Wallace Shawn

Photo of Wallace Shawn

Biography

Having proved himself as an endearing and often hilarious character player on both the big screen and on television, actor Wallace Shawn was also noted for his work as a serious and provocative playwright. Shawn announced his arrival with his OBIE-winning play "Our Late Night" (1975), which led to a small, but memorable film debut in Woody Allen's "Manhattan" (1979). But it was his writing and performance in the art-house hit "My Dinner with …
Read More »

Job Title

Actor, Producer, Writer

Born

November 12, 1943

Career Milestones

2010

Voice the character of Calico in the animated feature, "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore"

2010

Reprised the voice of Rex the Green Dinosaur in the animated feature "Toy Story 3"

2008

Had a recurring role on the CW's "Gossip Girl"

2008

Appeared with Abigail Breslin in the family film, "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl"

2008

Had a recurring role on Showtime's "The L Word"

2007

Portrayed a megalomaniacal industrialist in Richard Kelly's "Southland Tales"

2005

Again collaborated with writer/director Woody Allen for "Melinda and Melinda"

2004

Voiced Gilbert Huph, Bob Parr's boss in the animated feature, "The Incredibles"

2001

Had a recurring role as psychiatrist, Dr. Howard Stiles on NBC's "Crossing Jordan"

2001

Re-teamed with director Woody Allen for "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion"

2000

Starred with Deborah Eisenberg in NYC premiere of "The Designated Mourner"

1999

Again voiced Rex in the animated sequel, "Toy Story 2"

1996

Wrote the play, "The Designated Mourner"; the following year was adapted into a film directed by David Hare

1996

Recreated role of the debate teacher, Mr. Hall for the short-lived ABC sitcom, "Clueless"

1995

Voiced Rex, an inept, insecure tyrannosaurus figure in the Pixar animated film, "Toy Story"

1995

Played the debate teacher Mr. Hall in Amy Heckerling's "Clueless"

1994

Began playing recurring character of Stuart Best, a former news anchor on the CBS sitcom "Murphy Brown"

1994

Reunited with Andre Gregory for Louis Malle's film, "Vanya on 42nd Street"

1993

Had a recurring role as the Ferengi Grand Nagus Zek on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine"

1987

Appeared as the Huxtables' neighbor on NBC's "The Cosby Show"

1987

Played the memorable evil Vizzini in the fairy tale comedy film, "The Princess Bride"

1985

Wrote the play "Aunt Dan and Lemon" that opened at the Royal Court Theatre in London

1982

Played Marilu Henner's love interest on the ABC sitcom, "Taxi"

1981

Screenwriting debut (with Andre Gregory), "My Dinner With Andre"; directed by Louis Malle; also co-starred

1979

Made film debut playing Diane Keaton's ex-husband in "Manhattan"; first film with writer-director Woody Allen

1977

Was seen in "The Mandrake" by Woody Allen's casting director Juliet Taylor

1977

Stage acting debut, a small part in "The Mandrake"

1977

Commissioned by stage director Wilford Leach to do a translation of Machiavelli's "The Mandrake"

1975

First produced play, "Our Late Night" at NYC's Public Theater

Supported himself as teacher of English, Latin and drama in New York

1967

Wrote his first play, "Four Meals in May" for an Oxford drama contest

1965

Traveled to India as an English teacher, on a Fulbright program

Raised on New York's upper East Side

Awards

1981

Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay in My Dinner With Andre