Who is Keri Shahidi?
Born Keri Jamelda Salter on 19 August 1969 under the zodiac sign of Leo in Madison, Wisconsin USA, Keri Shahidi is a 54-year-old actress, executive producer, entrepreneur and social media star, perhaps best known for being the principal and co-founder of 7th Sun Production, alongside her daughter Yara Shahidi, a notable young actress.
How rich is she? Keri Shahidi’s Net Worth
As of the early part of 2024, Keri’s net worth is estimated at close to $5 million, acquired through her prosperous involvement in the film industry. Her diverse portfolio includes numerous commercials as well as notable contributions to several film and TV titles. Additionally, she’s increased her fortune through her active engagement in the social media scene.
Early Life, Parents, Siblings, Nationality, Ethnicity, Religion, Educational Background
Keri spent her childhood years in her hometown of Madison, where she was raised by her parents; however, details about their names and professions remain undisclosed. Information about her siblings is also unknown, leaving it unclear whether she has any or is an only child. It’s confirmed that she’s the first cousin of the renowned rapper Nas since his grandparents Charles Rufus Jones and Ella Mae are also her grandparents. Kate is of mixed African American and Native Choctaw descent, while her nationality is American. In terms of religion, she’s Christian. Speaking about her education, Keri attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, from which she obtained her BA degree in International Relations and Affairs and Spanish in 1991.
Acting Career
After completing her postgraduate studies and gaining experience in both high and adult education, Keri Shahidi made the decision to transition into the entertainment industry. She started pursuing her career as an actress, making appearances in numerous commercials, which paved the way for her further engagements in acting. Keri made her TV debut in 2009, portraying Alexis in an episode of the ABC sitcom “In The Motherhood”. The following year, she lent her voice to Michelle Obama in an episode of the Fox animated sitcom “American Dad!” She then landed a small role in the 2011 comedy drama film “Butter”, sharing the screen with her daughter Yara and other esteemed actors such as Jennifer Garner, Ty Burrell, and Olivia Wilde.
Keri Shahidi as Renee
Renee makes her entrance in BOOK # 2
She is Alex's (single) mother + she is
a half-breed. Her mother Guardian
Fatima raised her at the Cove.Why Keri is the perfect Reneehttps://t.co/Mb2jd1FJJL pic.twitter.com/7DrLID1jO4
— Spades (@spadestheseries) September 11, 2021
Career as an Executive Producer
Thereafter, Keri took an hiatus from acting and focused on her career behind the camera as an executive producer. Her first project came in 2018 when she produced an episode of the short series “Shatterbox”. This was followed by her role as a co-executive producer on the critically acclaimed short animated comedy film “Hair Love” in 2019, which earned an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
In June of the same year, Keri co-founded the production company 7th Sun Productions, in collaboration with her daughter Yara. As an associate producer, she contributed to the 2020 short comedy “Second Team”, which was directed by Ria Pavia. Her most recent project came in 2022 when she and Yara produced the hit Facebook Watch series “Yara Shahidi’s Day Off”.
Social Media Presence
In addition to her career in the film industry, Keri has made a name for herself as a social media star. She ventured into the world of digital content creation when she launched her official Instagram account under the username ‘@chocolatemommyluv’. Currently boasting over 300,000 followers, her Instagram account serves as a platform on which she shares blog-style posts and provides glimpses into both her family’s professional and personal lives. Through this digital presence, Keri became recognized as a prominent influencer, engaging with a wide audience and expanding her impact.
Other Projects
Beyond her professional pursuits, Keri is a dedicated advocate for the representation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. She’s also an inspirational speaker, who has contributed her voice to such platforms and events as BET’s Leading Women Defined, NYU, BeHerNow Conference Tribeca Women In Film, among many others. Her influence and accomplishments garnered enormous attention, leading her to be featured in numerous prestigious publications, including TIME, Vogue, Fortune, Harper’s Bazaar among many.
Appearance and Vital Statistics
Keri has long black hair and dark brown eyes. She stands at a height of 5ft 8ins (1.72m), and weighs around 150lbs (68kgs). However, details about her vital statistics, bra, dress and shoe sizes are unavailable.
Personal Life and Marriage with Afshin Shahidi
Keri’s husband is Afshin Shahidi, who immigrated in the United States at the age of seven and gained fame for working as Prince’s personal photographer, before he ventured into the film industry as a filmmaker. Their love story began in 1992, when they met at a lounge in Minneapolis. They tied the knot secretly, so there’s no information as to when and where they married. However, it appears that the two have been happily married for more than two decades.
The couple has welcomed three children together, all of whom are actors. Yara Sayeh Shahidi is their eldest child as she came into the world on 10 February 2000. Their middle child and first son, named Sayeed Shahidi, was born on 14 February, three years later. She gave birth to their youngest child and second son, Ehsan Shahidi, on 7 March 2008. The family currently resides in Beverly Hills, California.
Keri maintains a strong bond with her children, with a special connection to Yara. The two share a deep admiration of each other, and even made an appearance in Jimmy Fallon’s “The Tonight Show”, participating in the Mother-Daughter Challenge and showcasing the depth of their closeness.
Who are Keri’s children?
Yara Shahidi, one of the most famous young actresses globally, began her professional career at the age of six, featuring in numerous commercials and print advertisements. Her on-screen debut came with a small role in an episode of the HBO comedy series “Entourage” in 2007, and she made her feature film debut in the comedy “Imagine That” in 2009, which earned her a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film. Yara gained enormous popularity for playing Zoey Johnson in the ABC sitcom “Black-ish” (2014-2022) and its spin-off series “Grown-ish” (2018-present). Her outstanding portrayal of Zoey in both titles earned her numerous awards, including four NAACP Image Awards in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Besides that, Yara did voice overs in such animated films as “Smallfoot” (2018), “PAW Patrol: The Movie” (2021), and “My Father’s Dragon” (2022). Most recently, she took on the role of Tinker Bell in the fantasy adventure “Peter Pan & Wendy” in 2023.
Following his elder sister’s path, Sayeed Shahidi also found fame in the film industry. He has appeared alongside Yara in numerous titles, including “Alex Cross” (2012), “The First Family” (2012-2013), and “Black-ish” (2016-2019). Additionally, he featured as Miles Russell in the ABC sitcom “Uncle Buck” in 2016, and portrayed Will Bishop in the ABC Family drama series “Switched At Birth” in 2017.
Their youngest sibling, Ehsan Shahidi is an up-and-coming actor, who gained fame in 2016 for starring in the role of O.J. Simpson’s son Justin in the first season of “American Crime Story”, entitled “The People v. O. J. Simpson”,
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