Shawn David Thompson is an American actor and filmmaker born in Washington, D.C. on April 17, 1967 and raised in Upper Marlboro, MD. After graduating from high school, Thompson attended the University of Maryland and studied film for four years before leaving for NYC. While waiting tables, he was discovered by acting agent Steve Carson, who placed him in numerous commercials. He then was cast in a number of daytime series, including As the World Turns, Ryan's Hope, The Guiding Light and All My Children.

In 1992, Aaron Spelling cast Thompson as the lead, along with Jamie Walters, on the Fox series *The Heights *, in which he also sang the harmonies on the theme song "How Do You Talk to an Angel?." The single reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 14, 1992 knocking Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" from the top spot.

The show was canceled and Thompson returned to Los Angeles, appearing on TV in *Baywatch *, *Silk Stalkings *, *The Bold and the Beautiful * and *Danielle Steel's Family Album * with Jaclyn Smith. In 2004, Thompson was the lead in the feature film West From North Goes South, also starring Tina Louise (Gilligan's Island ), Phyllis Diller, Larry Linville (MASH *), LaWanda Page (*Sanford & Son *), Julie McCullough and Morris Day (*Purple Rain * and The Time). ^[4]

In 1995, Thompson turned his attention back to film.

He worked as an editor on The Chris Wylde Show for Comedy Central and numerous independent films and commercials. ^[5]

In 2000, Thompson wrote and acted in *Four Dogs Playing Poker * ^[6] starring Forest Whitaker, Tim Curry, Balthazar Getty, Olivia Williams, Steve Jones (The Sex Pistols) and John Taylor (Duran Duran).

From 2001 to the present, Thompson has worked as a documentary filmmaker, directing, producing and editing films in the Middle East and Afghanistan, including On The Road in America, the award-winning Life After Death, ^[8] Generation Entrepreneur, American Caravan and Confessions from the War.

These films focus on getting to know "the other", cross cultural understanding and improving Arab/American relations.

^[9] *The Wall Street Journal * referred to his work with Visionaire Media and Layalina Productions as worthy of the "public diplomacy medal of honor".

Thompson had a live-in relationship with actress Alexandra Wilson in the late 1980s. ^[3]

In 1997, Thompson married Lisa Marie Durham.

They met as neighbors and currently reside in Laurel Canyon.