Shannon Tweed

Shannon Tweed is a former actress and model whose career moved from Playboy centerfolds to starring roles in erotic thrillers and television. She was born on March 10, 1957, in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Tweed is Canadian and Caucasian, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She stands 5'10" and has a slim build. During her 33 active years in the industry, she became one of the most recognizable faces in mainstream erotic cinema.

Tweed's breakthrough came when the Canadian TV series Thrill of a Lifetime arranged for her to pose for Playboy. She was chosen as the Playmate of the Month for November 1981 and then named Playmate of the Year in 1982. That recognition launched her acting career. She appeared in the HBO comedy 1st and Ten, the soap opera Falcon Crest, and guest spots on shows like Frasier and The Dukes of Hazzard. In 1985, she joined Days of Our Lives as Savannah Wilder, a role she played until 1987. She also worked steadily in B movies, often in the erotic thriller genre.

Her personal life has been just as public. After a brief relationship with Hugh Hefner, she began living with Gene Simmons of KISS in 1985. They have two children, Nicholas and Sophie, and the family stars in the reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels. Her younger sister, Tracy Tweed, is also an actress and model, and they appeared together in Night Eyes 3 and a Playboy spread. Tweed retired from acting and modeling in 2014.