Shane West was born Shannon Bruce Snaith on June 10, 1978 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to both musician parents (Leah Catherine and Don Snaith). He has a younger sister Simone and a much younger half-sister Marli Ann. His parents got divorced when he was young and eventually decided to move to California with his mother and younger sister Simone. He is of Cajun French descent through his mother.
West began to pursue an acting career at the age of fifteen, gaining bit parts on various television shows like “ER” as Dr. Ray Barnett and “Once and Again” as Eli Sammler where he got his major breakthrough. He also had a small appearance in the television series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” in the episode "Go Fish" before leading role as Landon Carter opposite Mandy Moore in the film “A Walk to Remember”. West won the “Young Hollywood Award” Male Superstar of Tomorrow in 2002. He also won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Chemistry with Mandy Moore for the film A Walk to Remember. West has made his mark on the screen within such films as “Liberty Heights” and “Whatever It Takes”. Aside from acting, West continues the musical traditions of his family with his punk rock band, Average Jo, for which he writes and plays guitar.
