March 05, 2019

Lin Shaye. Another unsung hero of film & television.


A very recognisable face is our Lin. She's been around forever yet sadly she's another actress that brings to mind that infamous question - "Oh I know her, where do I know her from?" You know her from everything. She's been in everything. 44 years on the go and 202 credits to her name. Her first role was "whore" in Hester Street in 1975 and within a year or two she was making her mark in films directed by Jack Nicholson and Walter Hill. When Jack Nicholson asks for you personally you know you're doing something right. Constant film & TV appearances throughout the 80's and 90's saw her become a muse to both Hill and The Farrelly Brothers and over the last decade or so she's become a little bit of a horror icon. Not many actresses become a scream queen in their 7th decade. That's some going.



She's done it all. She's been the mother to a Hillside Strangler. A neighbour to the most desired woman in Miami. A love interest for members of the Jesse James gang. She's spouted propaganda about futuristic tv shows starring Arnold Schwarzeneggar and taught teenagers terrified of Freddy Krueger. She's dealt with Cagney and Lacey and Frasier Crane. Been a patient in Cooke County Hospital and flounced through Falcon Crest. She's been killed by both critters and traumatised by a plane full of snakes. Been in the Twilight zone and dealt with an angel on the highway to heaven. Westerns, comedies, musicals, horrors, thrillers, action. Lin's a dab hand at all of them. She's been in 71 films in the past decade. Not bad going for a 75 year old. Check out her career here.

Greatest Hits

Kingpin. The Landlady who'll take sex over rent anyday. A vile role. 




There's Something About Mary. Magda, the insanely tanned neighbour of Mary. Great fun. Owner of a dog that doesn't do well on methamphetamine.

2001 Maniacs. Granny Boone. The matriarch of a murderous Southern town. Adds a light touch amongst the gore.

Snakes On A Plane. Grace. A voice of reason on a plane full of idiots.

The Insidious franchise. Elise, a demonologist investigating a haunted house. So good in her role that she became the lead in parts 3 & 4.

Previous Heroes

James Remar
Cloris Leachman
James Hong
David Strathairn
Frankie Faison
Conchata Ferrell
Dick Miller
Veronica Cartwright
Edie McClurg
Barry Shabaka Henley           
Raymond Cruz                        
Reg E.Cathey                          
Elizabeth McGovern               
John Amos                              
Bruce Greenwood                  
Mary McDonnell                     
Gerald McSorley                       
John Rothman                        
Margo Martindale                   
Kurtwood Smith                     
Paula Malcolmson                 
Luis Guzman                          
David Morse                           
Linda Hunt                              
Keith David                             
Zeljko Ivanek
Fiona Shaw
Xander Berkeley
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
C.C.H Pounder
William Forsythe
Beth Grant
Sven-Ole Thorsen
Regina King
Ric Young
Mark Rolston
Illeana Douglas
Jeanette Goldstein
Al Leong
Allan Graf
Bill Nunn
Thomas Rosales Jr

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