Chelan Simmons

About Chelan Simmons

Chelan Simmons, whose first name is pronounced with a soft "sh" sound, was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on October 29, 1982. Her professional life encompasses acting, modeling, and performing. She is the middle of three children, with an older sister and a younger brother.

Her connection with actor Chris Harrison began in 2004 on the set of Monster Island, leading to a relationship. Harrison proposed to Simmons on July 28, 2008, and their wedding took place on September 6, 2009, with actress Crystal Lowe serving as a bridesmaid. The couple jointly owned a CrossFit gym before their eventual divorce. Simmons was slated to remarry in 2015. On June 1, 2016, she welcomed a daughter. Notably, during her own pregnancy, Simmons filmed the TV movie Operation Christmas, where she portrayed an expectant mother. Simmons maintains residences in both Vancouver and Los Angeles. Her canine companions include a yorkie named Talula and an adopted rescue puppy named Tibby. Beyond her acting pursuits, Simmons lists cooking as another significant passion.

Simmons' ambition to become an actress surfaced at age three, though her professional journey in entertainment commenced at five years old. She began her career in modeling and commercials before making her official film debut in It, playing Laurie Ann Winterbarger. Her first theatrical release was the award-nominated family film Bingo, and she also appeared in various television shows as a child performer. Simmons took a seven-year hiatus from acting, during which she relinquished her modeling career. She returned to the screen with guest spots on several series, followed by recurring roles in the MTV show MTV's Now What? and as Crystal in Edgemont for eleven episodes. Her filmography also includes numerous television movies, such as the 2002 adaptation of Carrie. Given her extensive work in horror productions like the television films Snakehead Terror and Chupacabra: Dark Seas, Simmons is recognized as a contemporary scream queen.

In 2005, Simmons took on a role in the comedy film The Long Weekend, her first cinematic appearance in over a decade. The following year, she starred in the 2006 horror film Final Destination 3, the third installment of the franchise. Her portrayal of the character Ashley Freund in this film is arguably her most recognizable role to date. While the film garnered mixed reviews, it proved successful at the box office and received award nominations. Simmons also featured in the direct-to-DVD sequel Dr. Dolittle 3, and made brief appearances in the teen comedy John Tucker Must Die and the horror film Wind Chill. She then secured the role of Hillary Shepard, a recurring character in the ABC Family series Kyle XY, appearing for three years until the show concluded in 2009 after three seasons. Simmons also held a recurring part in the short