Sarah Shahi
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Sarah Shahi, an American television actress, was born Aahoo Jahansouz “Sarah” Shahi on January 10, 1980, in Euless, Texas. She is of Iranian and Spanish descent and is known to be a descendant of 19th-century Persian monarch Fath-Ali Shah of the Qajar dynasty. A former NFL cheerleader, Shahi transitioned into acting and built a successful career in television and film.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 10 Jan, 1980
- Age
- 40 yrs
- Occupations
- Actor
Model
Television actor
Film actor
Voice actor
Show all facts
- Citizenship
- United States of America
- Birth Place
- Euless
- Education
- Trinity High School (Euless, Texas)
Southern Methodist University - Gender
- Female
- Description
- American television actress and former NFL cheerleader
- Twitter Id
- Onlysarahshahi
- Spouse
- Steve Howey [M. 2009]
- Net Worth 2021
- 3 million
People Mentioned in This Biography
Early Life and Heritage
Sarah Shahi is the daughter of Abbas Jahansouz Shahi and Mah Monir. Her parents divorced when she was young. She has two siblings: an older brother named Cyrus and a younger sister named Samantha. Her father, who once worked at a high-ranking position at the American Embassy in Iran, moved the family to the United States before the Iranian Revolution.
As a descendant of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar and one of his wives, Begom Khanom, Shahi was raised bilingual, speaking both Persian and English. She adopted the name “Sarah” in the second grade after experiencing bullying due to her birth name. She began participating in beauty pageants at the age of eight, an early sign of her interest in public performance.
Education and Cheerleading Career
Shahi attended Trinity High School in Euless, Texas, where she served as captain of both the basketball and volleyball teams. She later studied English and Theater at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. In 1999, pursuing her interest in performance and entertainment, Shahi joined the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, serving on the squad during the 1999–2000 season. She appeared on the cover of the team’s 2000 swimsuit calendar and was crowned Miss Fort Worth during this period.
Personal Life
Sarah Shahi married actor Steve Howey in Las Vegas. The couple welcomed their first son on July 8, 2009, born during a home water birth. On March 1, 2015, they had twins—a daughter named Violet Moon and a son named Knox Blue. Though the couple eventually separated, Shahi continues to actively co-parent her children.
In 2012, she was ranked number 36 on Maxim magazine’s “Hot 100” list, further solidifying her status as a recognized television personality and model.
