If you have seen Prison Break, you might know about Sarah Wayne Callies – the iconic star who plays the role of the beloved Sara Tancredi. This article will highlight the biography of Sarah Wayne Callies, a versatile actress hailing from Chicago who has appeared in several television shows like The Walking Dead, The Company You Keep, and more. Keep reading on to find out details like Sarah Wayne Callies net worth, her husband, films, TV shows, and more!
Who is Sarah Wayne Callies?
Sarah Wayne Callies is an American actress who is best known for portraying Sara Tancredi in Fox’s Prison Break and as Lori Grimes in AMC’s The Walking Dead. Apart from this, she has appeared in USA Network’s show, ‘Network Colony’ as well.
She has appeared in several other films like Whisper, Black Gold and The Show.
Biography Overview
Full Name | Sarah Wayne Callies |
Age | 48 years old |
Birthdate | 1st June 1977 |
Birth Place | La Grange, Illinois, USA |
Zodiac sign | Gemini |
Profession | Actor |
Religion | Agnostic |
Net Worth | $3-5 million |
Spouse | Josh Winterhalt |
Sarah Wayne Callies Age
Sarah was born on 1st June, 1977, and this makes her currently 48 years old. Her zodiac sign is a Gemini as she was born in the first week of June.
Sarah Wayne Callies Physical Stats and Appearance
Height | 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) |
Weight | 57 kg |
Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Sarah is known to have natural-looking features, and she has a height of 5 feet 9 inches, with a complementing weight of 57 kg. She has dark brown hair and eyes.
Early Life and Education
Sarah was born in La Grange in Illinois but she was raised in Honolulu, in Hawaii, after her family had relocated when she was just one year old. Both her parents Valerie Wayne and David Callies worked at the University of Hawai’i located in Manoa.
From a young age, she was exposed to the world of arts thanks to being part of the school plays when she attended Punahou School, which ultimately ignited a passion for acting.
Given that it was her passion, she went on to pursue this interest academically and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Drama whilst graduating with a minor in Women’s Studies from Dartmouth College in 1999. This was later followed by a Master of Fine Arts from the National Theater Conservatory in Denver in 2002.
Career

Prison Break – Her breakthrough role
Sarah had moved to New York in 2003, and she quickly landed her first role in television as Kate O’Malley, a recurring character on the CBS show Queens Supreme.
She, however, rose to prominence and ultimately stardom with the role of Dr. Sara Tancredi in the critically acclaimed show Prison Break (2005-2017). Her role of Tancredi highlights the character of a prison doctor, who later on becomes the romantic interest of Michael Scofield.
Sara Tancredi’s character resonated well with the audience, thus making her a fan favorite. She appeared in seasons 1, 2, 4, and the 2017 revival – season 5. She also appeared in the TV Movie: Prison Break – The Final Break in 2009. However, Sara’s absence in the third season was a topic of interest amongst fans and spectators as allegations stemmed from contract disputes and her pregnancy. However, she returned in the fifth season, citing her growth as an actress from working on other projects.
The Walking Dead: One of her most iconic roles
Following her roaring success in Prison Break, Sarah Wayne Callies joined AMC’s The Walking Dead, which aired from 2010 to 2018, and her role of Lori Grimes, the wife of the show’s main protagonist, Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln. Her portrayal of Lori, who is a mother navigating a zombie apocalypse, ended up getting a mixed reaction from fans due to the character’s controversial decisions – such as having an affair with Shane Walsh.
She appeared in the first three seasons whilst being met by mixed reviews, before leaving in the 3rd season. However, she did briefly reprise her role n 2018 for The Walking Dead: Destinies.
For her performance, Sarah earned critical recognition and awards, including nominations at the Saturn Awards and Scream Awards.
Sarah Wayne Callies Films and TV shows
Films
Year | Name of Film | Role |
2006 | The Celestine Prophecy | Marjorie |
2007 | Whisper | Roxanne |
2008 | Bittersweet | Robyn |
2010 | Lullaby for Pi | Josephine |
2011 | Black Gold | Kate Summers |
2011 | Faces in the crowd | Francine |
2012 | Black November | Kate Summers |
2014 | Into the Storm | Allison Stone |
2015 | Pay The Ghost | Kristen Lawford |
2016 | The Other Side of The Door | Maria Harwood |
2017 | Atlas King | Penelope |
TV Shows
Queens Supreme | Kate O’Malley |
Dragnet | Kathryn ‘Kate’ Randall |
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit : | Jenny Rochester |
Tarzan | Jane Porter |
Numbers | Kim Hall |
Prison Break | Sara Tancedi |
House | Julia |
The Walking Dead | Lori Grimes |
Colony | Katie Bowman |
The Long Road Home | Leann Volesky |
Letterkenny | Anita Dyck |
The Company You Keep | Birdie Nicoletti |
Awards and Nominations
Year | Category | Name of Awards Won | Nominated Work |
2011 | Best Actress on Television | Saturn Awards | The Walking Dead – Nominated |
Best Horror Actress | Scream Awards | The Walking Dead – Nominated | |
2012 | Best Cast – Television Actress | Satellite Awards | The Walking Dead – Won |
2017 | Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Motion Picture | Leo Awards | The Show |
Sarah Wayne Callies Net Worth
As of 2035, Sarah Callies has a net worth of around $3 to 5 million, which she has primarily earned from her acting roles – especially the highly popular Prison Break, wherein she played the iconic Sara Tancredi, and also The Walking Dead, wherein she played the role of Rick Grimes’s wife, Lori. She also earns from directing projects, podcasts, brand promotion, campaigns, and much more, which helps cushion her steady financial foundation.
Sarah Wayne Callies Husband and Personal Life

Sarah Callies is married to Josh Winterhalt, a professional martial arts instructor and a highly private individual. This complements Sarah’s public-paced personality as he prefers to be the silent rock in her life. Their lives intersect via their shared values for family and commitment, matched with a grounded lifestyle despite her fame.
Sarah and Josh’s relationship over the years
Josh and Sarah met for the first time when they were studying at Dartmouth College, where she was studying for her Bachelor of Arts in 1999. The couple had connected over their creative interests, which thus formed a bond that could lead to a lasting partnership in the future, which it ultimately did. Their college romance laid down the foundations, and they dated for some time before finalizing things in 2002.
Sarah and Josh got married on 21st July 2002, in a private ceremony that was attended by family and friends. The details about the wedding location are not available as the couple has consistently maintained privacy regarding their personal milestones.
The couple, however, has settled in British Columbia in Canada, and has lived in marital bliss with occasional challenges because of Sarah’s demanding career requirements. They have two children: a daughter named Keala, who was born in 2007, and an adopted son named Oakes, who was born in 2013. Keala has often appeared with her mother in projects like Into The Storm (2014) and Unspeakable (2019), thus showcasing the family’s overlap with Sarah’s professional world.
In all of this, Josh has played a pivotal role in Sarah’s life, allowing her to balance her demanding career with a complete family life.
Social Media Presence
Social Media Platform | Handle | Followers |
@sarahwaynecallies | 2.1 Million | |
@SarahWayneCall_ | 76 followers |
Conclusion
Sarah has come a long way from being a theater student to a versatile, globally renowned actress, director, and writer, and this showcases her overall talent and tenacity.
In her career, she has not been involved in any controversies, thus enjoying a prolific career, and she is a source of inspiration for many. Her husband, Josh Winterhalt, has been her supportive system since their marriage and she has successfully balanced a demanding career with her family life with grace and panache.
FAQs
A1. She has a net worth of $3-5 million as of 2025.
A2. Her husband, Josh Winterhalt, is a professional martial arts instructor but he prefers to stay very private and out of the limelight.
A3. She was in the show as a regular cast for 2 seasons and then exited in the 3rd season.
Article Code : Srv-WP-NFB-01
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Refresh Date: September 3, 2025