Shawn Ashmore
{{Short description|Canadian actor (born 1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Shawn Ashmore SDCC 2014.jpg
| caption = Ashmore in 2014
| alt = Shawn Ashmore smiling as he sits at a microphone
| birth_name = Shawn Robert Ashmore
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1979|10|7}}
| birth_place = Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
| othername =
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1989–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Dana Renee Wasdin|July 27, 2012}}
| relatives = Aaron Ashmore (twin brother)
| children = 1
| website =
}}
Shawn Robert Ashmore (born October 7, 1979) is a Canadian actor whose career spans film, television, and interactive media.
A former child actor, he first drew notice as Jake Berenson on Nickelodeon's Animorphs (1998–1999), Tyler Connell in Disney Channel's In a Heartbeat (2000–2001), and Brad Rigby in the Disney Channel film Cadet Kelly (2002). At age 14, his performance in the family telefilm Guitarman (1994) earned Ashmore a Gemini nomination for Best Performance in a Children's Program.
Ashmore achieved international recognition as Bobby Drake / Iceman in the 20th Century Fox X-Men films (2000–2014), winning the 2003 MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Male Performance for X2. His later work includes portraying Canadian hero Terry Fox in Terry (2005) and headlining the horror films The Ruins (2008) and Frozen (2010).
On television, he starred as FBI agent Mike Weston in The Following (2013–2015) and has played attorney Wesley Evers on The Rookie since 2018. He leads several performance-capture video games, notably Quantum Break (2016), The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan (2019) and Alan Wake II (2023).
Ashmore won a 2004 Leo Award for Legend of Earthsea and has received further Gemini and Saturn Award nominations. Ashmore is the identical twin brother of actor Aaron Ashmore.
Early life and education
Shawn Robert Ashmore was born on October 7, 1979, in Richmond, British Columbia, to Linda Davis, a homemaker, and Rick Ashmore, a senior manager in the floor-covering industry.{{cite book |last=Morreale |first=Marie |title=Meet the Stars of Animorphs |publisher=Scholastic |year=1999 |page=96 |isbn=0-439-06165-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/meetstarsofanimo00morr}}{{cite web |title=Richard Ashmore Obituary (1949–2021) |website=St. Catharines Standard |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stcatharinesstandard/obituary.aspx?n=richard-robert-ashmore-rick&pid=198297999 |access-date=May 3, 2025}} When he was a few weeks old, the family moved to St. Albert, Alberta, where he spent much of his early childhood. They later settled in Brampton, Ontario, when Ashmore was around ten years old, where he went on to attend Turner Fenton Secondary School.{{cite news |last=Brioux |first=Bill |title=A homegrown hospital drama |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=January 9, 2010 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-homegrown-hospital-dram/174282375/ |access-date=June 11, 2025}}{{cite web |last=O'Rourke |first=Patrick |title=This week in gaming: An interview with Quantum Break’s Canadian star Shawn Ashmore |url=https://mobilesyrup.com/2016/04/05/this-week-in-gaming-an-interview-with-quantum-breaks-canadian-star-shawn-ashmore/ |website=MobileSyrup |date=April 5, 2016 |access-date=June 11, 2025}}
Shawn and his identical twin brother, Aaron Ashmore, began appearing in television commercials while still in elementary school. Ashmore later recounted that he and Aaron entered acting when a talent agent approached their mother about the twins auditioning for a commercial. Aaron was initially cast, but when he fell ill on the shoot day, Shawn filled in for him – effectively landing his first acting job.{{Cite web |last=Kuhn |first=Sarah |date=November 5, 2019 |title=The Iceman Cometh |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/iceman-cometh-34738/ |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=Backstage |language=en-US}} Early in their careers, casting directors occasionally resolved the dilemma of choosing between the look-alike brothers by "flipping a coin" to decide which twin would be hired.{{cite web |last=Freedman |first=Adrianna |title=Why 'The Rookie' Fans on Reddit Are Going Wild Over This 'Ginny & Georgia' Actor |website=Good Housekeeping |date=June 10, 2025 |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a65024215/the-rookie-ginny-and-georgia-shawn-aaron-ashmore/ |access-date=June 11, 2025}}
At age nine, Shawn made his screen debut on the CTV series Katts and Dog (1990).{{cite encyclopedia |title=Ashmore, Shawn 1979– |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia.com |publisher=Gale |url= https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/ashmore-shawn-1979 |access-date=June 15, 2025}} The following year both brothers had small roles in the feature film Married to It (1991).{{cite web |title=Shawn Ashmore – Cast Credits |website=AFI Catalog of Feature Films |publisher=American Film Institute |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/PersonDetails/281343 |access-date=June 15, 2025}} His first starring vehicle was the family TV film Guitarman (1994), which earned the 14-year-old Ashmore a Gemini Award nomination for Best Performance in a Children's/Youth Program.{{cite web |title=The 1995 Gemini nominees |website=Playback |date=January 30, 1995 |url=https://playbackonline.ca/1995/01/30/4086-19950130/ |access-date=May 8, 2025}} He ultimately decided in his late teens to pursue acting as a full-time career, after realizing he was never happier than when working on set.
Career
= Early work and breakthrough (1990s–2004) =
Ashmore’s first sustained television role was playing Jake Berenson in Animorphs (1998–1999), a Nickelodeon series based on the popular children’s sci-fi books by K. A. Applegate. He next had lead billing as EMT cadet Tyler Connell in Disney Channel's In a Heartbeat (2000–2001).{{cite web |title=Shawn Ashmore – Biography |website=TV Guide |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/shawn-ashmore/bio/3000200477/ |access-date=May 3, 2025}}
His breakthrough came when director Bryan Singer cast him as Bobby Drake / Iceman in X-Men, a role that brought him international recognition. He returned as Iceman with a larger story arc in X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand. For X2, he received the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Male Performance in 2004.{{cite press release |title=MTV Movie Awards 2004 – Winners |publisher=MTV Press |date=June 5, 2004 |url=https://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=7213 |access-date=May 3, 2025}} Ashmore also reprised his role as Iceman in the animated series The Super Hero Squad Show,{{cite web |title=Iceman / Bobby Drake – The Super Hero Squad Show |website=BehindTheVoiceActors.com |publisher=Behind the Voice Actors |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/The-Super-Hero-Squad-Show/Iceman-Bobby-Drake/ |access-date=2025-06-08}} as well as voicing the role for X-Men: The Official Game.{{cite web |title=Iceman / Bobby Drake – X-Men: The Official Game |website=BehindTheVoiceActors.com |publisher=Behind the Voice Actors |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/X-Men-The-Official-Game/Iceman-Bobby-Drake/ |access-date=2025-06-08}}
In between X‑Men films, he diversified with Cadet Kelly (2002),{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2872994/shawn-ashmore-cadet-kelly-disney-channel-original-movie/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427072449/http://www.mtv.com/news/2872994/shawn-ashmore-cadet-kelly-disney-channel-original-movie/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 27, 2016 |title=Why Do You Still Love Disney Channel Movies? Cadet Kelly's Shawn Ashmore Explains |last=Lakshmin |first=Deepa |website=MTV News |access-date=September 2, 2019}} a Disney Channel original film. He also guest-starred as Eric Summers in two episodes of Smallville, a series on which his brother was later cast in the role of Jimmy Olsen.{{Cite web |url=https://www.eonline.com/photos/19565/30-smallville-stars-and-guest-stars-you-might-have-forgotten-about/722255 |title=Shawn Ashmore (Seasons 1 and 3) from 30 Smallville Stars and Guest Stars You Might Have Forgotten About |website=E! Online |access-date=September 2, 2019}} In December 2004, Ashmore was cast in the lead role in the SciFi Channel mini series Legend of Earthsea, based on the novels by Ursula K. Le Guin.{{Cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/earthsea/cast/2000128120/ |title=Earthsea – Full Cast & Crew |website=TV Guide |access-date=May 21, 2025}} He played the role of Ged, a young wizard-in-training.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2004/scene/markets-festivals/legend-of-earthsea-1200529085/ |title=Legend of Earthsea |last=Lowry |first=Brian |date=December 12, 2004 |website=Variety |access-date=September 2, 2019}} His performance earned him the 2005 Leo Award for Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama.
= Film and television (2005–2015) =
In 2005, he portrayed Canadian icon Terry Fox in the CTV biographical film Terry (2005), dramatizing the Marathon of Hope. Discussing the role, Ashmore admitted that "the roughest part is the physicality, learning the skip-hop to make it real, and remembering and knowing the movement".{{cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Gayle |title=An emotional, wrenching run |work=The Globe and Mail |date=September 10, 2005 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/an-emotional-wrenching-run/article986398/ |access-date=June 7, 2025}} His performance earned him a Gemini Award nomination for Best Actor.{{cite web |title=Shawn Ashmore – Biography |work=Disney/ABC Press |date=2021 |url=https://www.dgepress.com/abc/bios/shawn-ashmore/ |access-date=May 3, 2025}} The same year, he appeared in the action‑comedy Underclassman,{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=A.O. |date=September 2, 2005 |title=A Killer on the Campus, a Class Clown on the Trail |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/movies/a-killer-on-the-campus-a-class-clown-on-the-trail.html |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}} the HIV/AIDS anthology drama 3 Needles, and the psychological thriller The Quiet.{{Cite web |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |date=August 25, 2006 |title=The Best of Friends, Until the Bloody End |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/25/movies/25quie.html |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}}
In 2008, he starred as one of the leads in the horror film The Ruins.{{Cite web |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/horror/news/709232-exclusive-shawn-ashmore-visits-the-ruins |title=Exclusive: Shawn Ashmore Visits The Ruins |date=March 30, 2008 |website=ComingSoon.net |access-date=September 2, 2019}} The following year, he starred in the CTV telefilm Diverted (2009), playing an air‑traffic manager coping with flights grounded in Newfoundland during the September 11 attacks.{{cite web |title=Diverted |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/diverted/2000061191/ |website=TV Guide |access-date=June 8, 2025}} Ashmore was cast in Adam Green's 2010 dramatic thriller Frozen as Joe Lynch.{{cite news |last=Catsoulis |first=Jeannette |title=A Nightmare on a Ski Lift |work=The New York Times |date=February 4, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/movies/05frozen.html |access-date=June 7, 2025}} He also co‑starred in the ensemble horror remake Mother's Day (2010) as eldest brother George Barnum.{{cite web |title=Rebecca De Mornay to Celebrate Mother's Day |work=Empire Online |date=September 1, 2009 |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/mother-day-rebecca-de-mornay/ |access-date=May 3, 2025}} Also in 2010, Ashmore starred as hard-living air-ambulance doctor Fitz in, and served as an executive producer for, the eight-part HBO Canada miniseries Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures, adapted from Vincent Lam's Giller Prize–winning stories. The show went on to receive nine Gemini nominations.{{cite web |title=Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures Gets Greenlit by The Movie Network and Movie Central |url=https://www.tv-eh.com/2009/07/14/bloodletting-miraculous-cures-starts-production/ |website=TV, eh? |date=July 14, 2009 |access-date=June 8, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Gemini Award nominations announced: Flashpoint leads with 15 |url=https://www.tv-eh.com/2010/08/31/gemini-award-nominations-announced-flashpoint-leads-with-15/ |website=TV, eh? |date=August 31, 2010 |access-date=June 8, 2025}} That November, he and twin brother Aaron guest-starred in the Fringe episode "Amber 31422". Den of Geek praised the pair as "rather good actors" whose dual performances anchored the hour.{{cite web |last=Grifter |first=Billy |title=Fringe season 3 episode 5 review: Amber 31422 |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/fringe-season-3-episode-5-review-amber-31422/ |website=Den of Geek |date=November 8, 2010 |access-date=June 8, 2025}}
Ashmore starred in the apocalyptic siege warfare film The Day in 2011.{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/08/30/160249265/on-a-gray-day-one-last-post-apocalyptic-stand |title=On A Gray Day, One Last Post-Apocalyptic Stand |website=NPR.org |access-date=September 2, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/afm-2011-entertainment-one-the-day-256739 |title=AFM 2011: Entertainment One Seizes Post-Apocalyptic Thriller The Day |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 2, 2011 |access-date=September 2, 2019}} Ashmore next head-lined the bilingual road-movie romance Mariachi Gringo (2012), which premiered as the opening-night gala of the 29th Miami International Film Festival.{{cite web |title=Miami International Film Festival Announces Line-up |url=https://themiamiguide.com/miami-international-film-festival-announces-official-lineup/ |website=The Miami Guide |date=January 18, 2012 |access-date=June 8, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Mariachi Gringo Wins Guadalajara Film Fest |url=https://www.cinematropical.com/cinema-tropical/mariachi-gringo-wins-guadalajara-film-fest |website=Cinema Tropical |date=March 9, 2012 |access-date=June 8, 2025}} From 2013 to 2015, Ashmore starred as FBI agent Mike Weston in Fox's crime‑thriller series The Following.{{Cite web |url=https://keyw.com/shawn-ashmore-of-the-following-on-fox-once-played-his-twin-brother-playing-his-twin-brother-celebrity-interview/ |title=Shawn Ashmore of The Following on FOX Once Played His Twin Brother Playing His Twin Brother [Celebrity Interview] |last=Jim |first=Big |website=983 The KEY |date=January 9, 2013 |access-date=September 2, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/following-shawn-ashmore-poets-fire-417907 |title=The Following Postmortem: Shawn Ashmore on the Aftermath of a Big Team Change |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=February 4, 2013 |access-date=September 2, 2019}} He reprised his role as Iceman in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past.{{Cite web |url=https://www.citynews1130.com/2014/10/14/canadian-shawn-ashmore-talks-his-role-in-x-men-days-of-future-past/ |title=Canadian Shawn Ashmore talks his role in X-Men: Days of Future Past |website=www.citynews1130.com |date=October 14, 2014 |access-date=September 2, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/x-men-days-future-past-star-shawn-ashmore-ive-waiting-see-bobby-drake-thing-video/ |title=X-Men: Days of Future Past Star Shawn Ashmore: 'I've Been Waiting to See Bobby Drake Do His Thing' (Video) |date=May 13, 2014 |website=TheWrap |access-date=September 2, 2019}}
= Continued screen work and video game debut (2016–2020) =
In April 2016, Ashmore starred in the Microsoft/Remedy video game Quantum Break, providing both performance capture and live‑action cut‑scenes as protagonist Jack Joyce. The title blends third‑person shooter gameplay with TV‑style episodes featuring the same cast.{{Cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/quantum-break-shawn-ashmore-interview/ |title=Quantum Break: Shawn Ashmore talks time travel, virtual reality and Andy Serkis |date=April 4, 2016 |website=Empire |access-date=September 2, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/a789391/quantum-breaks-shawn-ashmore-talks-his-supportive-bodysuit-and-gay-iceman/ |title=Shawn Ashmore talks making Quantum Break and gay Iceman |last=Loveridge |first=Sam |date=April 5, 2016 |website=Digital Spy |access-date=September 2, 2019}} He also did the motion capture and voice acting for the character.{{Citation |title=Quantum Break's Shawn Ashmore on the Future of Performance Capture – IGN |date=April 26, 2016 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/26/quantum-breaks-shawn-ashmore-on-the-future-of-performance-capture |access-date=September 2, 2019}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11620482 |title=Why Quantum Break star Shawn Ashmore can't play his own game |last=Schulz |first=Chris |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=April 12, 2016 |access-date=September 2, 2019 |issn=1170-0777}}
From October 2016 to January 2017, he played the role of Sam Spencer on the American legal drama Conviction.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/shawn-ashmore-cast-conviction-abc-pilot-1201700463/ |title=Shawn Ashmore Joins ABC's Conviction |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=February 11, 2016 |website=Deadline |access-date=September 2, 2019}} The series was filmed in Toronto.{{Cite web |url=https://abc.go.com/shows/conviction/cast/sam-spencer |title=Conviction Video Clips |website=ABC |access-date=September 2, 2019}} Following Conviction, Ashmore returned to feature films with a run of genre projects. He headlined the science‑fiction horror thriller Devil's Gate, which premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, and played a troubled brother in the Canadian mystery Hollow in the Land (2017).{{Cite web |last=Kay |first=Jeremy |date=March 2, 2017 |title=Tribeca 2017 unveils Competition, Spotlight, Viewpoints, Midnight |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/tribeca-2017-unveils-competition-spotlight-viewpoints-midnight/5115487.article |access-date=May 4, 2025 |website=ScreenDaily}}{{Cite web |last=Scheck |first=Frank |date=December 7, 2017 |title='Hollow in the Land': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/hollow-land-1065415/ |access-date=May 4, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} He next starred in the action thriller Acts of Violence (2018), portraying a police officer pursuing a human‑trafficking ring.{{cite web |title=First Trailer for Action Thriller 'Acts of Violence' Starring Bruce Willis |work=FirstShowing.net |date=December 1, 2017 |url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2017/first-trailer-for-action-thriller-acts-of-violence-starring-bruce-willis/ |access-date=May 3, 2025}} Also in 2018, Ashmore also joined the ABC police-procedural series The Rookie, recurring through its first two seasons (2018–2020) as defence attorney Wesley Evers.{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Jacqueline |title='The Rookie' Cast: A Guide to All the Actors and Characters from Season 1 to Season 6 |work=People |date=November 26, 2023 |url=https://people.com/all-about-the-rookie-cast-7555420 |access-date=May 4, 2025}}
In interactive media, Ashmore provided voice, likeness, and motion capture for the playable character Conrad in the horror game The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan (2019).{{cite web |last=Hyde |first=Chris |title=Bandai Namco release interview with Shawn Ashmore, who plays Conrad in Man of Medan |url=https://www.godisageek.com/2019/06/bandai-namco-release-interview-shawn-ashmore-plays-conrad-man-medan/ |website=GodisaGeek |date=June 27, 2019 |access-date=May 22, 2025}} That same year he appeared in Hulu's anthology series Into the Dark, playing migrant‑rights activist Thomas in the Independence Day episode "Culture Shock".{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=April 12, 2019 |title='Into The Dark': Martha Higareda, Shawn Ashmore Among 6 Cast In Hulu's "Culture Shock" Installment |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/into-the-dark-martha-higareda-shawn-ashmore-among-6-cast-hulu-culture-shock-installment-1202594729/ |access-date=May 4, 2025 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
In 2020, Ashmore recurred in the second season of the Amazon Prime Video superhero series The Boys as Lamplighter, a former member of the superhero group the Seven.{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Nick |date=August 10, 2020 |title=X-Men star Shawn Ashmore joins The Boys season 2 as Lamplighter |url=https://ew.com/tv/the-boys-season-2-shawn-ashmore-lamplighter/ |access-date=May 31, 2025 |website=Entertainment Weekly |language=en-US}} Reflecting on the role, Ashmore noted the contrast with his earlier portrayal of Bobby Drake / Iceman, calling the latter "the quintessential good guy" and stating that his casting as Lamplighter "wasn't a coincidence". He added, "One of the things I liked about The Boys is that they subvert the genre, and I really got to lean into that."{{Cite web |last=Anzelc |first=Kristen |date=October 19, 2021 |title=Shawn Ashmore Talks Aftermath, The Future & X-Men's Past |url=https://www.swaggermagazine.com/home/selfmade/Shawnashmore/ |website=Swagger Magazine |access-date=June 7, 2025}} Showrunner Eric Kripke revealed that Ashmore first auditioned for another part, but he "really wanted to get him into the show" and felt Ashmore was "perfect" for Lamplighter due to his "X-Men pedigree" and strong acting. Ashmore himself enjoyed the irony, saying it was fun to play "both sides of a superhero".{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Nick |date=September 25, 2020 |title=X-Men's Shawn Ashmore uncovers the 'deep history' of Lamplighter on The Boys |work=Entertainment Weekly |url=https://ew.com/tv/the-boys-season-2-shawn-ashmore-lamplighter-introduction/ |access-date=June 7, 2025}}
= Television regular and expanded game work (2021–present) =
In 2021, Ashmore appeared in two thriller features: he played Kevin Dadich in the Netflix release Aftermath{{cite news |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |title=Ashley Greene, Shawn Ashmore's 'Aftermath' Lands at Quiver for Digital |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=July 28, 2021 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ashley-greene-shawn-ashmore-aftermath-quiver-digital-release-1234989546/ |access-date=May 4, 2025}} and also starred as the manipulative husband Nick Miller in the psychological‑horror film The Free Fall, which premiered at Grimmfest on October 7.{{cite web |last=Bat |title=THE FREE FALL (2021) [Grimmfest 2021 Review] |url=https://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/2021/10/the-free-fall-2021-grimmfest-2021-review/ |website=Horror Cult Films |date=October 9, 2021 |access-date=May 21, 2025}} That same year, Ashmore's recurring role as Wesley Evers, a defence attorney turned ADA, on ABC's The Rookie was upgraded to the main cast at the start of the series's third season; he has remained a series regular through the seventh season. Ashmore later reprised the role in the spin‑off The Rookie: Feds episode "Standoff" (2022).{{cite episode |title=Standoff |series=The Rookie: Feds |season=1 |number=8 |network=ABC |airdate=November 22, 2022}}
In 2023, Ashmore voiced and performed motion capture for Sheriff Tim Breaker in Remedy Entertainment's survival-horror video game Alan Wake II.{{cite news |last=Reiner |first=Andrew |title=Shawn Ashmore joins Alan Wake 2 cast as Sheriff Tim Breaker |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/08/25/shawn-ashmore-returns-in-alan-wake-2 |work=Game Informer |date=August 25, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2025}} Ashmore's role featured a metafictional twist. In the Night Springs DLC (2023), he portrays an alternate-reality version of himself filming a time-travel game scene, a sequence one review described as "a real fourth wall break" rife with in-jokes referencing Ashmore's past role in Quantum Break.{{cite web |last=Burdette |first=David |date=June 20, 2024 |title=Alan Wake 2: Night Springs DLC review — Poetry in brilliant, ridiculous, and violent motion |website=GamingTrend |url=https://gamingtrend.com/reviews/alan-wake-2-night-springs-dlc-review-poetry-in-brilliant-ridiculous-and-violent-motion/ |access-date=June 7, 2025}} Remedy's Sam Lake noted that this character was written specifically for Ashmore as a nod to their previous collaboration.{{cite web |last=Allsop |first=Ken |date=August 23, 2023 |title=Alan Wake 2 "could not have been made earlier," Remedy says |website=PCGamesN |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/alan-wake-2/interview-gamescom |access-date=June 7, 2025}}
Ashmore continued his game work by voicing Timmy LeBlanc in Sons of the Forest. Ahead of the game's full launch on February 22, 2024, GamesRadar+ reported that "X-Men, The Boys, and Alan Wake 2 actor Shawn Ashmore has joined the cast, voicing side character Timmy LeBlanc", and that the update would "expand Timmy's role" in the narrative.{{cite news |last=Bellingham |first=Hope |title=Open-world survival hit Sons of the Forest leaves Early Access in under three months with new story updates featuring a beloved Alan Wake 2 actor |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/open-world-survival-hit-sons-of-the-forest-leaves-early-access-in-under-3-months-with-new-story-updates-featuring-a-beloved-alan-wake-2-actor/ |work=GamesRadar+ |date=November 30, 2023 |access-date=April 30, 2025 |quote=The rest of the post reveals that ... Shawn Ashmore has joined the cast, voicing side character Timmy LeBlanc, as well as expanding Timmy's role in Sons of the Forest.}} In 2025, Ashmore starred as Randall Harris in the supernatural-horror film It Feeds, directed by Chad Archibald.{{cite web |title='It Feeds' Trailer: New Supernatural Thriller Is Terrifying Audiences |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/529180/it-feeds-trailer-new-supernatural-thriller-is-terrifying-audiences/ |website=Dread Central |date=April 15, 2025 |access-date=April 30, 2025}}
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Personal life
On July 27, 2012, Ashmore married Dana Renee Wasdin in Los Angeles, after meeting her on the set of the thriller Frozen, where Wasdin was an assistant director.{{cite web |url=https://people.com/celebrity/shawn-ashmore-married-x-men-star-weds-dana-renee-wasdin-in-los-angeles/ |title=Shawn Ashmore Is Married |work=People |date=August 29, 2012 |access-date=February 5, 2013}} They have a son, Oliver, born in 2017.{{cite web |last=Juneau |first=Jen |title=Shawn Ashmore Welcomes Son Oliver |website=People |date=July 18, 2017 |url=https://people.com/parents/shawn-ashmore-welcomes-son/ |access-date=June 10, 2025}}{{cite web |last=Stutsman |first=Samantha |title=Meet the Real‑Life Loves of The Rookie Cast (Including the Couple Who Played Volatile Exes on the Show!) |website=People |date=March 18, 2025 |url=https://people.com/meet-the-real-life-loves-the-rookie-cast-11698558 |access-date=May 4, 2025}}
Shawn and his twin brother Aaron have the letters "GMA" tattooed on their wrists. According to Aaron, the initials stand for "Good Man Ashmore," in tribute to their step-grandfather, Gangu Jagtiani, who married their grandmother before the twins were born and was considered their grandfather.{{cite web |last=Mahadevan |first=Tina |title=Ginny & Georgia's Aaron Ashmore reveals he and wife Zoë Kate quietly separated during the pandemic |website=Soap Central |date=February 8, 2024 |url=https://www.soapcentral.com/entertainment/news-when-aaron-ashmore-marry-zo-kate-ginny-georgia-actor-reveals-quietly-split-wife-pandemic/ |access-date=May 8, 2025}} Ashmore has also supported breast‑cancer causes. In October 2021, he joined a virtual meet‑and‑greet auction run by the nonprofit A Cause for Entertainment, with proceeds funding research and patient support.{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Rebecca |title=9‑1‑1, *Grey's Anatomy* and *Sex/Life* stars join forces for incredible cause |website=Hello! |date=October 20, 2021 |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/20211020124333/911-oliver-stark-sex-life-sarah-shahi-ted-lasso-breast-cancer-auctio/ |access-date=May 4, 2025}}
Filmography
{{Pending films key}}
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1991
| Student in pageant | |
| 1998
| Photographer | Originally titled The Hairy Bird |
| 2000
| X-Men | |
| 2001
| Beau | |
| 2002
| Brad Rigby | |
| 2003
| X2 | Bobby Drake / Iceman | MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance |
| rowspan="3" | 2005
| Rob Donovan | |
| data-sort-value="Three Needles" | 3 Needles
| Denys, the porn actor | |
| data-sort-value="Quiet, The" | The Quiet
| Connor | |
| 2006
| Bobby Drake / Iceman | |
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| Solstice | Christian | |
| data-sort-value="Ruins, The" | The Ruins
| Eric | |
| rowspan="3" | 2010
| Frozen | Joe Lynch | |
| Mother's Day
| George Barnum | |
| Hatchet II
| Fisherman #1 | |
| 2011
| data-sort-value="Day, The" | The Day | Adam | |
| rowspan="4" | 2012
| Edward | |
| Already Gone (short)
| Jude Mulvey |
| data-sort-value="Barrens, The" | The Barrens
| Dale | |
| Breaking the Girls
| Eric | |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| Bobby Drake / Iceman | |
| Happy Halloween (short)
| David |
| 2016
| {{TableTBA|N/A}} | Executive producer |
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| Conrad "Colt" Salter | |
| Hollow in the Land
| Darryl | |
| 2018
| Brandon | |
| 2020
| Jeff Anderson | |
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| Kevin Dadich | |
| data-sort-value="Free Fall, The" | The Free Fall
| Nick Miller | |
| rowspan="2" | 2025
| It Feeds | Randall Harris | |
| data-sort-value="Huntsman, The" {{Pending film|The Huntsman}}
| ICU nurse (lead) |
| {{TableTBA}}
| {{Pending film|Just Breathe}} | Chester |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title !width=100|Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1989
| | Episode: "Mistaken Identity" |
| rowspan="2" | 1992
| data-sort-value="Ray Bradbury Theater, The" | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Charlie | Episode: "Colonel Stonesteel and the Desperate Empties" |
| Mr. Dressup
| Shawn | {{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnWYUJgkS_s |title=Mr. Dressup with Guest Shawn Ashmore (1992) |website=YouTube |date=April 23, 2023}} |
| 1993
| Gross Misconduct: The Life of Brian Spencer | Young Brian Spencer | TV film |
| 1996
| Billy | TV film |
| rowspan="4" | 1997
| Gord | Episode: "Mudpack" |
| Promise the Moon
| Leviatus Bennett | TV film |
| Melanie Darrow
| David Abbott | TV film |
| Fast Track
| Young Chandler | Episode: "Combustions" |
| 1998–1999
| Jake | Main role |
| rowspan="3" | 1999
| data-sort-value="City, The" | The City | Tyler | Episode: "Departures" |
| Real Kids, Real Adventures
| Aaron Hall | Episode: "Mountain Lion" |
| At the Mercy of a Stranger
| Danny | TV film |
| rowspan="2" | 2000
| Max | Episode: "Sanctuary" |
| data-sort-value="Famous Jett Jackson, The" | The Famous Jett Jackson
| Chet | Episode: "What You Wish For" |
| 2000–2001
| Tyler Connell | Main role |
| rowspan="4" | 2001
| data-sort-value="Big House, The" | The Big House | Trevor Brewster | TV film |
| Blackout
| First Son | TV film |
| data-sort-value="Outer Limits, The" | The Outer Limits
| Morris Shottwell | Episode: "Lion's Den" |
| Wolf Girl
| Beau | TV film |
| 2002
| Aces | | TV film |
| 2002–2004
| Eric Summers | Episodes: "Leech", "Asylum" |
| 2004
| Earthsea | Ged | Miniseries |
| 2005
| Terry | TV film |
| 2009
| Diverted | Mike Stiven | TV film |
| 2009–2010
| data-sort-value="Super Hero Squad Show, The" | The Super Hero Squad Show | Bobby Drake / Iceman (voice) | Episodes: "Mysterious Mayhem at Mutant High!", "The Ice Melt Cometh!" |
| rowspan="2" | 2010
| Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures | Fitz | Miniseries |
| Fringe
| Joshua Rose | Episode: "Amber 31422" |
| 2013–2015
| data-sort-value="Following, The" | The Following | Mike Weston | Main role |
| 2016
| Relationship Status | Ben | 3 episodes |
| 2016–2017
| Sam Spencer | Main role |
| 2018
| S.W.A.T. | William Tanner | 1 episode |
| 2018–present
| data-sort-value="Rookie, The" | The Rookie | Wesley Evers | Recurring role (seasons 1–2); main role (season 3–present) |
| 2019
| Thomas | Episode: "Culture Shock" |
| 2020
| data-sort-value="Boys, The" | The Boys | 3 episodes |
| 2022
| data-sort-value="Rookie: Feds, The" | The Rookie: Feds | Wesley Evers | Episode: "Standoff" |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Voice role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2006
| |
| 2016
| Jack Joyce | Also likeness and motion capture |
| 2019
| data-sort-value="Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan, The" | The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan | Conrad | Also likeness and motion capture |
| 2023
| Tim Breaker / the actor | Also likeness and motion capture |
| 2024
| Timmy | |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Work !! Result !! class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|References}} | |||||
| 1995 | Gemini Awards | Best Performance in a Children's/Youth Program | Guitarman | {{Nominated}} | |
| 2003 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Breakthrough Male Performance | X2 | {{Won}} | |
| rowspan="3" | 2004 | Leo Awards | Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama | Legend of Earthsea | {{Won}} | {{cite web |title=Leo Awards 2005 – Winners & Nominees |website=Leo Awards |url=https://leoawards.com/2005_winners.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060719011350/http://leoawards.com/2005_winners.html |archive-date=July 19, 2006 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 5, 2025}} |
| Saturn Awards | Cinescape Genre Face of the Future (Male) | X2 | {{Nominated}} | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie – Chemistry (with Anna Paquin) | X2 | {{Nominated}} | ||
| 2005 | Gemini Awards | Best Actor in a Dramatic Program or Mini‑Series | Terry | {{Nominated}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category inline}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashmore, Shawn}}
Category:Canadian male child actors
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male video game actors
Category:Canadian male voice actors
Category:Film producers from British Columbia
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Identical twin male actors
Category:Male actors from British Columbia
Category:People from Richmond, British Columbia