Shannon Kook, a classically trained actor, was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, where his mother is from, and his father is from the Mauritian Islands. He is one of the 12 exceptional acting students accepted into the prestigious National Theatre School of Canada each year. Shannon's talent was recognized with the Edna Khubyar Acting Award, a scholarship given to students who demonstrate exceptional talent and achievement.
Kook's early career was marked by lead roles in several theatre productions, including the world premiere musical of The Forbidden Phoenix at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, where he played the son of the Monkey King. He quickly transitioned to film and television, landing lead and guest star roles, and earning several awards and nominations, including the ACTRA Award, the TIFF Rising Star award, and the Reelworld Film Festival Trailblazer Award.
Today, Kook is a regular cast member on The 100, a supporting actor in all three Conjuring films, and a recurring cast member on Nancy Drew and The Mysterious Benedict Society. When he's not acting, Kook enjoys a variety of hobbies, including Taekwondo, Jiu-Jitsu, and Kickboxing, as well as various styles of dance, such as Salsa, Bachata, Hip Hop, and Ballet. He is also a skilled photographer, and enjoys shooting and retouching portrait photography. Additionally, Kook is a polyglot, speaking Afrikaans, some French, and working on his Mandarin, as well as playing the guitar and piano.
