1970年，山克斯出生在加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省温哥华，他在坎卢普斯长大。山克斯在英属哥伦比亚大学获得美术和戏剧学位。1994年，山克斯在安大略省的舞台出演舞台剧，慢慢地客串电视剧和电影，正式步入影视圈。
Aaron Pearl, (born May 11, 1972 in Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada) came to screen notice in 1996 with the romantic sports drama Annie O (1995). During that same year, Aaron found supporting roles in such TV-movies as Susie Q (1996), Home Song (1996) and Titanic (1996). Contrasting his strong television credentials, Aaron's work also includes appearances within such better-known films as X2 (2003), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale (2007), Man of Steel (2013). In 1999 he wrote, directed, and executive produced his first film Little Boy Blues (1999).
