Shemar Franklin Moore is an American actor from Oakland, California. Shemar was born on April 20, 1970, to Sherrod Moore and Marilyn Wilson. He attended Nueva School in California before graduating from Gunn High School in Palo Alto. A gifted and talented young man, Shemar was awarded an athletic scholarship at Santa Clara University. He played baseball all four years and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in communications, minoring in Theatre Arts.
After a brief modeling career, Shemar went into acting and is best known for his portrayal of Malcolm Winters on CBS’s “The Young and the Restless.” He left the show but returned in 2004 to be a recurring character. He finally left the soap opera in September 2005. In a 2007 interview, he said, “My time is done on Y&R. I did eight solid years as Malcolm.” Shemar moved on to several TV shows and films, such as “The Brothers” (2001), “Birds of Prey” (2002-2003), and “Motives” (2004).
In 2005, Shemar played the role of Derek Morgan in “Criminal Minds” for 11 seasons. In 2017, CBS announced that Shemar would play a lead role in a new series titled “S.W.A.T.” The show is based on the 2003 film and the 1975 TV show of the same name. He then joined the cast of “Sonic the Hedgehog” 2 in 2021 as Randall Handel. Shemar also stars as the “Unnecessary Action Hero” in several Paycom commercials.
With Moore’s decorated career, it isn’t unusual for fans to begin taking an interest in his personal life. Shemar has more or less portrayed masculine characters in his career, but that didn’t stop people from wondering about his actual sexual orientation behind the camera. So, is Shemar Moore gay? Let’s find out below.
VOTE: What is Shemar Moore’s Sexuality?
Shemar Moore’s Dating History
Like his extensive career, Shemar’s dating life is just as abundant. He’s been spotted with several Hollywood A-listers throughout the years. Some of his relationships are well-defined, while others are more mysterious and delve into rumor territory. We’ll look at some of the women Shemar has been linked to.
Shemar Moore and Toni Braxton (2002)
A BET interview in 2013 had Shemar revealing Toni Braxton as his first Hollywood girlfriend. It’s unclear when the couple began dating, but Shemar confirmed that it started while he was still in “The Young and the Restless,” soon after graduating college. He states that he was still young and had no clue how to navigate the celebrity life. Braxton had called Shemar’s agent, and that’s where it started. He fondly remembers his time with Braxton, comparing it to finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Shemar Moore and Halle Berry (1990s)
Moore also opened up about dating Halle Berry in the same interview. According to him, dating Berry changed his life. He stated:
She was the first woman to really knock my socks off,” he said. “I fell hard for Halle. A lot of people now know we dated, but we had to keep it hush-hush at the time because she was fresh off her divorce from David Justice.”
Shemar Moore in BET Interview, 2013
Although they eventually parted ways, Moore expressed his sentiments regarding the relationship.
I’m still grateful for that relationship. I was smitten not just because of who she was but because we were so similar in so many ways. She was biracial, she was kind of going through the same things I was in Hollywood. Toni was a fun ride, but Halle was a necessary experience. It made me much stronger as a man, and knowing the caliber of woman I want in the future.”
Shemar Moore in BET Interview, 2013
Shemar Moore and Ashley Scott (2002)
Shemar Moore was rumored to be dating his “Birds of Prey” co-star Ashley Scott. Details about their supposed relationship are scarce, but the two were often spotted together on several red carpets. They were reportedly quite cozy and affectionate in the premiers they attended. In 2018, Scott even shared a throwback photo of the two, calling Shemar “handsome.”
Shemar Moore and Kimberly Elise (2005-2006)
Shemar and his “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” costar, Kimberly Elise, were rumored to be dating between 2005 and 2006. Although neither confirmed the rumors, they were often spotted together on red carpets — at the 2006 NAACP Image Awards and the premiere of “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”
Shemar Moore and Lauren Wood (2014)
Before she dated NFL player Odell Beckham Jr., model Lauren Wood was briefly attached to Moore in 2014. They didn’t appear to be together for long. Still, they had two high-profile date nights when they walked the red carpet at the ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live and the 2014 Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour the following day. There are few details known about Shemar’s relationship with Lauren.
Shemar Moore and Shawna Gordon (2015)
In 2015, football star Shawna Gordon and Shemar Moore began dating. While Moore generally doesn’t talk about his relationships, he did confirm his affiliation with Gordon when a TMZ reporter asked which athlete had the best body in 2015. He said, “My girlfriend, Shawna Gordon because she’s a professional soccer player. If she stands up and turns around, you might just faint.” It’s unknown when the pair split, but it’s assumed they didn’t have a long run.
Shemar Moore and Anabelle Acosta (2018)
Shemar and “Quantico” actor Anabelle Acosta appeared to be getting serious in 2018. During an appearance on the “Steve Harvey” talk show, Shemar opened up about his experience dating Acosta and hinted at his desire to settle down.
“It’s cool,” he said, describing their relationship. “She said to me, ‘Whatever the attraction is, the interest is there, but let’s work on being friends… Let’s get to know each other. Let’s vibe it out. Let’s not speed through it because you are cute, I am cute.’ We’re taking our time.”
Unfortunately, the pair split up in early 2019. The reason for their separation isn’t publicly known, but Shemar has clarified that he wanted to settle down.
Shemar Moore and Jesiree Dizon (2023-Present)
It’s unclear when Shemar and Jesiree Dizon began dating, but reports suggest the pair is getting serious. They had recently done a gender-reveal video on Instagram in early 2023. They announced they were expecting a daughter and wanted to name her Frankie.
I honestly just want whatever is healthy, happy, like [Moore] says, 10 fingers, 10 toes. I’m just so excited for this portion of our life together, and it’s going to be amazing.”
Jesiree Dizon via Instagram, 2023
Is Shemar Moore Gay?
No, Shemar Moore is not gay. All his past relationships have been with women. He is currently in a serious long-term relationship with Jesiree Dizon. She just gave birth to their daughter early in 2023.
Featured Image: “Shemar Moore”, by John Mathew Smith, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED