Wallace Shawn Biography (1943-)

Born November 12, 1943, in New York, NY; son of William (a magazine editor) and Cecille (a journalist; maiden name, Lyon) Shawn; brother of Allen Shawn (acomposer); companion of Deborah Eisenberg (a playwright and fiction writer).Addresses: Agent: Cary Berman, William Morris Agency, 151 El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Manager: Christopher Black, Ensemble Entertainment, 10474 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 380, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Writer, actor
Birth Details: November 12, 1943; New York, New York, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Assistant insurance man, All That Jazz, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979
Jeremiah, Manhattan, United Artists, 1979
Workshop member, Starting Over, Paramount, 1979
Strong Medicine, 1979
Eric Van Dongen, Simon, Warner Bros., 1980
Mugger, Cheaper to Keep Her, American Cinema, 1980
(As Wally Shawn) Waiter, Atlantic City (also known as AtlanticCity, U.S.A.), Paramount, 1981
Wallace, My Dinner with Andre, New Yorker, 1981
Oliver, A Little Sex, Universal, 1982
Earl, Strange Invaders, Orion, 1983
Frank Judd, Saigon--Year of the Cat, Warner Bros., 1983
Harold DeVoto, Deal of the Century, Warner Bros., 1983
Otto Jaffe, Lovesick, Warner Bros., 1983
Professor Jules Goldfarb, The First Time (also known as Doin' It), New Line Cinema, 1983
Dr. Elliot Fibel, Micki + Maude, Columbia, 1984
Freud, The Hotel New Hampshire, Orion, 1984
Mr. Pardon, The Bostonians, Almi, 1984
Turtle, Crackers, Universal, 1984
Father Abruzzi, Heaven Help Us (also known as Catholic Boys), TriStar, 1985
Mike Hoover, Head Office, TriStar, 1986
Defense attorney, The Bedroom Window, De Laurentiis EntertainmentGroup, 1987
Ellen, Nice Girls Don't Explode, New World, 1987
John Lahr, Prick Up Your Ears, Samuel Goldwyn, 1987
Masked Avenger, Radio Days, Orion, 1987
Vizzini, The Princess Bride, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987
Oiseau, The Moderns, Island Alive, 1988
Dr. Fishbinder, She's Out of Control, Columbia, 1989
Howard Saravian, Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills,Cinecom, 1989
Translator, We're No Angels, Paramount, 1989
Dr. Block, Unbecoming Age (also known as The Magic Bubble),1992
Everett Willis, Nickel & Dime, Columbia/TriStar Home Video, 1992
Sibor, Mom and Dad Save the World, Warner Bros., 1992
Simon Carr, Shadows and Fog, Orion, 1992
Cashpot, The Double 0 Kid, Prism Pictures, 1993
Larry, The Cemetery Club (also known as Looking for a Live One), Buena Vista, 1993
Mr. Little, The Meteor Man, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1993
Canadian prime minister Clark MacDonald, Canadian Bacon, Gramercy,1994
Horatio Byrd, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (also known as Mrs. Parker and the Round Table), Miramax, 1994
Vanya, Vanya on 42nd Street, Mayfair, 1994
Kalamazoo, No. 9 Films, 1994
Cosmo, The Wife, Artistic License Films, 1995
Mr. Alphonse (some sources cite Wendell) Hall, Clueless (also known as I Was a Teenage Teenager and No Worries), Paramount, 1995
Voice of Principal Mazur, A Goofy Movie (animated), Buena Vista, 1995
Voice of Rex, Toy Story (animated), Buena Vista, 1995
Victor "Vic" Finley, House Arrest, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1996
Voice of Labrador, All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 (animated), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1996
Arthur Blake, Just Write, Curb Entertainment/Heartland Film Releasing, 1997
Furnace man, Critical Care, Live Film and Mediaworks, 1997
Marty, Vegas Vacation (also known as National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation), Warner Bros., 1997
Voice of Tarzan the chimp, The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story (animated), 1998
Die Wholesale, 1998
Dr. Edward (some sources cite Elliott) Coleye, My Favorite Martian(also known as My Favourite Martian), Buena Vista, 1999
Voice of Rex, Toy Story 2 (animated), Buena Vista, 1999
Gene, The Prime Gig, New Line Cinema/Fine Line, 2000
Voice of Rex, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins(animated), 2000
George Bond, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (also known as Im Bann des Jade Skorpions), DreamWorks, 2001
(Uncredited) Voice of Rex, Monsters, Inc. (animated), Buena Vista,2001
Doctor, Love Thy Neighbor, Tribeca Rules Productions, 2002
Mr. Gelb, "Greta," Personal Velocity: Three Portraits (also knownas Personal Velocity), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 2002
Ezra, The Haunted Mansion (also known as Disney's The Haunted Mansion), Buena Vista, 2003
Voice Principal Strickler, Teacher's Pet: The Movie (animated), Buena Vista, 2003
Duplex, Miramax, 2003
Television Appearances
Series
Mr. Alphonse Hall, Clueless, UPN, 1996-1997

Voice of Freddy, The Lionhearts (animated), syndicated, beginning1998
Voice of Principal Strickler, Teacher's Pet (animated; also knownas Disney's Teacher's Pet), ABC, 2000-2002
Miniseries
I. E. Shinn, Blonde (also known as Marilyn Monroe), CBC, 2001
Movies
Stan Spiegel (Charlie's father), Just Like Dad, The Disney Channel, 1995
Zack, Noah, ABC, 1998
Mimir, Mr. St. Nick, ABC, 2002
Colonel Wilson, Monte Walsh, TNT, 2003
Episodic
Arnie Ross, "The Schloogel Show," Taxi, ABC, 1982
Arnie Ross, "Arnie Meets the Kids," Taxi, ABC, 1983
Jeffrey Engels, "Cliff's Mistake," The Cosby Show, NBC, 1987
Jeffrey Engels, "The Day the Spores Landed," The Cosby Show, NBC,1989
Jeffrey Engels, "Cliff's Nightmare," The Cosby Show, NBC, 1990
Jeffrey Engels, "The Moves," The Cosby Show, NBC, 1990
Narrator, "Bad Sausage Sandwich," The Cosby Show, NBC, 1990
Howard Buckley, Davis Rules, ABC, 1991
Jeffrey Engels, "Olivia's Field Trip," The Cosby Show, NBC, 1991
Riley Baker, "A Bus Named Desire," Civil Wars, ABC, 1992
Grand Nagus Zek, "The Nagus" (also known as "Friends and Foes"), StarTrek: Deep Space Nine (also known as Deep Space Nine, DS9,and Star Trek: DS9), syndicated, 1993
Grand Nagus Zek, "Rules of Acquisition," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (also known as Deep Space Nine, DS9, and Star Trek: DS9), syndicated, 1993
Mr. Gonley, "Lapses in Memory," Matrix, USA Network, 1993
Charles Haste, "Pinske Business," The Nanny, CBS, 1994
Marvin, Something Wilder, NBC, 1994
Stuart Best, "The Best and Not-So-Brightest," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1994
Stuart Best, "The Fifty Anchor," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1994
Grand Nagus Zek, "Prophet Motive," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (also known as Deep Space Nine, DS9, and Star Trek: DS9), syndicated, 1995
Stuart Best, "Up in Smoke," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1996
Voice characterization, "The Third Pig," Tales from the Crypt, HBO, 1996
Grand Nagus Zek, "Ferengi Love Songs" (also known as "Of Love and Profit"), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (also known as Deep Space Nine, DS9, and Star Trek: DS9), syndicated, 1997
Stuart Best, "Hero Today, Gone Tomorrow," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1997
Voice of rifle shooting instructor, "How to Fire a Rifle without Even Trying," King of the Hill (animated), Fox, 1997
Grand Nagus Zek, "Profit and Lace," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (also known as Deep Space Nine, DS9, and Star Trek: DS9), syndicated, 1998
Jeffrey Haven, "The Mother Meets the Parents," Reunited, UPN, 1998
Voice of Philip Ny, "Nine Pretty Darn Angry Men," King of the Hill(animated), Fox, 1998
Frank Hopper, "A Case of Do or Die," Homicide: Life on the Street(also known as Homicide and H: LOTS), NBC, 1999
Grand Nagus Zek, "The Dogs of War," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (also known as Deep Space Nine, DS9, and Star Trek: DS9), syndicated, 1999
Grand Nagus Zek, "The Emperor's New Cloak," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (also known as Deep Space Nine, DS9, and Star Trek: DS9), syndicated, 1999
Mr. Fleming, "Book 'em, Griff," Cosby, CBS, 1999
Mr. Fleming, "The Vesey Method," Cosby, CBS, 1999
Dean Spencer Webb, "Don't Be Thrown," Three Sisters, NBC, 2001
Dr. Howard Stiles, "Sight Unseen," Crossing Jordan, NBC, 2001
Mr. Dune, "Falling Up," Ally McBeal, Fox, 2001
Voice of Bertram, "Emission Impossible," Family Guy (animated), Fox, 2001
Himself, Clueless: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2001
Dr. Howard Stiles, "Crime & Punishment," Crossing Jordan, NBC,2002
Dr. Howard Stiles, "Scared Straight," Crossing Jordan, NBC, 2002
Dr. Howard Stiles, "Secrets & Lies: Part 2," Crossing Jordan,NBC, 2002
Voice of gauntlet, "Running the Gauntlet!," TeamoSupremo (animated), ABC and Toon Disney, 2002
Dr. Howard Stiles, "Cruel and Unusual," Crossing Jordan, NBC, 2003
Dr. Howard Stiles, "Fire and Ice," Crossing Jordan, NBC, 2003
Pilots
Mr. Wendell Hall, Clueless, UPN, 1995
Stop and Go, CBS, 1998
Other
Professor Silversmith, How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days (special), PBS, 1984
Blind Men, 1998
A tekeroelantos naploja (also known as The Diary of the Hurdy-Gurdy Man), Magyar Televizio (Hungary), 1999
Stage Appearances
Alice in Wonderland, New York City, 1974
Siro and narrator of prologue, The Mandrake, New York ShakespeareFestival, Public Theatre, New York City, 1977
Behemoth the cat, The Master and Margarita, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, 1978
Ilya, Chinchilla, Phoenix Theatre Company, Marymount Manhattan Theatre, New York City, 1979
My Dinner with Andre, London production, 1980
Julius Goldfarb, The First Time, New York City, 1983
Speaker, Schoenberg's Ode to Napoleon, Symphony Space Theatre, NewYork City, 1984
Father, Freddie, and Jasper, Aunt Dan and Lemon, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, 1985
The Fever (monologue), Public Theatre, 1990, then Second Stage Theatre, New York City, 1991, later La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New YorkCity, 1991, then Lincoln Center Theatre, New York City, 1991
Stage Work
Director, In the Dark (opera), Lenox Arts Center, Lenox, MA, 1976
RECORDINGS
Videos
Himself, As You Wish: The Story of the Princess Bride (short documentary), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists Home Entertainment, 2001
WRITINGS
Stage Plays
Four Meals in May, 1967
Our Late Night, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, NewYork City, 1975, published by Targ Editions, 1984
Librettist, In the Dark (opera; music Allen Shawn), Lenox Arts Center, Lenox, MA, 1976
Three Short Plays (also known as A Thought in Three Parts;contains "Summer Evening," "The Youth Hostel," and "Mr. Frivolous"), New YorkShakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, 1976, published in Wordplays, Volume 2, Performing Arts Journal Publications (New York City), 1982
The Mandrake (translation of La mandragola by Niccolo Machiavelli), New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, 1977, published by Dramatists Play Service (New York City)
The Family Play, New York City, 1978
Marie and Bruce, London production, 1979, then New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, 1980, published by Grove (New York City), 1980
(With Andre Gregory) My Dinner with Andre, London production, 1980
The Hotel Play, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York City,1981, published by Dramatists Play Service
Mandragola (musical adaptation of his earlier adaptation, The Mandrake; music and lyrics by Howard Goodall), London production, 1984
Aunt Dan and Lemon, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre,1985, published by Grove, 1985
The Fever (monologue), Public Theatre, 1990, then Second Stage Theatre, New York City, 1991, later La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New YorkCity, 1991, then Lincoln Center Theatre, New York City, 1991, published by Noonday (New York City), 1991
The Designated Mourner, Royal National Theatre, London, c. 1996 later New York City, 2000, published by Faber & Faber (London), 1996
Also author of The Hospital Play and The Old Man, and the libretto The Music Teacher (music by Allen Shawn).
Screenplays
(With Andre Gregory) My Dinner with Andre (based on his play), NewYorker, 1981, published by Grove (New York City), 1981
The Designated Mourner (based on his play), First Look Pictures, 1997
Teleplays
Movies
The Fever (based on his play), HBO, 2003
Anthologies
Four Plays, Noonday, 1997
Plays One, Faber & Faber, 1997
Contributor of articles to periodicals.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Contemporary Dramatists, Sixth edition, St. James Press, 1999

Periodicals

American Theatre, September, 1997, p. 12
Interview, March, 1989, pp. 72-75, 124, 126
National Review, June 16, 1997, p. 56

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