Shemar Moore is best known for his work in projects such as Criminal Minds, Young and the Restless, S.W.A.T. and more. He has also served as the host of the musical variety TV show Soul Train and is even known for his modeling journey.
Besides his successful career, Moore’s personal life has also been a topic of interest for people around the world. Thus today we will take a look at Shemar’s childhood, professional journey, relationship history, family life and more.
Where Did Shemar Moore Grow Up?
The Criminal Minds star was born Shemar Franklin Moore in Oakland, California, on April 20, 1970. Shemar Moore’s parents were Sherrod Moore and Marilyn Wilson. His mother was of Irish and French-Canadian descent who was born in Boston, Massachusetts while his dad was African-American. His maternal grandmother is reportedly from Quebec City, Canada.
Shemar Moore’s mother Marilyn moved the family to Denmark when the actor was an infant. Later he moved to Bahrain at the age of four and attended a British private school there till he was seven. Moore stated that civil unrest, racism and taboo regarding interracial relationships were few of the reasons why his mom moved abroad with him. While living in various countries, Marilyn Franklin worked as a teacher.
The actor and his family moved back to the US in 1977 and settled at Chico, California before moving to Palo Alto. Shemar was a talented child and did well in studies at The Nueva School and Gunn High School, where he graduated from.
Moore received an athletic scholarship to attend California based Santa Clara University. There he played varsity baseball as an outfielder and a pitcher all four years before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. He also did a minor in theater arts which later helped in his acting career.
When Did Shemar Moore Start His Professional Journey?
While completing his studies at Santa Clara University, Shemar began his career in the modeling world. He signed to DNA Model Management in New York City. He did numerous shoots over the years but is best known for his Men’s Fitness coverage in March 2009.
As for his acting journey, Moore made his television debut playing the part of Jon Marc in an episode of Living Single in 1995. This was followed by guest roles in a few other series throughout the 90s including Arli$$, The Nanny, Chicago Hope, Mama Flora’s, For Your Love and Malcolm & Eddie. He also made his big screen debut in 1997 playing Chris in the movie Hav Plenty.
However, it was Shemar Moore’s performance in the soap opera The Young and the Restless that helped him gain prominence. He started playing the part of Malcolm Winters on the show in the mid-1990s and continued to do so for a decade. There were reports about him leaving the soap but in 2004, Moore returned but was dropped to recurring status. Shemar officially left in 2005 but made guest appearances in 2014 and 2019.
In between his work in The Young and the Restless, Shemar also played one of the main characters, Derek Morgan in the police procedural Criminal Minds. He has starred in 251 episodes of the show having been part of the main cast for the first 11 seasons and then returning for guest appearances a few times. Another TV series that Moore worked on over the years is Birds of Prey and S.W.A.T.
Additionally, the California native has worked on numerous big screen projects. He starred in and provided voice for characters in movies such as The Brothers, Motives, Reversible Errors, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Justice League: Throne of Atlantis, The Bounce Back, Reign of the Supermen, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and more.
His acting career is still on the rise and it is no surprise that Shemar Moore’s net worth is estimated to be around $22 million.
Is Shemar Moore Married?
Talking about his personal life, the Criminal Minds star is not married but he has been in a loving relationship for a while now.
Moreover, in January 2023, it was announced that Shemar Moore’s partner, Jesiree Dizon was pregnant with the couple’s first child together. The duo happily shared the video of their gender reveal and revealed that they were expecting a little girl. We wish the family much happiness in the coming days.
While Shemar is enjoying his life with his girlfriend Jesiree now, he has had to go through a few heartbreaks in the past. He previously dated soccer player Shawna Gordon and actress Anabelle Acosta. However, Moore is now in a happy relationship and we wish him best for his life as a father.