Wikipedia

Wallace Shawn: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Phydend (talk | contribs)
7,131 edits
rm erroneous see also section
Undid revision 1285755284 by 64.39.209.226 (talk)
 
Line 1:
{{Short description|American actor and writer (born 1943)}}
{{Infobox Actor
{{distinguish| name =Shaun Wallace Shawn}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2017}}
| image =
{{Infobox person
| imagesize =
| name = Wallace Shawn
| caption =
| image = Wallace Shawn 2014 (cropped).jpg
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1943|11|12}}
| caption = Shawn in May 2014
| ___location = [[New York City]]
| birth_name = Wallace Michael Shawn
| deathdate =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|11|12}}
| birthname = Wallace Shawn
| birth_place = [[New York City]], U.S.<!--Do not add neighborhoods or boroughs when it's a major city. Leave U.S.-->
| othername =
| alma_mater = [[Harvard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|AB<!-- per Harvard -->]])
| baconnum = 1
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|essayist|playwright|screenwriter}}
| notable role = Vizzini in ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'' (1987)<br />Himself in ''[[My Dinner With Andre]]''
| years_active = 1965–present
| partner = [[Deborah Eisenberg]]<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=The Paris Review|title=Interviews, Deborah Eisenberg, The Art of Fiction No. 218|first=Catherine|last=Steindler|url=http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/6203/the-art-of-fiction-no-218-deborah-eisenberg|date=Spring 2013|volume=Spring 2013|issue=204}}</ref> (1972–present)
| father = [[William Shawn]]
| relatives = [[Allen Shawn]] (brother)
}}
'''Wallace Michael Shawn''' (born November 12, 1943) is an American actor, essayist, playwright, and screenwriter. He is known for playing Vizzini in ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'' (1987), Mr. Hall in ''[[Clueless]]'' (1995), Dr. John Sturgis in ''[[Young Sheldon]]'' (2018–2024), and voicing [[List of Toy Story characters#Rex the Tyrannosaurus Rex|Rex]] in the [[Toy Story (franchise)|''Toy Story'' franchise]] (1995–present).
 
Shawn also appeared in ''[[The Bostonians (film)|The Bostonians]]'' (1984), ''[[Prick Up Your Ears]]'' (1987), ''[[Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills]]'' (1989), ''[[Vanya on 42nd Street]]'' (1994), ''[[My Favorite Martian (film)|My Favorite Martian]]'' (1999), ''[[The Double (2013 film)|The Double]]'' (2013), ''[[Maggie's Plan]]'' (2015), and ''[[Marriage Story]]'' (2019). He appeared in six [[Woody Allen]] films including ''[[Manhattan (1979 film)|Manhattan]]'' (1979), ''[[Radio Days]]'' (1987), and ''[[Rifkin's Festival]]'' (2020). His television work includes recurring roles as Jeff Engels in ''[[The Cosby Show]]'' (1987–1991), [[Grand Nagus Zek]] in ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' (1993–1999), Cyrus Rose in ''[[Gossip Girl]]'' (2008–2012), and Father Frank Ignatius in ''[[Evil (TV series)|Evil]]'' (2022–2024).
'''Wallace Shawn''' (born [[November 12]], [[1943]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[actor]] and writer. Ubiquitous on [[film]] and [[television]], where he is usually cast in comic roles, he has pursued a parallel career as a [[playwright]] whose work is often dark, politically charged and [[controversial]]. He is known for talking with a [[lisp]] in his high-pitched, nasal voice.
 
Shawn is also a playwright; his plays include the [[Obie Award]]–winning ''[[Aunt Dan and Lemon]]'' (1985), ''[[The Designated Mourner]]'' (1996) and ''Grasses of a Thousand Colors'' (2008). He wrote and starred, with [[Andre Gregory]], in the 1981 avant-garde drama ''[[My Dinner with Andre]],'' and played the title role in ''[[A Master Builder]]'' (2013), a film adaptation of [[Henrik Ibsen]]'s [[The Master Builder|play]].<ref name="archrecord.construction.com">{{cite web|url=http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2014/08/140801-Film-Review-A-Master-Builder.asp|title=Film Review: A Master Builder|last=Ciampaglia|first=Dante A.|date=August 1, 2014|work=[[Architectural Record]]|access-date=November 12, 2014|archive-date=September 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925111838/http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2014/08/140801-Film-Review-A-Master-Builder.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Haymarket Books]] published his books ''Essays'' (2009) and ''Night Thoughts'' (2017).
==Biography==
Shawn was born in [[New York City]], where he still lives. He is the son of [[William Shawn]], longtime [[Editing|editor]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]'', and [[journalist]] [[Cecille Lyon Shawn]]; his brother [[Allen Shawn|Allen]] is a [[composer]].
 
==Early life==
Shawn attended [[The Putney School]] (a liberal arts high school in [[Putney, Vermont]]), and then graduated with a B.A. in history from [[Harvard University]], and studied economics and philosophy at [[Oxford University|Oxford]], where he originally intended to become a diplomat; he also traveled to [[India]] as an English teacher. Since 1979, he has primarily made a living as an actor.
Shawn was born on November 12, 1943, in New York City, to a [[Jews|Jewish]] family.<ref name="tablet">{{cite magazine|last1=Orel|first1=Gwen|url=http://tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/15038/bag-of-tricks|title=Bag of Tricks|magazine=Tablet Magazine|date=September 3, 2009}}</ref><ref name="the jc 2009">{{cite news|last1=Nathan|first1=John|date=7 April 2009|title=Interview: Wallace Shawn. He makes Woody look pretty, but he's a pop culture icon|work=The Jewish Chronicle|url=https://www.thejc.com/culture/interviews/interview-wallace-shawn-1.8709|access-date=2 November 2020}}</ref><ref name="juf">{{cite web |author1=((Jewish United Fund)) |author1-link=Jewish United Fund |date=2016 |title=Celebrities: Wallace Shawn |url=https://www.juf.org/celebrities/celebrity.aspx?id=10902 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106101400/https://www.juf.org/celebrities/celebrity.aspx?id=10902 |archive-date=6 November 2019 |website=[[Jewish United Fund]]}}</ref><ref name="voice">{{cite web|url=http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/content/advisory-board|title=Councils, Staff and Board of Jewish Voice for Peace|work=Jewish Voice for Peace|access-date=December 22, 2017}}</ref> His parents were journalist Cecille (née Lyon) and [[William Shawn]], the longtime editor of ''[[The New Yorker]]''. He has younger twin siblings: composer [[Allen Shawn]],<ref name="musicference3">see pg. 20 of liner notes accompanying "Allen Shawn – Piano Works" CD issued by Coviello Classics label (COV 91414)> {{cite web|url=http://www.covielloclassics.de/index.php/katalog/search/allen%20shawn.html|title=Allen Shawn – Klavierwerke|website=Music Reference|access-date=February 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204085848/http://www.covielloclassics.de/index.php/katalog/search/allen%20shawn.html|archive-date=February 4, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and Mary, who is [[autistic]] and lives in an institution.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/books/30kaku.html|title=Allen Shawn – Wish I Could Be There: Notes From a Phobic Life – Books – Review|last=Kakutani|first=Michiko|date=January 30, 2007|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=April 30, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His father's family had emigrated from Central Europe; his paternal grandfather, Benjamin W. Chon, was a Chicago-based cutlery merchant who married Anna Bransky.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/09/obituaries/william-shawn-85-is-dead-new-yorker-s-gentle-despot.html#:~:text=At%20the%20time%2C%20S.%20I.,than%20a%20destroyer%20of%20it.|author=Eric Pace|date=9 December 1992|title=William Shawn, 85, Is Dead: New Yorker's Gentle Despot|website=The New York Times|access-date=13 January 2025}}</ref>
 
Shawn grew up on [[Manhattan]]'s [[Upper East Side]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2011/02/famous-comedian-dangerous-playwright#:~:text=He%20grew%20up%20on%20Manhattan%27s,have%20collaborated%20on%20an%20opera| title=Profile of actor and playwright Wallace Shawn &#124; Harvard Magazine|date=February 22, 2011}}</ref> He attended [[The Putney School]], a private liberal arts high school in [[Putney, Vermont]]. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from [[Harvard College]]. He studied [[philosophy, politics and economics]], as well as Latin, at [[Magdalen College, Oxford]], originally intending to become a diplomat. He traveled to India as an English teacher on a [[Fulbright]] program.<ref>{{Cite news|date=23 December 2021|title=Fulbright Program Celebrates 75 Years of Impact|work=States News Service}}</ref>
Shawn's longtime companion is the writer [[Deborah Eisenberg]].
 
==Acting rolesCareer==
===Playwright===
[[Image:Zek.jpg|thumb|right|Wallace Shawn as [[List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters#Zek|Grand Nagus Zek]] on ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''.]]
Shawn's early plays, such as ''[[Marie and Bruce]]'' (1978), portrayed emotional and sexual conflicts in an [[Theatre of the Absurd|absurdist]] style, with language both lyrical and violent. In a conversation with [[Andre Gregory]], parts of which were used to create ''[[My Dinner with Andre]]'', Shawn said these plays depicted "my interior life as a raging beast." Critical response was extremely polarized: some critics hailed Shawn as a major writer, while [[John Simon (critic)|John Simon]] called ''Marie and Bruce'' "garbage" and Shawn "one of the unsightliest actors in this city."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/theater/reviews/in-marie-and-bruce-wallace-shawn-paints-misery-review.html |title=There's Room for Everyone Aboard a Marital Misery Tour |first=Ben |last=Brantley |date=April 5, 2011 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=January 5, 2017}}</ref> His 1977 play ''A Thought in Three Parts'' caused controversy in London when the production was investigated by a [[vice squad]] and attacked in Parliament after allegations of pornographic content.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whistlerinthedark.com/productions/DanandLemon.html |title=Aunt Dan and Lemon |website=Whistler in the Dark |date=2011 |access-date=July 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323133414/http://www.whistlerinthedark.com/productions/DanandLemon.html |archive-date=March 23, 2012 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> Shawn received an [[Obie Award]] for playwrighting in 1975, for ''Our Late Night''.<ref>1975 Obie Awards https://www.obieawards.com/events/1970s/year-75/</ref>
His involvement with theater began in 1970 when he met [[Andre Gregory]], who has directed several of his plays. As a stage actor, he has appeared mostly in his own plays, as well as several other projects with Gregory.
 
Shawn's later plays are more overtly political, drawing parallels between his characters' psychology and the behavior of governments and social classes. Among the best-known of these are ''[[Aunt Dan and Lemon]]'' (1985) and ''[[The Designated Mourner]]'' (1997). Shawn's political work has invited controversy, as he often presents the audience with several contradictory points of view. He has called ''Aunt Dan and Lemon'' a cautionary tale against [[fascism]]. Shawn's monologue ''The Fever'', originally meant to be performed for small audiences in apartments, depicts a person who becomes sick while struggling to find a morally consistent way to live when faced with injustice, and harshly criticizes the United States' record in supporting oppressive [[anti-communist]] regimes. In 1997, Shawn discussed the political nature of ''Aunt Dan and Lemon'', ''The Fever'' and ''The Designated Mourner'' in an interview in which he talked extensively about the thematic connections among them, as well as his own views on [[Marxist]], [[communist]] and [[socialist]] politics, their relevance to [[American liberalism]], and how governmental and individual responsibilities for finding solutions to the dichotomy between rich and poor in the world take hold in his characters.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|last=McGrath|first=Patrick|date=Spring 1997|title=Wallace Shawn by Patrick McGrath|url=http://bombsite.com/issues/59/articles/2063|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406140744/http://bombmagazine.org/article/2063/|archive-date=April 6, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2014|website=Bomb Magazine}}</ref> ''Aunt Dan and Lemon'' earned Shawn his second Obie Award for playwrighting in 1986,<ref>Obie Awards [http://www.obieawards.com/events/1980s/year-86/ "1986 Winners"]</ref> and ''The Fever'' won an Obie for Best American Play in 1991.<ref>Obie Awards, [http://www.obieawards.com/events/1990s/year-91/ "1991 Winners"]</ref> Three of Shawn's plays have been adapted into films: ''The Designated Mourner'' (basically a film version of [[David Hare (dramatist)|David Hare]]'s stage production), ''Marie and Bruce'' and ''The Fever''. [[Vanessa Redgrave]] stars in ''[[The Fever (2004 film)|The Fever]]'' (2004),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/review-television-fever-dc-idUSN1230003820070612 |title=Redgrave laid low by HBO's heavy "Fever" |website=[[Reuters]] |date=June 12, 2007 |first=Ray |last=Richmond |access-date=January 5, 2017}}</ref> which first aired on [[HBO]] on June 13, 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kahn |first=Robert |date=2007-07-08 |title=Fast Chat: Vanessa Redgrave |work=Newsday |pages=c-3}}</ref>
He made his film debut playing [[Diane Keaton]]'s ex-husband in [[Woody Allen]]'s ''[[Manhattan (1979 movie)|Manhattan]]'' in 1979, in which Allen's character, a short, balding, bespectacled [[ectomorph]], dismisses the short, balding, bespectacled Shawn as "a [[homunculus]]." Arguably his best-known film role is as the evil Vizzini in ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'' (1987) ("Inconceivable!"). Rare non-comic film roles include two collaborations with Andre Gregory, filmed by [[Louis Malle]]: the philosophical and semi-autobiographical dialogue ''[[My Dinner with Andre]]'', and a production of ''[[Uncle Vanya]]'' titled ''Vanya on 42nd Street''.
 
Shawn has also written political commentary for ''[[The Nation]]'', and in 2004 he published the one-issue-only progressive political magazine ''Final Edition'', which featured interviews with and articles by [[Jonathan Schell]], [[Noam Chomsky]], [[Mark Strand]] and [[Deborah Eisenberg]]. Shawn is credited as translator of [[Bertolt Brecht]]'s ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'', which opened at [[Studio 54]] in [[Manhattan]] on March 25, 2006. He appeared briefly in voiceover during "Song about the Futility of Human Endeavor". He published his first nonfiction work, ''Essays'', on September 1, 2009. It is a collection of essays that express his perceptions of politics and other aspects of his life.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jameson |first=A.D |date=2010 |title=Wallace Shawn. Essays. |journal=The Review of Contemporary Fiction |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=167+ |via=Gale Literature}}</ref>
Shawn is a widely-used character actor on [[television]], where he has appeared in many genres and series. He has had recurring roles as the Ferengi [[Grand Nagus]] [[Zek]] on ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', a comic ex-reporter on ''[[Murphy Brown]],'' the Huxtables' neighbor on ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', a psychiatrist on [[Crossing Jordan]], and on many other shows. He is also an accomplished [[voice actor]], appearing especially in [[animation]] (including ''[[Toy Story]]'' and ''[[Toy Story 2]]'' where he played "Rex the Green Dinosaur" as well as two episodes of ''[[Family Guy]]'' and the video game of the same name, playing Stewie's half-brother Bertram) and [[television commercial|commercials]]. In 2005, he appeared in the second season of ''[[Desperate Housewives]]''.
 
===Acting===
In a DVD extra for ''The Princess Bride'', Shawn made the somewhat startling admission that he lacks a sense of humor, and that he played Vizzini in a way that seemed appropriate to him, without actually quite "getting" the jokes.
Shawn's involvement with theater began in 1970 when he met [[Andre Gregory]], who has since directed several of his plays. As a stage actor, he has appeared mostly in his own plays and other projects with Gregory. He made his film debut in 1979, playing [[Diane Keaton]]'s ex-husband in [[Woody Allen]]'s ''[[Manhattan (1979 film)|Manhattan]]'' and an insurance agent in [[Bob Fosse]]'s ''[[All That Jazz (film)|All That Jazz]]''. His best-known film roles include Earl in ''[[Strange Invaders]]'' (1983) and Mr. Hall in ''[[Clueless]]'' (1995). After seeing his performance in ''[[My Dinner with Andre]]'' (1981), casting director Janet Hirshenson was so fond of his delivery of the word "inconceivable" that she cast him as Vizzini in ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'' (1987), for whom the word is a catchphrase. Other roles include Baron Von Westphalen in ''[[Southland Tales]]'', Cyrus Rose on ''[[Gossip Girl]]'', Marty in ''[[Vegas Vacation]]'' (1997), and Ezra in ''[[The Haunted Mansion (2003 film)|The Haunted Mansion]]'' (2003).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Morris|first=Wesley|date=2007-11-16|title=Out on the edge, scavenging among 'Southland Tales|work=Boston Globe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=2008-11-17|title=Wallace Shawn on 'Gossip Girl'? It's Not Inconceivable: The Arts/Cultural Desk |work=New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Chaney|first=Jen|date=2003-11-28|title='The Haunted Mansion' A Familiar Fun House|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>
 
His rare non-comedic film roles include two collaborations with [[Andre Gregory]] and [[Louis Malle]]: the semi-autobiographical dialogue ''[[My Dinner with Andre]]'', and a combined production-and-backstage-drama of ''[[Uncle Vanya]]'' titled ''[[Vanya on 42nd Street]]''. Shawn quite often appears on television, where he has appeared in many genres and series. He has had recurring roles as the [[Grand Nagus Zek]] on ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', Stuart Best on ''[[Murphy Brown]]'', Jeff Engels on ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', Dr. Howard Stiles on ''[[Crossing Jordan]]'', Arnie Ross on ''[[Taxi (TV series)|Taxi]]'', Charles Lester on both ''[[The Good Wife]]'' and ''[[The Good Fight]]'', a reprisal of his role as Mr. Hall on ''[[Clueless (TV series)|Clueless]]'' (based on the film), and Father Frank Ignatius on ''[[Evil (TV series)|Evil]]''. He appeared in the 1985 music video for [[Chaka Khan]]'s "This Is My Night". On February 4, 2010, Shawn appeared as Alan Rubin on ''[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]]''. ''[[A Master Builder]]'' opened in New York City in June 2014. In 2018, he joined the cast of ''[[Young Sheldon]]'' in the recurring role of Meemaw's boyfriend and Sheldon's physics professor, Dr. John Sturgis.<ref name="archrecord.construction.com"/><ref>
==Writing==
{{cite web|title=Wallace Shawn returns as Dr. Sturgis on Young Sheldon|work=Monsters and Critics |url=https://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/wallace-shawn-returns-as-dr-sturgis-on-young-sheldon/|access-date=27 February 2019|date=October 18, 2018}}</ref>
Shawn's early [[play]]s, such as ''[[Marie and Bruce]]'' (1978), portrayed emotional and sexual conflicts in an [[absurd|absurdist]] style, with language that was both lyrical and violent. In the conversations with [[Andre Gregory]] that became ''[[My Dinner with Andre]]'', Shawn later referred to these plays as depicting "my interior life as a raging beast". Critical response was extremely polarized: some critics hailed Shawn as a major writer, while [[John Simon (critic)|John Simon]] called ''Marie and Bruce'' "garbage" and described Shawn as "one of the worst and unsightliest actors in this city". His play ''A Thought in Three Parts'' caused a minor uproar in London in 1977, when the production was investigated by a [[vice squad]] and attacked in Parliament due to allegedly [[pornography|pornographic]] content.
 
Shawn stars in Woody Allen's 2020 film ''[[Rifkin's Festival]]'', set in [[San Sebastian]], Spain.<ref>{{cite news |title=Woody Allen to Begin Filming New Movie This Summer |first=Nate |last=Nickolai |work=Variety |date=June 4, 2019 |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/woody-allen-christoph-waltz-gina-gershon-spain-1203232841/ }}</ref>
His later plays became more overtly political, drawing parallels between the psychology of his characters and the behavior of governments and social classes. Among the best-known of these are ''[[Aunt Dan and Lemon]]'' (1985) and ''[[The Designated Mourner]]'' (1997). Shawn's political work has invited controversy, as he often presents the audience with several contradictory points of view: in ''[[Aunt Dan and Lemon]]'', which Shawn described as a cautionary tale against [[fascism]], the character Lemon explained her neo-[[Nazism|Nazi]] beliefs with such conviction that some critics called the play effectively pro-fascist. The monologue ''The Fever'', originally created by Shawn to be performed for small audiences in apartments, was dismissed by some critics as "liberal guilt"; it describes a person who becomes sick while struggling to find a morally consistent way to live when faced with injustice, and harshly criticizes the record of the U.S. in supporting repressive [[anti-communism|anti-communist]] regimes.
 
Shawn was honored in 2005 with the [[PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Award]] as a Master American Dramatist.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-05-10 |title=Quick Takes: Wallace Shawn honored by PEN |work=Los Angeles Times: Home Edition |pages=E3}}</ref>
Three of Shawn's plays have been adapted into films: ''The Designated Mourner'' (basically a film of [[David Hare]]'s stage production), ''Marie and Bruce'', and ''The Fever''. [[As of 2005]], the latter two had been screened only in festivals.
 
====Voice acting====
Shawn has also written political commentary for ''[[The Nation (U.S. periodical)|The Nation]]'', and in 2004 he published the one-issue-only progressive political magazine ''[http://www.finaleditiononline.com/ Final Edition]'', which features interviews with and articles by [[Jonathan Schell]], [[Noam Chomsky]], [[Mark Strand]], and Deborah Eisenberg.
Shawn is a voice actor for animated films and television series, including the ''[[Toy Story (franchise)|Toy Story]]'' franchise, ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'' (during the outtakes in the closing credits), ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]'', ''[[The Incredibles]]'', ''[[A Goofy Movie]]'', ''[[Family Guy]]'', ''[[Happily N'Ever After]]'', ''[[Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers]]'', ''[[Regular Show]]'', ''[[BoJack Horseman]]'' and ''[[Animal Crackers (2017 film)|Animal Crackers]]''.
 
Shawn said that ''Toy Story'' director [[John Lasseter]] might have seen both ''My Dinner with Andre'' and ''The Princess Bride'' and seen him as "excitable" like Shawn's character, Rex.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://triblive.com/aande/more-a-and-e/wallace-shawn-talks-acting-princess-bride-and-toy-story/ |first=Steve |last=Segal |date=December 4, 2019 |work=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]] |title=''Wallace Shawn talks acting, 'Princess Bride' and 'Toy Story' ahead of Steel City Con'' | access-date= December 4, 2019}}</ref>
Shawn is credited as translator of ''[[The Threepenny Opera]],'' which opened at Studio 54 in Manhattan on March 25, 2006. He appears briefly in voiceover during ''Song about the Futility of Human Endeavor''.
 
In ''[[The Fox and the Hound]]'', Shawn was originally to voice Boomer, but dropped out and was replaced by [[Paul Winchell]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 19, 2015 |title=We Bet You Didn't Know These Actors Voice Characters in Both Disney and Disney Pixar Movies |url=https://ohmy.disney.com/movies/2015/06/18/we-bet-you-didnt-know-these-actors-voice-characters-in-both-disney-and-disneypixar-movies/ |url-status=dead |access-date=September 14, 2017 |work=Oh My Disney|last1=Taylor|first1=Drew|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915024415/https://ohmy.disney.com/movies/2015/06/18/we-bet-you-didnt-know-these-actors-voice-characters-in-both-disney-and-disneypixar-movies/ |archive-date=September 15, 2017 }}</ref> In ''[[Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore]]'', he replaced [[Jon Lovitz]] as the voice of [[List of Cats & Dogs characters#Calico|Calico]]. He also provided the voice of Mr. Mustela in ''[[The Addams Family 2]]''.<ref name="Addams"/>
==Plays==
* ''The Hotel Play'' (1970)
* ''Our Late Night'' (1975)
* ''A Thought in Three Parts'' (1976)
* ''[[Marie and Bruce]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Aunt Dan and Lemon]]'' (1985)
* ''The Fever'' (1990)
* ''[[The Designated Mourner]]'' (1997; film directed by David Hare, 1998)
* ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'' (2006; new translation)
 
==Political activity==
==Selected film and television roles==
Shawn has written many plays with [[socialist]] themes;<ref name=":3" /> much of his work examines the "connective tissue between private psychology and the politics of inequality".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughley |first=Marty |title=DramaWatch: Wallace Shawn in a 'Fever' • Oregon ArtsWatch |url=https://www.orartswatch.org/dramawatch-wallace-shawn-in-a-fever/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> He identifies as a socialist in the essay "Why I Call Myself a Socialist: Is the World Really a Stage?", which was published online and later in his ''Essays''.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Shawn |first=Wallace |date=February 3, 2011 |title=Why I Call Myself a Socialist: Is the World Really a Stage? |website=[[Huffington Post]] |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wallace-shawn/why-i-call-myself-a-socia_b_818061.html |access-date=January 5, 2017}}</ref>
* ''[[All That Jazz]]'' (dir. [[Bob Fosse]], 1979) - ''Assistant Insurance Man''
* ''[[Manhattan (1979 movie)|Manhattan]]'' (dir. [[Woody Allen]], 1979) - ''Jeremiah''
* ''[[Atlantic City (film)|Atlantic City]]'' (dir. [[Louis Malle]], 1980) - ''Walter''
* ''[[My Dinner with Andre]]'' (dir. [[Louis Malle]] 1981) - co-written with [[Andre Gregory]]
* ''[[Crackers (1984 film)|Crackers]]'' (dir. [[Louis Malle]], 1984)
* ''[[The Cosby Show]]'' (1984; Jeffrey Engels)
* ''[[The Bostonians (film)|The Bostonians]]'' (dir. [[James Ivory (director)|James Ivory]], 1984)
* ''[[The Hotel New Hampshire (film)|The Hotel New Hampshire]]'' (1984) - Freud
* ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'' (1987; dir. [[Rob Reiner]]) - ''Vizzini''
* ''[[Radio Days]]'' (dir. [[Woody Allen]], 1987) - ''Masked Avenger''
* ''[[Prick Up Your Ears]]'' (dir. [[Stephen Frears]], [[1987 in film|1987]]) - [[John Lahr]]
* ''[[The Moderns]]'' (dir. [[Alan Rudolph]], 1988)
* ''[[Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills]]'' (dir. [[Paul Bartel]], [[1989 in film|1989]])
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' (TV series, 1993 to 1999) - ''Grand Nagus Zek''
* ''[[Vanya on 42nd Street]]'' (dir. [[Louis Malle]], 1994) - ''Uncle Vanya''
* ''[[Meteor Man]]'' 1993; Mr.Little
* ''[[A Goofy Movie]]'' (1995; voice of Principal Mazur)
* ''[[Toy Story]]'' (1995; voice of Rex)
* ''[[Clueless]]'' (movie & TV Series, 1996-97) - ''Mr. Hall'
* ''[[Toy Story 2]]'' (1999; voice of Rex)
* ''[[The Curse of the Jade Scorpion]]'' (dir. [[Woody Allen]], 2001) - ''George Bond''
* ''[[Crossing Jordan]]'' (TV series, since 2002; recurring role as Dr. Howard Stiles)
* ''[[The Incredibles]]'' (2004; voice of Gilbert Huph, Bob Parr's boss)
* ''[[Melinda and Melinda]]'' (2004; dir. [[Woody Allen]]) - ''Sy''
* ''[[Family Guy]]'' (Voice of Bertram)
* ''[[Chicken Little (2005 film)|Chicken Little]]'' (2005; voice of Principal Fetchit)
* ''[[Happily N'Ever After (film)|Happily N'Ever After]]'' (2007; Munk, voice)
 
In June 2013, Shawn and many other public figures appeared in a video showing support for [[Chelsea Manning]], a U.S. Army soldier imprisoned for leaking classified material.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gavin |first=Patrick |date=June 20, 2013 |title=Celeb video: 'I am Bradley Manning' |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/celebrity-bradley-manning-video-93041.html#ixzz2WgfpNmys |access-date=July 29, 2014 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref>
==Deep Space Nine appearances==
 
Shawn voiced his support for the [[Palestinian people]] during the [[2014 Gaza War]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shawn |first=Wallace |date=August 25, 2014 |title=Wallace Shawn on Gaza: "The Anger of the Palestinians Cannot Be Ended by Killing Their Children" |language=en |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |___location=Los Angeles, California |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wallace-shawn-gaza-anger-palestinians-727193 |access-date=December 22, 2017}}</ref> He has been on the advisory board of [[Jewish Voice for Peace]].<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- Not stated --> |date=<!-- Not stated --> |title=Advisory Board |url=https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/content/advisory-board | website=jewishvoiceforpeace.org |publisher=Jewish Voice for Peace |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721071612/https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/content/advisory-board |archive-date=21 July 2015 |access-date=3 March 2025}}</ref>
* "[[The Nagus (DS9 episode)|The Nagus]]"
 
* "[[Rules of Acquisition (DS9 episode)|Rules of Acquisition]]"
On October 16, 2023, Shawn spoke at a Washington D.C. rally organized by Jewish Voice for Peace and [[IfNotNow]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=White |first=Abbey |date=October 17, 2023 |title=Wallace Shawn Calls for End of "Massacring" in Israel-Gaza Conflict at D.C. Rally: "I Don't Really Believe in Revenge" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/wallace-shawn-criticizes-us-response-israel-gaza-conflict-dc-rally-1235619903/ |access-date=October 23, 2023 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> The rally called for a ceasefire in the [[Gaza war]] and for President [[Joe Biden]] to support a ceasefire.<ref name=":0" /> Also that month, Shawn was among the artists to sign the [[Artists4Ceasefire]] campaign's open letter urging Biden to push for a ceasefire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/10/21/1207783685/celebrities-letter-ceasefire-israel-gaza-biden|title=Entertainment industry A-listers sign a letter to Biden urging a cease-fire in Gaza|last=Veltman|first=Chloe|date=October 21, 2023|work=[[NPR]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021195237/https://www.npr.org/2023/10/21/1207783685/celebrities-letter-ceasefire-israel-gaza-biden|archive-date=October 21, 2023|url-status=live|access-date=April 23, 2024 }}</ref>
* "[[Prophet Motive (DS9 episode)|Prophet Motive]]"
 
* "[[Ferengi Love Songs (DS9 episode)|Ferengi Love Songs]]"
In April 2024, Shawn narrated a political ad by a group of organizations opposing the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]]'s influence in [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] primaries.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ramirez |first=Nikki McCann |date=2024-04-11 |title=Wallace Shawn Narrates Ad for Coalition Opposing America's Biggest Israel Lobby |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/wallace-shawn-pro-palestine-group-countering-aipac-1235002044/ |access-date=2024-04-11 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>
* "[[Profit and Lace (DS9 episode)|Profit and Lace]]"
 
* "[[The Emperor's New Cloak (DS9 episode)|The Emperor's New Cloak]]"
In a January 2025 interview, Shawn [[Comparisons between Israel and Nazi Germany|compared Israel to Nazi Germany]], saying the Israelis were "doing evil that is just as great as what the Nazis did. And in some ways, it's worse, because they kind of boast about it. Hitler had the decency to try to keep it secret... the Israelis are almost proud of it, and it's demonically evil."<ref>{{cite web|last=Cebi|first=Gizem|title= 'Demonically evil': US actor Wallace Shawn compares Israel’s actions in Gaza to Nazi Germany|url= https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/demonically-evil-us-actor-wallace-shawn-compares-israel-s-actions-in-gaza-to-nazi-germany/3472394|work=Anadolu Agency|date=5 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= ‘Princess Bride’ Actor Wallace Shawn Compares Israeli Treatment of Gaza to Nazi Germany|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/wallace-shawn-israeli-treatment-gaza-nazi-1236127279/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Zoe G.|last=Phillips|date=4 February 2025|access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Edelson |first=Daniel |date=February 4, 2025 |title=Jewish actor Wallace Shawn attacks Israelis for 'doing evil that is just as great as what the Nazis did' |website=[[Ynet News]] |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/hyqk2yxtyx}}</ref>
* "[[The Dogs of War (DS9 episode)|The Dogs of War]]"
 
==Personal life==
Shawn's longtime companion is writer [[Deborah Eisenberg]].<ref name="TPR">{{cite magazine |last=Steindler |first=Catherine |date=Spring 2013 |title=Interviews, Deborah Eisenberg, The Art of Fiction No. 218 |url=http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/6203/the-art-of-fiction-no-218-deborah-eisenberg |magazine=[[The Paris Review]] |access-date=January 6, 2017}}</ref> Shawn is a [[Jewish atheist]].<ref name="tablet" /><ref name="the jc 2009" /><ref name="juf" /><ref name="voice" /> {{As of|2012}}, he lived in the [[Chelsea, Manhattan|Chelsea]] neighborhood of [[Manhattan]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Als |first=Hilton |date=Summer 2012 |title=Wallace Shawn, The Art of Theater No. 17 |url=http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/6154/wallace-shawn-the-art-of-theater-no-17-wallace-shawn |journal=[[The Paris Review]] |___location=Paris, France |publisher=The Paris Review Foundation |access-date=December 17, 2016}}</ref>
 
==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| rowspan = "3" | 1979 || ''[[Manhattan (1979 film)|Manhattan]]'' || Jeremiah ||
|-
| ''[[Starting Over (1979 film)|Starting Over]]'' || Workshop Member ||
|-
| ''[[All That Jazz (film)|All That Jazz]]'' || Assistant Insurance Man ||
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 1980 || ''[[Simon (1980 film)|Simon]]'' || Eric Van Dongen ||
|-
| ''[[Atlantic City (1980 film)|Atlantic City]]'' || Waiter || Credited as Wally Shawn
|-
| rowspan = "3" | 1981 || ''[[Cheaper to Keep Her (film)|Cheaper to Keep Her]]'' || Mugger ||
|-
| ''[[My Dinner with Andre]]'' || Wally Shawn || Also writer
|-
| ''[[Strong Medicine (film)|Strong Medicine]]'' || Birthday Party Guest || Uncredited
|-
| 1982 || ''[[A Little Sex]]'' || Oliver ||
|-
| rowspan = "4" | 1983 || ''[[Lovesick (1983 film)|Lovesick]]'' || Otto Jaffe ||
|-
| ''[[The First Time (1981 film)|The First Time]]'' || Jules Goldfarb ||
|-
| ''[[Strange Invaders]]'' || Earl ||
|-
| ''[[Deal of the Century]]''
| Harold DeVoto
|
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1984
| ''[[Crackers (1984 film)|Crackers]]''
| Turtle
|
|-
| ''[[The Hotel New Hampshire (film)|The Hotel New Hampshire]]''
| Freud
|
|-
| ''[[The Bostonians (film)|The Bostonians]]''
| Mr. Pardon
|
|-
| ''[[Micki & Maude]]''
| Elliot Fibel
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1985
| ''[[Heaven Help Us]] (Catholic Boys)''
| Father Abruzzi
|
|-
| ''[[Head Office]]''
| Mike Hoover
|
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1987
| ''[[The Bedroom Window (1987 film)|The Bedroom Window]]''
| Henderson's Attorney
|
|-
| ''[[Radio Days]]''
| Masked Avenger
|
|-
| ''[[Nice Girls Don't Explode]]''
| Ellen
|
|-
| ''[[Prick Up Your Ears]]''
| [[John Lahr]]
|
|-
| ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]''
| Vizzini
|
|-
| 1988
| ''[[The Moderns]]''
| Oiseau
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1989
| ''[[She's Out of Control]]''
| Dr. Herman Fishbinder
|
|-
| ''[[Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills]]''
| Howard Saravian
|
|-
| ''[[We're No Angels (1989 film)|We're No Angels]]''
| Translator
|
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Shadows and Fog]]''
| Simon Carr
|
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1992
| ''[[Unbecoming Age]]''
| Dr. Block
|
|-
| ''[[Nickel & Dime]]''
| Everett Willits
|
|-
| ''[[The Double 0 Kid]]''
| Cashpot
| Direct-to-video
|-
| ''[[Mom and Dad Save the World]]''
| Sibor
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1993
| ''[[The Cemetery Club]]''
| Larry
|
|-
| ''[[The Meteor Man (film)|The Meteor Man]]''
| Mr. Little
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1994
| ''[[Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle]]''
| Horatio Byrd
|
|-
| ''[[Vanya on 42nd Street]]''
| Vanya
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |1995
|''Just Like Dad''
|Stan Speigel
|
|-
| ''[[The Wife (1995 film)|The Wife]]''
| Cosmo
|
|-
| ''[[Napoleon (1995 film)|Napoleon]]''
| Echidna
| American dub<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Wallace Shawn (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Wallace-Shawn/ |access-date=October 10, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
|-
| ''[[Canadian Bacon]]''
| [[Prime Minister of Canada|Canadian Prime Minister]] Clark MacDonald
|
|-
| ''[[Clueless]]''
| Mr. Wendell Hall
|
|-
| ''[[A Goofy Movie]]''
| Principal Mazur
| rowspan = "3" | Voice<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Toy Story]]''
| [[List of Toy Story characters#Rex the Tyrannosaurus Rex|Rex]]
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1996
| ''[[All Dogs Go to Heaven 2]]''
| Labrador MC
|-
| ''[[House Arrest (1996 film)|House Arrest]]''
| Vic Finley
|
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1997
| ''[[Vegas Vacation]]''
| Marty
|
|-
| ''[[Just Write]]''
| Arthur Blake
|
|-
| ''[[Critical Care (film)|Critical Care]]''
| Furnaceman
|
|-
| ''[[The Designated Mourner]]''
| {{n/a}}
| Writer
|-
| 1998
| ''[[The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story]]''
| Tarzan Chimp (voice)
| Direct-to-video<ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1999
| ''The Diary of the Hurdy-Gurdy Man''
|
|
|-
| ''[[My Favorite Martian (film)|My Favorite Martian]]''
| Dr. Elliot Coleye
|
|-
| ''[[Toy Story 2]]''
| rowspan="2"| Rex (voice)<ref name="btva" />
|
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2000
| ''[[Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins]]''
| Direct-to-video
|-
| ''[[The Prime Gig]]''
| Gene
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2001
| ''[[The Curse of the Jade Scorpion]]''
| George Bond
|
|-
| ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]''
| Rex (voice)
| Outtakes
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Personal Velocity: Three Portraits]]''
| Mr. Gelb
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2003
| ''[[Duplex (film)|Duplex]]''
| Herman
|
|-
| ''[[The Haunted Mansion (2003 film)|The Haunted Mansion]]''
| Ezra
|
|-
| rowspan="5"| 2004
| ''[[Teacher's Pet (2004 film)|Teacher's Pet]]''
| Crosby Strickler (voice)
| <ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Melinda and Melinda]]''
| Sy
|
|-
| ''[[The Incredibles]]''
| [[Gilbert Huph]] (voice)
| <ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Marie and Bruce]]''
| {{n/a}}
| rowspan="2"| Writer
|-
| ''[[The Fever (2004 film)|The Fever]]''
| {{n/a}}
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Chicken Little (2005 film)|Chicken Little]]''
| Principal Fetchit (voice)
| <ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2006
| ''[[Southland Tales]]''
| Baron Von Westphalen
|
|-
| ''[[Air Buddies]]''
| Billy (voice)
| rowspan = "2" | Direct-to-video<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers]]''
| Barnacle Paul (voice)
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2007
| ''[[Happily N'Ever After]]''
| Munk (voice)
| <ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[I Could Never Be Your Woman]]''
| Math Teacher
| Uncredited
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2008
| ''[[Kit Kittredge: An American Girl]]''
| Mr. Gibson
|
|-
| ''[[Mia and the Migoo]]''
| Migoo (voice)
| English dub<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King]]''
| Mr. Gibbles (voice)
| Direct-to-video<ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan="2"|2009
| ''[[Jack and the Beanstalk (2009 film)|Jack and the Beanstalk]]''
| Broker / Booker / Lancelot Squarejaw
|
|-
| ''[[Capitalism: A Love Story]]''
| Himself
| Documentary
|-
| rowspan="4"| 2010
| ''[[Furry Vengeance]]''
| Dr. Christian Burr
| Uncredited
|-
| ''[[Toy Story 3]]''
| Rex (voice)
| rowspan="2"| <ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore]]''
| [[List of Cats & Dogs characters#Calico|Calico]] (voice)
|-
| ''Tea Time''
| {{n/a}}
| Short film; writer
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2011
| ''[[The Speed of Thought]]''
| Sandy
|
|-
| ''[[Hawaiian Vacation]]''
| rowspan="3"| Rex (voice)
| rowspan="3"| Short film<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Small Fry (film)|Small Fry]]''
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2012
| ''[[Partysaurus Rex]]''
|-
| ''[[A Late Quartet]]''
| Gideon Rosen
|
|-
| ''[[Vamps (film)|Vamps]]''
| Van Helsing
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2013
| ''[[Admission (film)|Admission]]''
| Clarence
|
|-
| ''[[The Double (2013 film)|The Double]]''
| Mr. Papadopoulos
|
|-
| ''[[A Master Builder]]''
| Halvard Solness
| Also writer and producer
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Don Peyote]]''
| Psychotherapist
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2015
| ''[[Maggie's Plan]]''
| Kliegler
|
|-
| ''Robo-Dog''
| Mr. Willis
| Direct-to-video
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Drawing Home]]''
| Mr. Garfield
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2017
| ''[[Animal Crackers (2017 film)|Animal Crackers]]''
| Mr. Woodley (voice)
|
|-
| ''[[The Only Living Boy in New York (film)|The Only Living Boy in New York]]''
| David
|
|-
| ''[[Another Kind of Wedding|Someone Else's Wedding]]''
| Albert
|
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Book Club (film)|Book Club]]''
| Derek
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=N'Duka |first=Amanda |date=2017-08-15 |title=Don Johnson, Craig T. Nelson, Richard Dreyfuss & More Board Bill Holderman's ''Book Club'' |url=https://deadline.com/2017/08/don-johnson-craig-t-nelson-richard-dreyfuss-bill-holderman-book-club-1202149191/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2019
| ''[[Toy Story 4]]''
| Rex (voice)
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Schaffstall |first=Katherine |date=2018-11-12 |title=''Toy Story 4'' Teaser Trailer Introduces New Toy Forky |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/toy-story-4-teaser-trailer-new-character-forky-joins-toys-1160313/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Marriage Story]]''
| Frank
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2020
| ''[[Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made]]''
| Mr. Crocus
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Zachary |first=Brandon |date=2020-09-21 |title=REVIEW: ''Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made'' Is the Perfect Blend of Clever & Childish |url=https://www.cbr.com/timmy-failure-mistakes-were-made-review/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=Comic Book Resources}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Rifkin's Festival]]''
| Mort Rifkin
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=2019-06-04 |title=Woody Allen Sets New Feature With Christoph Waltz, Gina Gershon |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/woody-allen-sets-new-film-christoph-waltz-gina-gershon-1215543/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| 2021
| ''[[The Addams Family 2]]''
| Mr. Mustela (voice)
| <ref name="Addams">{{Cite web |url=https://movieweb.com/the-addams-family-2-character-posters/ |title=The Addams Family 2 Character Posters Take the Kooky Family on One Ooky Summer Vacation |website=[[MovieWeb]] |last=Dick |first=Jeremy |date=July 2, 2021 |access-date=July 7, 2021 |archive-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702210642/https://movieweb.com/the-addams-family-2-character-posters/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2023
| ''Dancing on the Silk Razor''
| Narrator
| Short film
|}
 
===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1982–83 || ''[[Taxi (TV series)|Taxi]]'' || Arnie Ross || 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 1983 || ''[[How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days]]'' || Professor Silverfish || rowspan = "2" | Television film
|-
| ''[[Saigon: Year of the Cat]]'' || Frank Judd
|-
| 1987–91 || ''[[The Cosby Show]]'' || Jeff Engels || 5 episodes
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 1992 || ''[[Civil Wars (TV series)|Civil Wars]]'' || Riley Baker || Episode: "A Bus Named Desire"
|-
| ''[[One Life to Live]]'' || Professor Marvel || Unknown episodes
|-
| rowspan = "3" | 1993 || ''Eligible Dentist'' || || Pilot
|-
| ''[[The Pink Panther (1993 TV series)|The Pink Panther]]'' || [[The Little Man (The Pink Panther)|The Little Man]] (voice) || Episode: "Ice Blue Pink/Pink Trek"
|-
| ''[[Matrix (TV series)|Matrix]]'' || Mr. Gonley || Episode: "Lapses in Memory"
|-
| 1993–99 || ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' || Grand Nagus Zek || 7 episodes
|-
| 1994 || ''[[The Nanny]]'' || Charles Haste || Episode: "Pishke Business"
|-
| 1994–97 || ''[[Murphy Brown]]'' || Stuart Best || 4 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1995
| ''[[Kalamazoo (film)|Kalamazoo]]''
| Bobby
| Short
|-
| ''[[Something Wilder]]''
| Roof Inspector
| Episode: "Dr. Roof"
|-
| ''Just Like Dad''
| Stan Speigel
| Television film
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Toy Story Treats]]''
| [[List of Toy Story characters#Rex|Rex]] (voice)
| 18 episodes
|-
| 1996–97
| ''[[Clueless (TV series)|Clueless]]''
| Mr. Hall
| 17 episodes
|-
| 1997
| ''[[King of the Hill]]''
| Philip Ny (voice)
| Episode: "How to Fire a Rifle Without Really Trying"
|-
| rowspan = "3" | 1998
| ''Blind Men''
|
| Pilot
|-
| ''[[Noah (1998 film)|Noah]]''
| Zack
| Television film
|-
| ''[[The Lionhearts]]''
| Various (voice)
| 5 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1999
| ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]''
| Frank Hopper
| Episode: "A Case of Do or Die"
|-
| ''[[Cosby (TV series)|Cosby]]''
| Mr. Fleming
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2000–01
| ''[[Teacher's Pet (TV series)|Teacher's Pet]]''
| Crosby Strickler (voice)
| 17 episodes<ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan=3"| 2001
| ''[[Ally McBeal]]''
| Mr. Dune
| Episode: "Falling Up"
|-
| ''Blonde''
| I. E. Shinn
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Three Sisters (American TV series)|Three Sisters]]''
| Dean Webb
| Episode: "Don't Be Thrown"
|-
| 2001–06
| ''[[Crossing Jordan]]''
| Howard Stiles
| 8 episodes
|-
| 2001, 2006, 2011
| ''[[Family Guy]]''
| [[Bertram (Family Guy)|Bertram]] (voice)
| 3 episodes
|-
| rowspan = "3" | 2002
| ''Sun Gods''
| Spaulding
| Pilot
|-
| ''[[Teamo Supremo]]''
| Gauntlet (voice)
| Episode: "Running the Gauntlet"
|-
| ''[[Mr. St. Nick]]''
| Mimir
| rowspan = "2" | Television film
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2003
| ''[[Monte Walsh (2003 film)|Monte Walsh]]''
| Colonel Wilson
|-
|''[[Stanley (2001 TV series)|Stanley]]''
| Mr. Goldberg (voice)
| Episode: "Going-Away Goose/Time to Climb!"
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2004
| ''[[Sex and the City]]''
| Martin Grable
| Episode: "Splat!"
|-
| ''[[Karroll's Christmas]]''
| Zeb Rosecog
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2005
| ''[[Fat Actress]]''
| Sigmund von Oy
| Episode: "The Koi Effect"
|-
| ''[[Stargate SG-1]]''
| Arlos Kadawam
| Episode: "The Ties That Bind"
|-
| ''[[Desperate Housewives]]''
| Lonny Moon
| Episode: "[[They Asked Me Why I Believe in You]]"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2006
| ''The 12th Man''
| Marty
| Pilot
|-
| ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]''
| Film Professor
| Episode: "[[Weeping Willow (Law & Order: Criminal Intent)|Weeping Willow]]"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2008
| ''[[The Return of Jezebel James]]''
| Garson Leeds
| Episode: "I'm with Blank"
|-
| ''[[Cashmere Mafia]]''
| Animal Handler
| Episode: "Dog Eat Dog"
|-
| 2008–09
| ''[[The L Word]]''
| William Halsey
| 5 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2009
| ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]''
| Roy Batters
| Episode: "Snatched"
|-
| ''[[Life on Mars (U.S. TV series)|Life on Mars]]''
| Stephen Morrell – "The Sorcerer"
| Episode: "Let All the Children Boogie"
|-
| ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]''
| Teddy Lempell
| Episode: "The Beginning of the End"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2010
| ''[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]]''
| Alan Rubin
| Episode: "Anthony Weiner"
|-
| ''[[Damages (TV series)|Damages]]''
| Sterling Biddle
| Episode: "Don't Forget to Thank Mr. Zedeck"
|-
| 2008–12
| ''[[Gossip Girl]]''
| Cyrus Rose
| 11 episodes
|-
| 2011–12
| ''[[Eureka (2006 TV series)|Eureka]]''
| Warren Hughes
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2011–16
| ''[[Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness]]''
| Taotie (voice)
| 9 episodes<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Fish Hooks]]''
| Rat King (voice)
| Episode: "Guys' Night Out"
|-
| 2013–15
| ''[[The Good Wife]]''
| Charles Lester
| 3 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4"| 2013
| ''[[Adventure Time]]''
| Rasheeta (voice)
| Episode: "Puhoy"
|-
| ''[[The Fog of Courage]]''
| Eustace Bagge (voice)
|<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Uncle Grandpa]]''
| Ule Gapa (voice)
| Episode: "Belly Bros"
|-
|''[[Toy Story of Terror!]]''
| rowspan = "2" | Rex (voice)
| rowspan = "2" | Television special<ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan="7"| 2014
| ''[[Toy Story That Time Forgot]]''
|-
| ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]''
| Saul (voice)
| Episode: "Phineas and Ferb Save Summer"<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[The Mysteries of Laura]]''
| Kenneth Walters
| Episode: "The Mystery of the Sex Scandal"
|-
| ''[[Club Penguin: Monster Beach Party]]''
| Gary the Gadget Guy (voice)
|Television special<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[The 7D]]''
| Not-So-Magic Mirror (voice)
| Episode: "Mirror, Mirror"<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[BoJack Horseman]]''
| Himself (voice)
| Episode: "One Trick Pony"
|-
| ''[[Christmas at Cartwright's]]''
| Harry Osbourne
| Television film
|-
| 2014–18
| ''[[Mozart in the Jungle]]''
| Winslow Elliot
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2015
| ''Club Penguin: Halloween Panic!''
| Gary the Gadget Guy (voice)
| Television special<ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2016
| ''[[The Night Shift (TV series)|The Night Shift]]''
| Mr. Neville
| Episode: "Unexpected"
|-
| ''[[Life in Pieces]]''
| Samuel
| Episode: "Eyebrow Anonymous Trapped Gem"
|-
| ''[[Regular Show]]''
| The Evil Brain (voice)
| Episode: "The Brain of Evil"<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2016–19
| ''[[The Stinky & Dirty Show]]''
| Tall (voice)
| 18 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4"| 2017
| ''Cop and a Half: New Recruit''
| Principal Miller
| Television film
|-
| ''[[Mr. Robot]]''
| Mr. Williams
| Episode: "eps3.2_legacy.so"
|-
| ''[[Graves (TV series)|Graves]]''
| Jerry North
| 3 episodes
|-
| ''[[She's Gotta Have It (TV series)|She's Gotta Have It]]''
| Julius Kemper
| rowspan = "4" | 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2017–18
| ''[[OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes]]''
| Wally the White, ''The Magic Court'' Narrator (voice)<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia|Trollhunters]]''
| Unkar the Unfortunate (voice)<ref name="btva" />
|-
| 2017, 2019
| ''[[The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel]]''
| Herb Smith
|-
| rowspan="3"|2018
| ''[[The Good Fight]]''
| Charles Lester
| Episode: "Day 471"
|-
| ''[[Skylanders Academy]]''
| Mabu Inspector (voice)
| Episode: "Weekend at Eon's"
|-
| ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]''
| Benjamin Edelman
| Episode: "Alta Kockers"
|-
| 2018–24
| ''[[Young Sheldon]]''
| Dr. John Sturgis
| 52 episodes
|-
| rowspan = "4" | 2019
| ''[[Big City Greens]]''
| Jyle Donelan (voice)
| Episode: "Night Bill"
|-
| ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| Wallace the Hernia (voice)
| Episode: "[[I Want You (She's So Heavy) (The Simpsons)|I Want You (She's So Heavy)]]"
|-
| ''[[Butterbean's Cafe]]''
| Oopsie Doodle (voice)
| Episode: "Oopsie Doodle!"
|-
| ''[[Forky Asks a Question]]''
| Rex (voice)
| Episode: "What Is Time?"<ref name="btva" />
|-
| rowspan = "2" |2020
| ''[[Search Party (TV series)|Search Party]]''
| William Badpastor
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Esme & Roy]]''
| Grumbles (voice)
| Episode: "Princess of Play"
|-
| 2020–21
| ''[[Summer Camp Island]]''
| Morris Mole / Barry / Pete (voices)
|3 episodes
|-
| 2021–22
| ''[[Amphibia (TV series)|Amphibia]]''
| Humphrey Westwood (voice)
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Gossip Girl (2021 TV series)|Gossip Girl]]''
| Cyrus Rose
| Episode: "Final Cancellation"
|-
| 2022–24
|''[[Evil (TV series)|Evil]]''
| Father Frank Ignatius
| 10 episodes
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Bubble Guppies]]''
| Professor Puny (voice)
| Episode: "Search for the Great Silverback!"
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Krapopolis]]''
| John Fate (voice)
| Episode: "John Fate Comes a-Knockin"
|}
 
===Video games===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Voice role !! Notes
|-
| 1995 || ''Disney's Animated Storybook: Toy Story'' || rowspan = "3" | [[List of Toy Story characters#Rex|Rex]] ||
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 1996 || ''[[Toy Story (video game)|Toy Story: The Video Game]]'' ||
|-
| ''[[Toy Story|Toy Story Activity Center]]'' ||
|-
| 2004 || ''[[The Incredibles (video game)|The Incredibles]]'' || [[Gilbert Huph]] ||
|-
| 2006 || ''[[Family Guy Video Game!]]'' || [[Bertram (Family Guy)|Bertram]] ||
|-
| 2008 || ''[[The Princess Bride Game]]'' || Vizzini ||
|-
| 2010 || ''[[Toy Story 3: The Video Game]]'' || Rex ||
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2012 || ''[[Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure]]'' || Rex, Gilbert Huph ||
|-
| ''[[Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse]]'' || Bertram ||
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Disney Infinity (video game)|Disney Infinity]]'' || rowspan = "3" | Rex ||
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Disney Infinity 2.0]]'' ||
|-
| 2015 || ''[[Disney Infinity 3.0]]'' ||
|-
| rowspan = "2" | 2016 || ''[[King's Quest (2015 video game)|King's Quest]]'' || Manny/Manannan || <ref>{{cite video game | title=[[King's Quest (2015 video game)|King's Quest – Chapter III: Once Upon A Climb]] | developer=[[The Odd Gentlemen]] | publisher=[[Sierra Entertainment]] | year=2016 | scene=Closing credits, 1 min in, Cast }}</ref>
|-
| ''Disney Magic Kingdoms'' || Rex ||
|-
| 2018 || ''[[Lego The Incredibles]]'' || Gilbert Huph || Archive recordings
|-
| 2019 || ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]'' || Rex || <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://press.na.square-enix.com/releases/1274/starstudded-voice-cast-unveiled-for-disney-and-square-enixs-kingdom-he|title=Square Enix Press Center – Star-studded Voice Cast Unveiled for Disney and Square Enid's Kingdom Hearts III|website=press.na.square-enix.com|access-date=June 17, 2019|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626224615/http://press.na.square-enix.com/releases/1274/starstudded-voice-cast-unveiled-for-disney-and-square-enixs-kingdom-he|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="btva" />
|}
 
==Theatre==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Title !! Year
|-
| ''Four Meals in May'' || 1967
|-
| ''The Family Play'' || 1970
|-
| ''The Hotel Play'' || 1970
|-
| ''The Hospital Play'' || 1971
|-
| ''Our Late Night'' || 1975
|-
| ''A Thought in Three Parts'' || 1976
|-
| ''[[The Mandrake]]'' (translation) || 1977
|-
| ''[[Marie and Bruce]]'' || 1978
|-
| ''[[Aunt Dan and Lemon]]'' || 1985
|-
| ''The Fever'' || 1990
|-
| ''[[The Designated Mourner]]'' || 1997
|-
| ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'' || 2006
|-
| ''The Music Teacher'' || 2006
|-
| ''Grasses of a Thousand Colors'' || 2008
|-
| ''Evening at the Talk House'' || 2015
|}
 
===Musical===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#b0c4; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 2008–16 || ''[[Toy Story: The Musical]]'' || Rex || Voice
|}
 
== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Project
! Result
|-
|1978
|[[Guggenheim Fellowship]]
|Drama & Performance Art<ref>{{Cite news |date=1978-04-02 |title=Guggenheim Foundation Announces 1978 Awards |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/04/02/archives/guggenheim-foundation-announces-1978-awards.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
|-
|1982 || rowspan=2|[[Boston Society of Film Critics Awards]] || [[Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]] || ''[[My Dinner with Andre]]'' || {{won}}
|-
|1994 || [[Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] || rowspan="2" | ''[[Vanya on 42nd Street]]'' || {{nom}}
|-
|1995
|[[Chlotrudis Society for Independent Films#Chlotrudis Awards|Chlotrudis Awards]]
|[[Chlotrudis Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|}
 
==Written works==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
| 2009
| ''Essays''
| Book collection of essays, by Haymarket Books
|-
| 2017
| ''Night Thoughts''
| Published by Haymarket Books
|-
| 2022
| ''Sleeping Among Sheep Under a Starry Sky''
| Book compilation of essays, published by Europa Editions
|}
 
==See also==
*[[List of Jewish atheists and agnostics#Cinema|List of Jewish atheists and agnostics]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
* King, W.D. (1997). ''Writing Wrongs: The Work of Wallace Shawn''. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN 1-56639-517-8
 
==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |last=Higgins |first=J. |title=The End of Room-Space: Domesticity and the Absent Audience in Wallace Shawn's the Fever |journal=Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism |volume=26 |number=2 |year=2012 |pages=57–74|doi=10.1353/dtc.2012.0017 |s2cid=191948394 }}
*{{cite book |last=King |first=W. D. |year=1997 |title=Writing Wrongs: The Work of Wallace Shawn |___location=Philadelphia |publisher=[[Temple University Press]] |isbn=1-56639-517-8}}
*Shawn, Wallace, "The End of a Village", ''[[The New York Review of Books]]'', vol. LXXI, no 15 (3 October 2024), pp. 16–17.
 
==External links==
{{commons category|Wallace Shawn}}
* [http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Makeup/6353/wshawn.html Wallace Shawn] - photo and filmography
* {{imdbIMDb name|id=0001728|name=Wallace Shawn}}
* {{memoryalphaIBDB name}}
*{{iobdb name}}
* [http://voices.fuzzy.com/actor.idc?actor_id=3643 Voice work of Wallace Shawn] - cartoon roles
*{{cite journal| url=http://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/6154/the-art-of-theater-no-17-wallace-shawn|title=Wallace Shawn, The Art of Theater No. 17|author=Hilton Als|date=Summer 2012|journal=The Paris Review|volume=Summer 2012| issue=201}}
* {{voice actor|id=1812|name=Wallace Shawn}}
*[http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/pep/pepdesc.cfm?id=4158 An Innocent Man in Guantanamo with readings by Wallace Shawn] at LIVE from the New York Public Library, April 4, 2008
* [http://www.graphesthesia.com/ws/ A Wallace Shawn Reference] - bio and descriptions of plays
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050404220936/http://www.lannan.org/lf/rc/event/wallace-shawn/] Lannan Foundation: Wallace Shawn's reading of ''The Fever''.]
 
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Persondata
|NAME=Shawn, Wallace
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=Actor and playwright
|DATE OF BIRTH=[[November 12]], [[1943]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[New York City]], [[New York]], [[United States]]
|DATE OF DEATH=living
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
 
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1943 births|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:Living people|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:Desperate Housewives actors|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:American film actors|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:Jewish American actors|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:Stargate actors|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actors|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:American television actors|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:American dramatists and playwrights|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:Law & Order: Criminal Intent actors|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:Members of The American Academy of Arts and Letters|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:American character actors|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:American voice actors|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:Disney voice actors|Shawn, Wallace]]
[[Category:People from New York City|Shawn, Wallace]]
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shawn, Wallace}}
[[de:Wallace Shawn]]
[[Category:20th-century American dramatists and playwrights]]
[[fr:Wallace Shawn]]
[[Category:20th-century American essayists]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:21st-century American essayists]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of Magdalen College, Oxford]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male video game actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American Marxists]]
[[Category:Audiobook narrators]]
[[Category:Collegiate School (New York) alumni]]
[[Category:Dalton School alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard College alumni]]
[[Category:Jewish American activists for Palestinian solidarity]]
[[Category:Jewish American anti-Zionists]]
[[Category:Jewish American atheists]]
[[Category:Jewish American dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Jewish American male actors]]
[[Category:Jewish American screenwriters]]
[[Category:Jewish socialists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Manhattan]]
[[Category:Members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters]]
[[Category:New York (state) socialists]]
[[Category:People from Chelsea, Manhattan]]
[[Category:Postmodern theatre]]
[[Category:The Putney School alumni]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Shawn"