Samantha Harris
Samantha Harris is the multi-talented co-host of the hit show “Dancing with the Stars” along with Tom Bergeron. She is currently on maternity leave, with former DWTS winner Drew Lachey filling in until she returns.
Samantha was born Samantha Harris Shapiro in Hopkins, Minnesota in 1973. She had show business in her blood as her mother was a dancer and her father was a rock ‘n’ roll promoter. Her parents, Richard and Bonnie, are also the founders of the King Richard’s Faire, one of the first renaissance festivals.
Samantha went to Northwestern University and graduated with honors in 1996. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the university’s Medill School of Journalism.
Samantha began her career in acting on the big screen. She was in 1996’s D3: The Mighty Ducks, 1997’s George of the Jungle, 1998’s The Paperboy, 1999’s Drop Dead Gorgeous, and 2000’s Beautiful. She also starred as the lovable Mary Ann in the 2001 made for television movie “Surviving Gilligan’s Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History.”
In 2003, she began serving as a host for the entertainment show “Extra” as the anchor for the Las Vegas bureau of the show. She has also hosted several shows for the E! network including “E! True Hollywood Story Investigates: Real Life CSI,” “THS Investigates: Love Behind Bars,” “THS Investigates: Chandra Levy and the Capital Murders,” “THS Investigates: Plastic Surgery Nightmares,” and served as a host and correspondent for “E! News.” She also co-hosts E!’s coverage of major award shows such as the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Emmys.
She appears occasionally as a special correspondent for “Good Morning America.” She served as a guest co-host for “The View” in October 2003 and December 2006. She hosted the Fox reality show “The Next Joe Millionaire” and starred in one episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” Samantha has also worked as a model, being featured three times on the cover of Muscle & Fitness: HERS as well as the covers of FHM, SELF, and SHAPE.
In her spare time, Samantha likes to involve herself in yoga, dancing, kick boxing, and hiking. She is very active in supporting charities including the Revlon Run/Walk, What a Pair, P.S. Arts, and Harmony with No Limits. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband Michael Hess and her new daughter Josselyn Sydney, born on September 23, 2007.
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