Shane West is an American actor and musician known for his contributions to punk rock and television drama. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, West's full name is Shannon Bruce Snaith. His father, Don Snaith, a native of Jamaica, owned a drugstore, while his mother, Leah Catherine, of Cajun French descent, worked as an attorney. Both of his parents were also musicians who played in punk bands, which significantly influenced West's musical taste and career path.
West has two sisters: Simone and a half-sister, Marli Ann. His parents divorced when he was four years old. Growing up, he was exposed to bands such as Blondie, The Jam, and The Clash, which deepened his appreciation for punk rock music. At the age of 10, he moved with his mother and sister Simone to Compton, California, seeking better career opportunities. Later, the family relocated to Norwalk, California. By age 16, West had moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. During his early years in the city, he faced considerable challenges and spent two years living at his manager’s home while seeking acting roles.
West's first television appearance came in 1995 with a guest role in Season 4 of the drama series Picket Fences. He gained more screen time in 1998 through various guest roles in different TV shows. That year, he also made his theater debut, portraying Mark Tapper in the stage production of The Cider House Rules.
In 1999, West landed a major role in the television series Once and Again, playing Eli Sammler. He remained with the show for three seasons, establishing a strong television presence. The same year, he made his film debut in Liberty Heights, directed by Barry Levinson.
West achieved widespread recognition in 2002 for his performance as Landon Carter in the romantic drama A Walk to Remember, a role that earned him a Teen Choice Award. He went on to appear in films such as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003), in which he played an adult Tom Sawyer, and What We Do Is Secret (2007), where he portrayed punk rocker Darby Crash, lead singer of the Germs. His performance was well received, notably by surviving members of The Germs, who briefly re-formed the band with West serving as frontman. He was honored with a Rising Star Award at the Philadelphia Film Festival for his work in the film.
| Birth Date: | 10 Jun, 1978 |
| Age: | 41 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Baton Rouge |
| residence: | Los Angeles |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American actor |
| Twitter Id: | Shanewest_1 |
| Net Worth 2021: | 3 million |
