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David Headley (Terrorist) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birthJune 30, 1960

Age59 Years (as in 2019)

BirthplaceWashington D.C., U.S.

ProfessionVideo Store Proprietor, DEA Informant and Spy

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusMarried

FamilyTwo children with second wife Shazia

David Headley (Terrorist) Biography

David Coleman Headley, born Daood Sayed Gilani, is an American national of Pakistani heritage who gained notoriety for his role in reconnaissance for the

Early life and background

David Coleman Headley was born Daood Sayed Gilani on June 30, 1960, in Washington, D.C. He grew up between the United States and Pakistan. His father, Sayed Salim Gilani, was a Pakistani diplomat and broadcaster; his mother, Alice Serrill Headley, worked as a secretary at the Pakistani embassy in Washington. The family settled in Lahore, Pakistan, during Headley’s childhood. He attended Cadet College Hasan Abdal in Punjab and later Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania. In 1977 he moved to the United States with his mother and lived in Philadelphia, where he helped manage establishments she ran.

Headley left college before completing a degree, having attended the Community College of Philadelphia and dropping out around 1990. He married while in college in 1985 and divorced in 1987. Over the years he had several marriages and fathered two children with his second wife, Shazia.

Career

Early in his life Headley was involved in drug smuggling. In 1988 he was arrested in Frankfurt, then West Germany, after heroin was discovered in his luggage. He cooperated with authorities in that case, which led to a reduced sentence. During the legal process he was offered work with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and accepted, later assisting DEA operations that resulted in arrests and seizures of contraband.

Over time Headley’s activities shifted dramatically. He traveled frequently to Pakistan and became acquainted with members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a militant organization. He spent time at an LeT training camp and attended an introductory course on the group’s ideology. Between 2006 and 2008 he adopted the name David Coleman Headley and traveled to India repeatedly, conducting surveillance of potential targets. He made five extended trips to Mumbai in 2007–2008 and recorded video reconnaissance of several locations.

Headley was arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in October 2009. He subsequently disclosed ties with LeT and with individuals he identified as connected to Pakistani institutions. In January 2013 he was sentenced to 35 years in prison for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which included reconnaissance that preceded the November 26, 2008 assault on sites such as the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

Public profile

Headley’s life has been marked by a complex blend of cross-border identity, criminal activity, and cooperation with and betrayal of multiple organizations. He has been described in public records as having worked in the past as a video store proprietor and as an informant for U.S. law enforcement. Physical descriptions in public sources note he is approximately 183 cm (6'0") tall and has heterochromia with different-colored eyes.

His family background and movement between Pakistan and the United States have been highlighted in descriptions of his early life. Accounts note ideological shifts in his adult life, including a turn toward militant networks and involvement in plotting attacks abroad. He has been married multiple times and is reported to have two children with his second wife.

Latest updates

In July 2018 reports indicate Headley was attacked by other inmates while in a Chicago prison. His sentence of 35 years was imposed in January 2013 following conviction for his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. As of the latest available details in public records here, he remains a convicted offender serving that sentence.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about David Headley (Terrorist), send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

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Career Highlights

  1. Assisted U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration operations that led to arrests and drug seizures
  2. Conducted reconnaissance trips to Mumbai and other locations on behalf of Lashkar-e-Taiba
  3. Arrested in October 2009 and sentenced in January 2013 to 35 years in prison for involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was David Headley (Terrorist) born?

David Headley (Terrorist) was born on June 30, 1960.

What is David Headley (Terrorist) known for?

David Headley (Terrorist) is known for video Store Proprietor, DEA Informant and Spy.

What is David Headley (Terrorist)’s marital status?

David Headley (Terrorist)'s marital status is listed as Married.