Photo: (2008) Lester Cohen, © WireImage.com; biography: IMDb

Born in Lexington, KY; began his professional stage career in Chicago. His first acting role was in "Winterset" at the Illinois Theatre Center. Over the next several years he continued working on the stage with such companies as Steppenwolf, The Next Lab and the Red Orchid Theatre. He subsequently relocated to London for a year, and performed on stage in London's West End and off-Broadway in such productions as "Woyzeck", "Killer Joe" and "Bug".

While in Chicago Shannon also kept busy in front of movie and television cameras, most notably in the big screen project CHICAGO CAB (1997), based on the long-running stage play "Hellcab". KANGAROO JACK (2003) marked the third Jerry Bruckheimer production in which Shannon appeared. He also appeared in BAD BOYS II (2003), directed by Michael Bay and starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, and in GRAND THEFT PARSONS (2003), with Johnny Knoxville and Christina Applegate.

In addition, Shannon appeared in PEARL HARBOR (2001), also directed by Bay. His other film credits also include Curtis Hanson's 8 MILE (2002); Cameron Crowe's VANILLA SKY (2001) with Tom Cruise; Carl Franklin's HIGH CRIMES (2002) with Morgan Freeman; John Waters' CECIL B. DEMENTED (2000), and Joel Schumacher's war drama TIGERLAND (also 2000).

His more recent film credits include THE WOODSMAN, ZAMBONI MAN, CRIMINAL, DEAD BIRDS and WATER (all 2004), MARVELOUS, BUG, WORLD TRADE CENTER and LET'S GO TO PRISON (all 2006), SHOTGUN STORIES, BLACKBIRD, LUCKY YOU and BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD (all 2007), REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (2008), THE MISSING PERSON (2009), and 13 and MY SON, MY SON, WHAT HAVE YE DONE (both scheduled for release in 2010).

  Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 2008: REVOLUTIONARY ROAD