Shannon Elizabeth

Early life

Elizabeth's father is Syrian and her mother is of Irish , English , German and Cherokee ancestry. She was born in Houston, Texas and raised in Waco, Texas .In high school , she was very much interested in tennis and at one point even considered a professional tennis career. She worked as a model before she began a career in film.

Career

Acting and modeling

Shannon Elizabeth in July 2005.

Elizabeth appeared in several films, including the horror filmJack FrostandDish Dogs, before being cast in 1999'sAmerican Pie.Piewas a major box office success, and achieved cult status for her nude bedroom scene in the movie. Elizabeth subsequently appeared in several Hollywood films, includingScary Movie,Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, andTomcats. Elizabeth starred in the UPN seriesCutsuntil the show was canceled in May 2006.Cutsand its parent show,One on One, were two of the many shows not to be picked up by The CW . Elizabeth appeared inThat 70's Showfor a number of episodes.

In August 1999, she posed for a nude pictorial inPlayboy. In 2000 and 2003, she was featured inMaxim.In June 2008 she wasMaxim's cover girl.

She provided the likeness and voice for Serena St. Germaine in the 2004 video game,James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing.

Elizabeth was one of the celebrities on an episode of NBC'sThank God You're Herealong with Tom Green , Chelsea Handler , and George Takei .

Elizabeth was among the cast of the sixth season ofDancing with the Stars, partnered with Derek Hough . Elizabeth was the seventh star eliminated from the competition.

Poker

At the 2007 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship .

Elizabeth describes poker as her "second career" and has been called "one of the leading celebrity poker players."She visits Las Vegas 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 2005 World Series of Poker under the guidance of Daniel Negreanu , and won a special tournament celebrating the opening of a new poker room at Caesars Palace 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 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship in a field consisting of the top poker professionals before losing to eventual champion Paul Wasicka . Among the four opponents she defeated were three World Series of Poker multiple bracelet winners : Jeff Madsen , Barry Greenstein , and Humberto Brenes .

In May 2010, due to her Lebanese descent, Elizabeth chose to play for Team Lebanon at the World Teamevent in Las Vegas .

Personal life

Elizabeth was in a relationship with actor Joseph D. Reitman for 10 years, including three years of marriage.The couple separated in March 2005,and Elizabeth filed for divorce in late June 2005.

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 Bodog 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 Savage . Over the past year Shannon Elizabeth has participated in numerous other Bodog-sponsored charity events as well.

After the September 11 attacks , Elizabeth recorded a public service announcement 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 fromDancing with the Starsin April, 2008, Elizabeth began dating Derek Hough , her dancing partner on the show. Their relationship ended in August, 2009.

1. "Shannon Elizabeth" . www.aaiusa.org. . Retrieved 2008-06-28.
Steven Russell (2000-02)."Shannon Elizabeth: First she heated up American Pie. Now the nubile newcomer is ready for the Hollywood main course." .Interviews.Maxim Online. Archived fromthe original on 2006-04-21. . Retrieved 2006-09-30. John Crook (2005-02-13)."Shannon Elizabeth Curls up with 'Cuts'" .TV News. Zap2it. . Retrieved 2006-09-30.
2. ^ Maxim.
Steve Groll (2003-06-19)."007 Insider Update #2: Shannon Elizabeth Voice Over Session - Interview with Senior Publicist Steve Groll" .Allmovie.Electronic Arts. . Retrieved 2006-09-30. "ContactMusic" .POKER QUEEN SHANNON ADDICTED TO CARDS. . Retrieved July 18, 2006. The, Marksman (2010-04-14)."Shannon Elizabeth is better at Poker than you" . The Shooting Range. . Retrieved 2010-07-21. "Shannon Elizabeth" .The Hendon Mob. . Retrieved March 9, 2007.
3. ^
4. ^
5. ^
"'American Pie' husband wants half of the dough" .Pittsburg Tribune-Review . 2007-05-31. . Retrieved 2007-10-28. Marcus Errico."Bye-Bye, Mrs. "American Pie"" .E!News. . Retrieved 2006-09-30.
6. ^ IMDB.com News. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
7. ^ "Us Magazine"/ August 9, 2009/