"After losing my grandmother to lung cancer, I was given the opportunity to have a voice and help raise awareness of lung cancer in her honor."
Actress and activist Shantel VanSanten was born in Minnesota and grew up between the small farm town of Luverne, MN and the sprawling city of Houston, TX. VanSanten found her passion for the arts at a young age doing local theatre, taking acting classes and writing plays in college. Eventually she followed her calling by moving to Los Angeles. She first made an impression on audiences in the controversial drama "You and I," directed by acclaimed filmmaker Roland Joffe (The Killing Fields). Shortly thereafter, she landed her first major lead TV role on the hit series “One Tree Hill.”
VanSanten’s success has continued to grow with standout roles in several series. She currently stars in the Apple TV+ critically acclaimed drama series “For All Mankind,” which recently returned for Season 3. She also can be seen recurring in the hit Dick Wolf CBS series "FBI," which just wrapped up a fourth season. VanSanten also had a pivotal role in the Emmy nominated series “The Boys,” where she played ‘Becca Butcher’ for two seasons and in “Shooter,” which she starred in for three seasons. Other series include “Gang Related,” “The Messengers,” and “The Flash” on which she played ‘Patty Spivot’. Some of her additional credits include "The Final Destination" and "Remembrance".
When not focused on TV and film projects, VanSanten is a devoted philanthropist. She volunteers with several organizations, but VanSanten’s real passion is working with The American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative. She got involved after the unfortunate passing of her grandmother, Doris Dooyema. VanSanten has hosted several events, raised funds for research and joined LUNG FORCE Advocacy Day to fight for policy change and to lobby support for respiratory health. Giving a voice to the voiceless and carrying on her Grandmother's fight is part of the legacy she wishes to create.
