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Gene Simmons has enjoyed one of the most enduring careers in rock and entertainment history. The 76-year-old musician, born in Israel, first rose to fame in the 1970s as the co-founder and bassist of the legendary glam rock band Kiss, delivering chart-topping hits like “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.” Over the years, Simmons expanded his role in Hollywood, appearing in films such as Runaway (1984) with Tom Selleck and Wanted: Dead or Alive (1987), and even headlining his own reality TV show, Gene Simmons Family Jewels.
In recent months, Simmons made headlines after a car accident in Malibu, which he described to fans on X as a “minor fender bender.” Through it all, one constant in his life has been his longtime partner, Shannon Tweed. The former Playboy model and actress has stood by Gene’s side since 1983, and the two have built one of rock’s most enduring love stories.
Here’s everything to know about Shannon and their decades-long relationship.
Shannon hails from Canada.
Shannon Tweed was born on March 10, 1957, in Placentia, Newfoundland, Canada, to Donald Keith Tweed, a mink rancher, and Louise Tweed. After her father was left paralyzed from an accident, Shannon began entering beauty pageants to help pay for the costs of relocating the family, according to Famous Canadians. She eventually placed third in 1978’s Miss Ottawa pageant and also won the Miss Canada music competition for her vocal talents.
She met Gene at the Playboy Mansion.
Her modeling career took her to the pages of Playboy magazine, where Shannon was named Playmate of the Month for November 1981. She also took home the prize for Playmate of the Year the very next year. While staying at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion, Shannon met Gene in 1983 and they have been inseparable ever since!
Shannon is the proud mother of two children.
Gene and Shannon were together for 28 years before they decided to walk down the aisle together. During that time, the couple welcomed two children: Nick (born January 22, 1989) and Sophie (born July 7, 1992). Gene finally proposed to Shannon on their reality show Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels in 2011 and they married on October 1, 2011 in a lavish Beverly Hills wedding with Nick and Sophie present.
She’s also an actress.
Long before she appeared with Gene in the reality show Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Shannon had a healthy acting resume. She has worked on various television projects including Falcon Crest, Baywatch, 21 Jump Street, Nash Bridges and more. Shannon has appeared in more than 60 films and has also lent her vocal talents to SpongeBob SquarePants.
Shannon walked off a talk show over Gene’s infidelity.
In a 2011 interview on The Joy Behar Show promoting the Family Jewels reality show, Shannon stormed off set after Gene made quips about his infidelity, The incident occurred after host Joy Behar joked about Gene’s notorious womanizing, to which he responded lightheartedly. “That’s very nice for you to joke about it,” Shannon said sarcastically, before adding “F*** off.” She then left the set of the talk show. Or course, the pair reconciled and married only months later.