Shannon Kook
{{Short description|South African actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Shannon Kook
| image = Shannon Kook 2016.jpg
| caption = Kook in 2016
| birth_name = Shannon Xiao Lóng Kook-Chun
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|02|09|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Johannesburg, South Africa
| other_names = Shannon Kook-Chun
| citizenship = {{Plain list|
- South African
}}
| education = National Theatre School of Canada
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2009–present
}}
Shannon Xiao Lóng Kook-Chun (born 9 February 1987) is a South African actor, based in Canada. He is known for his roles as Zane Park on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2010–11), Jordan Green on The 100 (2018–20), and Tony Swan on Reacher (2023–present), as well as his role as Drew Thomas in the horror franchise The Conjuring Universe (2013–21).{{cite web |last=Langford |first=Anthony D. |date=17 August 2010 |title=From "DeGrassi" to "Verona": Shannon Kook-Chun on Playing Gay, Fitting in and More! |url=http://www.newnownext.com/from-degrassi-to-verona-shannon-kook-chun-on-playing-gay-fitting-in-and-more/08/2010/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012250/http://www.thebacklot.com/from-degrassi-to-verona-shannon-kook-chun-on-playing-gay-fitting-in-and-more/08/2010/ |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |access-date=May 7, 2021 |work=LogoTV |publisher=TheBacklot.com}}
Early life
Kook was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to a Mauritian father of Chinese descent and a South African mother of Cape Coloured descent. He then moved to Montreal in order to attend the National Theatre School of Canada.{{cite web|title=An Evening With Degrassi's Shannon Kook-Chun|url=http://www.chicagotalks.org/2010/11/12/an-evening-with-degrassis-shannon-kook-chun/|work=ChicagoTalks|accessdate=21 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225151305/http://www.chicagotalks.org/2010/11/12/an-evening-with-degrassis-shannon-kook-chun/|archive-date=25 December 2010|url-status=dead}}
Career
Kook's first on screen role was in the Canadian television series Being Erica in 2009. He gained widespread popularity for his role as Zane Park on Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2010.{{Cite web |last=Cotter |first=Padraig |date=2022-09-24 |title=Shannon Kook Movie & TV Shows: Where You Know The Conjuring 3 Star |url=https://screenrant.com/shannon-kook-conjuring-devil-made-do-it-movies-tv/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}
In 2014, Kook, Alexandre Landry, Sophie Desmarais, and Julia Sarah Stone, were chosen for the Toronto International Film Festival's Rising Stars initiative, an annual distinction that spotlights four up and coming Canadian actors to talent developers and filmmakers at the festival.{{Cite web|last=Ahearn|first=Victoria|date=2014-08-31|title=Shannon Kook named TIFF's 'rising star'|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/shannon-kook-named-tiff-s-rising-star-1.1985067|access-date=2021-05-07|website=CTVNews|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Phil|date=2014-09-07|title=Two rising stars get a boost from TIFF|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/tiff/2014/09/07/two_rising_stars_get_a_boost_from_tiff.html|access-date=2021-05-07|website=Toronto Star|language=en}}
Between 2015 and 2016, Kook starred in the popular web series Carmilla.{{cite AV media |date=18 September 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1laK22wMqo |title=Carmilla {{!}} Periscope {{!}} Nicole Stamp & Shannon Kook #Shacole |publisher=KindaTV |via=YouTube |access-date=17 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908042110/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1laK22wMqo&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=8 September 2016 |url-status=live}} In 2017, he was featured in the web series Running With Violet. That same year, he appeared in the Shadowhunters series as Duncan.{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Megan |date=2018-01-22 |title=Shadowhunters actor set to star in The 100 s5 finale |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a848084/shadowhunters-actor-shannon-kook-the-100-season-5-finale/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}
In January 2018, it was announced that Kook has been cast as a mysterious new guest star, Lucas, on the fifth season of The CW's The 100.{{cite web|last1=Petski|first1=Denise|title='The 100': Shannon Kook To Guest Star As Mystery Character In Season 5 Finale|url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/the-100-shannon-kook-guest-star-mystery-character-season-5-finale-1202262944/|website=Deadline|accessdate=19 January 2018|date=19 January 2018}} This was revealed to be a red herring by series showrunner Jason Rothenberg.{{cite tweet |last=Rothenberg |first=Jason |author-link=Jason Rothenberg |user=JRothenbergTV |number=1026994526311735296 |date=7 August 2018 |title=LUCAS was a dummy name to throw you off the scent! Meet Jordan Jasper Green @SHANNONKOOK #the100 #FINALE |language=en |access-date=17 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509062038/https://twitter.com/JRothenbergTV/status/1026994526311735296 |archive-date=9 May 2021 |url-status=live}} Kook's role was later revealed as Jordan Jasper Green, the son of Monty Green and Harper McIntyre.{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Jess|date=2019-04-20|title=The 100 star says he's turned down roles because of Asian stereotypes|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a27212609/the-100-shannon-kook-asian-mixed-representation-tv-film/|access-date=2021-05-07|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB}} Kook had originally auditioned for the role of Finn Collins and Monty Green.{{Cite web|date=May 10, 2019|title=BELLO WATCH: SHANNON KOOK – BELLO Mag|url=https://bellomag.com/bello-watch-shannon-kook/|access-date=2021-05-07|language=en-US}} Kook returned as a series regular in season six and seven.
In 2023, Kook was cast as Tony Swan in season two of Amazon Prime's action crime series Reacher.{{Cite web |last=Nebens |first=Richard |date=2023-12-15 |title=Reacher Season 2: All 15 Actors Who Appear In Main Cast (Photos) |url=https://thedirect.com/article/reacher-season-2-cast-characters-actors-photos |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=The Direct |language=en}}
Personal life
Kook resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Jess |date=2019-04-20 |title=The 100 star says he's turned down roles because of Asian stereotypes |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a27212609/the-100-shannon-kook-asian-mixed-representation-tv-film/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2010
| Verona | Xan | |
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| Requiem for Romance | Yun (voice) | |
| Hunting Season
| Jason | |
| rowspan="3" | 2013
| data-sort-value="Conjuring 1, The" | The Conjuring | Drew Thomas | |
| Empire of Dirt
| Angel | |
| Hunting Season
| Jason | |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| data-sort-value="Dependables, The" | The Dependables | Vic Skinner | |
| Dirty Singles
| Ian | |
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| Young Trey Teepano | |
| data-sort-value="Christmas Horror Story, A" | A Christmas Horror Story
| Dylan | |
| 2016
| data-sort-value="Conjuring 2, The" | The Conjuring 2 | Drew Thomas | |
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| Man Eater |Spencer | |
| Sorry for Your Loss
| Tyler | Short film |
| 2019
| Goliath | Dylan | Also producer |
| 2021
| data-sort-value="Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The" | The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It | Drew Thomas | |
| 2023
| Ren Hiro | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="3" | 2009
| Kendrick Kwan | Episode: "Cultural Revolution" |
| data-sort-value="Border, The" | The Border
| Yuan Doa | Episode: "Kiss and Cry" |
| Cra$h & Burn
| Benny | Episode: "The Boss is Coming" |
| rowspan="2" | 2010
| David Cho | 5 episodes |
| Aaron Stone
| Grudge | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2010–11
| Degrassi: The Next Generation | Main role |
| Baxter
| Deven Phillips | 10 episodes |
| 2011
| Pete Sun | Episode: "God's Good Grace" |
| 2012
| Victor Gong | 2 episodes |
| 2013
| Holidaze | Karl Johnson | Television film |
| 2015–16
| Carmilla | Theo Straka | 6 episodes |
| rowspan="3" | 2016
| Jay Lee | Episode: "Karaoke Confidential" |
| 19-2
| Khoa | Episode: "Bitch" |
| Beauty and the Beast
| Jamal | Episode: "Something's Gotta Give" |
| rowspan="4" | 2017
| Commander Tobias | 2 episodes |
| Thornwood Heights
| Jamie Chen | Episode: "Deadly Secrets by the Lake" |
| Running With Violet
| Stewart | 5 episodes |
| Shadowhunters
| Duncan | 3 episodes |
| 2018–20
| data-sort-value="100, The" | The 100 | Jordan Green | 19 episodes |
| 2019
| Impulse | Wesley Kido | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2020
| Woke | Ziggy | 2 episodes |
| Rising Suns
|Jr Officer Chen |3 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| Grant | 5 episodes |
| data-sort-value="Mysterious Benedict Society, The" | The Mysterious Benedict Society
| Mr. Oshiro | 3 episodes |
| 2022
| data-sort-value="Big Fat Family Christmas, A" | A Big Fat Family Christmas | Henry | Television film |
| 2023–present
| Reacher | Tony Swan | |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
!Award !Year !Category !Nominated work !Result !Notes !Ref. |
| Canada Shorts Film Festival
|2018 |Merit Award |Sorry for Your Loss |{{Won}} | |
| Forest City Film Festival
|2019 |Best Feature Film |{{Nominated}} |Shared with Luke Villemaire, Nathan Dharamshi, and Madelyn Pilon |
| Toronto International Film and Video Awards
|2014 |TIFF Rising Stars |{{N/a}} |{{Won}} | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|3651929}}
- {{Twitter}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kook, Shannon}}
Category:21st-century South African male actors
Category:Male actors from Johannesburg
Category:National Theatre School of Canada alumni
Category:South African emigrants to Canada
Category:South African male film actors
Category:South African male television actors
Category:South African people of Chinese descent
Category:South African people of Mauritian descent
Category:Canadian people of South African descent