2004 video game,
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing007: Everything or Nothing is a third-person shooter video game, where the player controls James Bond. Bond is modeled after and voiced by the former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, making it his final performance for the character in game and film...
.
Elizabeth was one of the celebrities on an episode of NBC's Thank God You're Here along with
Tom GreenMichael Thomas "Tom" Green is a Canadian actor, rapper, writer, comedian, talk show host and media personality. Best known for his shock humour brand of comedy, Green found mainstream prominence via his MTV television show The Tom Green Show...
,
Chelsea HandlerChelsea Joy Handler is an American stand-up comedian, humorist, television host, actress, model and best-selling author. She currently hosts a late-night talk show titled, Chelsea Lately on the E! Cable Television Network. In 2009 she won a Bravo A-List Award...
, and
George TakeiGeorge Hosato Takei Altman is an American actor, author, social activist and former civil politician. He is best known for his role in the television series Star Trek and its film spinoffs, in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the...
.
Elizabeth was among the cast of the sixth season of
Dancing with the StarsThe sixth season of Dancing with the Stars premiered on March 17, 2008; the first results show was a double-elimination episode airing on March 25, 2008. The show followed the format of previous seasons, with 12 couples....
, partnered with
Derek HoughDerek Hough is an American dancer, choreographer, musician and actor. A world champion in Latin American Dance, Hough has appeared since September 2007 on the hit U.S...
. Elizabeth was the seventh star eliminated from the competition.
Elizabeth was the host of the comedy/burlesque series "Live Nude Comedy" in 2009.
Shannon also featured in Chris Brown's Next To You music video, as Brown's girlfriend
Poker
Elizabeth describes
pokerPoker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
as her "second career" and has been called "one of the leading celebrity poker players." She visits
Las VegasThe Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
up to three times each month to participate in poker games with the top players of the United States. Elizabeth played in the Main Event of the
2005The 2005 World Series of Poker opened play on June 2, continuing through the Main Event No Limit World Championship starting on July 7. The conclusion of the Main Event on July 15 marked the close of play, and the largest prize in sports and/or television history at the time was awarded to the...
World Series of PokerThe World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
under the guidance of
Daniel NegreanuDaniel Negreanu is a Canadian professional poker player. He has won four World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Poker Tour Championship titles. He is currently ranked second in the all-time career earnings list and is the star of poker game show Million Dollar Challenge. He plays a big...
, and won a special tournament celebrating the opening of a new poker room at
Caesars PalaceCaesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in Clark County, Nevada, United States in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp....
hotel in January 2006, beating out 83 celebrities and poker professionals to win $55,000. She has also cashed four times in the World Series of Poker in 2006 and 2007, but again busted out of the Main Event early. In 2007, she advanced to the semi-finals of the
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
National Heads-Up Poker Championship-2006:- 2007 :-2008:In additional to the poker professionals, several poker-playing celebrities from other fields were invited: Gabe Kaplan, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Tilly, Shannon Elizabeth, Jason Alexander and Orel Hershiser. Also invited was Alisha Kunze of Greensburg, Indiana, who won her seat...
in a field consisting of the top poker professionals before losing to eventual champion
Paul WasickaPaul J. Wasicka is a professional poker player, based in Las Vegas, Nevada who was the runner-up at the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event and the winner of the 2007 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship....
. Among the four opponents she defeated were three
World Series of Poker multiple bracelet winnersBelow is a list of all poker players who have won multiple World Series of Poker bracelets, together with the year in which the bracelets were won....
:
Jeff MadsenJeff Madsen is the third-youngest winner of a World Series of Poker event and the 2006 World Series of Poker Player of the Year....
,
Barry GreensteinBarry Greenstein is a professional poker player. He has won a number of major events, including three at the World Series of Poker and two on the World Poker Tour. Greenstein donates his profit from tournament winnings to charities, primarily Children, Incorporated, earning him the nickname "the...
, and
Humberto BrenesHumberto Brenes is a professional poker player. Brenes currently resides in Miami Lakes, Florida with his wife and three children ....
.
In May 2010, due to her
LebaneseLebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
ancestry, Elizabeth chose to play for Team Lebanon at the World Team event in
Las VegasThe Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
.
Personal life
Elizabeth was in a relationship with actor
Joseph D. ReitmanJoseph D. Reitman is an American actor, film producer, film director, and writer.-Early life and career:Joe Reitman grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts and majored in theatre at Pitzer College in Claremont, California...
for 10 years, including three years of marriage. The couple separated in March 2005, and Elizabeth filed for
divorceDivorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
in late June 2005.
After the September 11 attacks, Elizabeth recorded a
public service announcementA public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
in which she said, "I'm half Arabic, but I am 100 percent American. What is going on affects me the same as everyone else."
After being eliminated from
Dancing with the StarsDancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
in April 2008, Elizabeth began dating
Derek HoughDerek Hough is an American dancer, choreographer, musician and actor. A world champion in Latin American Dance, Hough has appeared since September 2007 on the hit U.S...
, her dancing partner on the show. Their relationship ended in August 2009.
She is the cousin of television personality and relationship coach
Tamsen FadalTamsen Fadal is a Lebanse American journalist, author and media personality who is currently the morning anchor on the WPIX Morning News in New York City. Previously, she hosted Totally Tamsen segments for WPIX in New York City. Fadal also appears regularly on the syndicated television show Better...
.
Charity work
Animal Avengers, a non-profit animal rescue organization founded by Elizabeth and her then-husband Reitman, is dedicated to rescuing and finding a home for homeless pets, reducing pet overpopulation, promoting responsible pet guardianship and preventing animal cruelty. Among the many fundraising events, Team
BodogBodog is an online entertainment brand launched in 1994 by Calvin Ayre.Originally the company traded at but the brand was later divested and intellectual property rights were assigned to and consolidated in BodogBrand.com...
raised over $50,000 for Animal Avengers in a celebrity poker night on October 8, 2005. The event was hosted by noted tournament director
Matt SavageMatt Savage is an American poker tournament director. He has officiated at a number of televised poker and gambling events, including the World Series of Poker , Bay 101's Shooting Star stop on the World Poker Tour, Poker Dome Challenge and King of Vegas.In 2001, along with Linda Johnson, Jan...
. Over the past year Shannon Elizabeth has participated in numerous other Bodog-sponsored charity events as well.
Film
Film
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1997 |
Jack Frost Jack Frost is an American horror comedy film written and directed by Michael Cooney and released in 1996. The movie takes place in the fictional town of Snowmonton, where a truck carrying serial killer Jack Frost to his execution is involved in a freak accident with a truck carrying genetic...
|
Jill Metzner |
Credited as Shannon Elizabeth Fadal |
| 1997 |
Blast |
Hostage |
|
| 1999 |
Seamless: Kidz Rule |
Nicole |
|
| 1999 |
American PieAmerican Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film written by Adam Herz. American Pie was the directorial film debut of brothers Paul and Chris Weitz, and the first film in the American Pie film series...
|
Nadia |
|
| 2000 |
Scary Movie Scary Movie is a 2000 comedy-parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, as part of Warner Bros. Entertainment. It is an American dark comedy which heavily parodies the horror, slasher, and mystery genres...
|
Buffy Gilmore |
|
| 2000 |
Evicted |
Princess |
|
| 2000 |
Dish Dogs Dish Dogs is a direct-to-DVD romantic comedy film released in 2000. It stars Sean Astin and Matthew Lillard and was directed by Robert Kubilos. The film is about the relationship between two friends and when they find love they must both go their separate ways....
|
Anne |
Direct-to-DVD release Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
|
| 2001 |
Tomcats Tomcats is a 2001 American comedy film written and directed by Gregory Poirier.- Plot :The story concerns a group of guys who have made a deal to each invest in a fund, which would be paid to the last remaining bachelor of the group...
|
Natalie Parker |
|
| 2001 |
American Pie 2 American Pie 2 is a 2001 comedy film and sequel to American Pie and is the second film in the American Pie film series. It was written by Adam Herz and David H. Steinberg, and directed by J. B. Rogers. The film picks up the story of the four friends from the first film as they reunite during the...
|
Nadia |
|
| 2001 |
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a 2001 American action adventure comedy film written, directed by, and starring Kevin Smith as Silent Bob, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of his cult favorite Clerks...
|
Justice |
|
| 2001 |
Thir13en Ghosts Thirteen Ghosts is a 2001 American horror film directed by Steve Beck. It is a remake of the 1960 film of the same name by William Castle. It follows the remake of another one of Castle's films, House on Haunted Hill.-Plot:Ghost hunter Cyrus Kriticos Thirteen Ghosts (also known as 13 Ghosts and...
|
Kathy Kriticos |
|
| 2002 |
Survivin' the Island |
Office worker |
Uncredited |
| 2003 |
Love ActuallyLove Actually is a 2003 British romantic comedy film written and directed by Richard Curtis. The screenplay delves into different aspects of love as shown through ten separate stories involving a wide variety of individuals, many of whom are shown to be interlinked as their tales progress...
|
Harriet, the sexy one |
|
| 2004 |
Johnson Family VacationJohnson Family Vacation is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Christopher Erskin. It stars Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa Williams, Bow Wow, Gabby Soleil, Shannon Elizabeth, Solange Knowles, and Steve Harvey...
|
Chrishelle Rene Boudreau |
|
| 2005 |
Cursed |
Becky Morton |
Cameo |
| 2005 |
The Kid & I The Kid & I is a 2005 American comedy film starring Tom Arnold and Eric Gores.-Plot:Former actor Bill Williams is about to commit suicide over his ruined career. He throws out all his stuff and gives his clothes to a poor alcoholic. The man drinks Bill's vodka and takes half of his pills messing...
|
Shelby Roman |
|
| 2007 |
The Grand The Grand is an improv comedy film directed by Zak Penn. The film has an ensemble cast including Ray Romano, Woody Harrelson, Chris Parnell, Werner Herzog, Jason Alexander, Dennis Farina, David Cross, Gabe Kaplan, Michael Karnow and Cheryl Hines along with several real Las Vegas poker...
|
Toni |
|
| 2008 |
Deal |
Michelle |
|
| 2009 |
Night of the Demons |
Angela Feld |
|
| 2010 |
Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office BustLeisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust is a video game published by Codemasters for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows and Mobile phone which was released on 27 March, 2009. It is the first Leisure Suit Larry game to be released for seventh generation consoles. It was announced on January 17,...
|
Amy Loveheart (Voice) |
|
| 2011 |
A Novel Romance |
Adi Schwartz |
|
| 2012 |
American Reunion For the fourth installment in the American Pie series, see American Pie Presents: Band CampAmerican Reunion is an upcoming comedy film written and directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg...
|
Nadia |
|
Television
Television
| Year(s) |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1996 |
Arliss-Criticism:This show, which ran for seven seasons, is a prime example of how HBO differs from traditional networks due to its nature as a network its viewers specifically pay to be able to watch. Arliss was cited by so many viewers as the sole reason that they paid for the network that its...
|
Anya Slovachek |
1 episode |
| 1996 |
Hang Time Hang Time is an American teen sitcom that aired from 1995–2000. The teen-oriented program aired on Saturday mornings on NBC as part of the network's TNBC morning block. It was created by Troy Searer, Robert Tarlow, and Mark Fink. Producer Peter Engel took over Fink's duties at the start of Season 2...
|
Nicole |
1 episode |
| 1997 |
USA High USA High is an American teen sitcom which ran from August 1997 to June 1999, ended after 95 episodes, and reran until August 4, 2001 on USA Network.-Synopsis:...
|
Melanie |
1 episode |
| 1997 |
Step by Step |
Cindi |
1 episode |
| 1998 |
Pacific Blue Pacific Blue is an American crime drama series about a team of police officers with the Santa Monica Police Department who patrolled its beaches on bicycles. The show ran for five seasons on the USA Network, from March 2, 1996 to April 9, 2000, with a total of one hundred and one episodes...
|
Jo |
1 episode |
| 1997 |
Blade Squad |
Nurse |
Television movie |
| 1999 |
Dying to Live |
Vanessa Canningham |
Television movie |
| 1999 |
G vs E G vs. E is an American fantasy-based television action series that had its first season air on USA Network during the summer and autumn of 1999. For the second season the series switched to Sci Fi Channel in early 2000. The series stars Clayton Rohner, Richard Brooks, and Marshall Bell.G vs...
|
Cherry Valence |
1 episode |
| 2002 |
Just Shoot Me!Just Shoot Me! is an American television sitcom that aired for seven seasons on NBC from March 4, 1997 to August 16, 2003, with 148 episodes produced. The show was created by Steven Levitan, the show's executive producer.-Description:...
|
Karen |
1 episode |
| 2002 |
Off CentreOff Centre is an American sitcom that aired on The WB network from October 14, 2001 to October 31, 2002. Created by Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, and Danny Zuker, the series was heavily promoted as "from the guys who brought you American Pie".-Synopsis:...
|
Dawn |
1 episode |
| 2002 |
The Twilight ZoneThe Twilight Zone is a 2002 revival of Rod Serling's acclaimed 1950/60s television series, The Twilight Zone. It aired for one season on the UPN network, with actor Forest Whitaker assuming Serling's role as narrator and on-screen host....
|
Sondra Lomax |
1 episode |
| 2003 |
The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron is a television movie aired by CBS in January 2003, which was based on the book Anatomy of Greed by Brian Cruver...
|
Courtney |
Television movie |
| 2003–2005 |
That '70s ShowThat '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979...
|
Brooke |
9 episodes |
| 2004 |
One on OneOne on One is an American sitcom that aired on the now-defunct UPN from its September 3, 2001 premiere until May 15, 2006. The series stars Flex Alexander as a single sportscaster, who becomes a full-time dad when his ex-wife decides to accept a job out of the country and his teenage daughter...
|
Tiffany |
1 episode |
| 2005 |
Confessions of an American Bride |
Sam |
Television movie |
| 2005 |
King of the HillKing of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
|
Candee (Voice) |
1 episode |
| 2005–2006 |
CutsCuts is an American sitcom that aired on the UPN network from February 14, 2005, to May 11, 2006, and is a spin-off of another UPN series, One on One...
|
Tiffany Sherwood |
31 episodes |
| 2008 |
You Belong to Me |
Alex Wilson |
Television movie |
External links