Shawn Batten (born August 14)[1] is an American actress most known for portraying Sara Cummings from 1997 to 1999 in NBC's soap opera Sunset Beach and Natalia Carlisle on Spyder Games (2001).

Shawn Batten
Born
OccupationActress
Years active1994–2006; 2022
SpouseSteve Lukather (2002–2010)

Early life and education

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Born in Kansas City, Missouri,[1] Batten grew up in Ramsey, New Jersey.[2] She earned a BFA in theatre from Syracuse University.[1][3]

Career

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Batten began her career with appearances in several commercials, off-Broadway plays, and television pilots. Soon after signing with William Morris Agency (now William Morris Endeavor), Batten worked as a production assistant for VH1 and MTV. She eventually landed the role of Sara Cummings in Sunset Beach.[1] Batten stayed with the show until its cancellation in 1999. She then joined the cast of teen drama Spyder Games, where she played the leading role and appeared in 59 out of 60 episodes.[4]

Batten made numerous guest appearances on TV series, with recurring roles on Beverly Hills 90210, The Sklar Brothers; Apt. 2F, and The Lone Gunman. She also had roles in feature films such as Academy Award Best Picture nominee Quiz Show,[1] and award-winning indie films One Dog Day and Delinquent.[1]

Besides a one-episode appearance on the short-lived Don Johnson series Just Legal in 2006 and several commercials and voiceover projects.

Personal life

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Batten married her longtime boyfriend, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, in 2002. They had two children and divorced in 2010.[3]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 Quiz Show Cornwall Cousin
1995 Delinquent Tracy DeLors
1997 One Dog Day Karina

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Apartment 2F Brittany 2 episodes
1998 Beverly Hills, 90210 Officer Tammy Hansen
1998 Sunset Beach: Shockwave Sara Cummings Television film
1998–1999 Sunset Beach Sara Cummings 243 episodes
2001 The Lone Gunmen Nurse Marilyn Episode: "Diagnosis: Jimmy"
2001 Spyder Games Natalia Carlisle 65 episodes
2006 Just Legal Sophie Episode: "The Code"

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Hirsch, Lynda (July 10, 1999). "SOAP COUPLE PLAYED PARENTS OF SEXTUPLETS". Sun-Sentinel.
  2. ^ Fissinger, Laura. "Batten a Thousand", Soap Opera Digest, July 6, 1999. Accessed April 14, 2024. "On top of the dance lessons she long had been taking, Batten began traveling to Manhattan from her home in Ramsey, N.J., every Saturday for the youth program at the acting school founded by stage legend Lee Strasberg."
  3. ^ a b Tulloch, Katrina (8 June 2017). "Steve Lukather of Toto never thought 'Africa' would be a hit". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  4. ^ Bianculli, David (22 June 2001). "LET 'GAMES' DESIST Soapy 'Spyder' trips over own web". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
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