Celebrity Info
Lin Shaye made her feature film debut in Jack Nicholson’s Goin’ South (1978), not long after she arrived in Los Angeles. She became a favorite of director Walter Hill, appearing in four of his films as of 1999. In addition, she acted in eight movies produced by her older brother, Robert Shaye. However, it was the Farrelly brothers who truly brought her into the spotlight, giving her the role that marked the beginning of her memorable portrayals of unpleasant characters—an angry, upper-class dog owner in Dumb and Dumber (1994). As Lin Shaye recalled to Stephen Schaefer for the Boston Herald (August 11, 1999), “I come out to the set and Pete [Farrelly] says—and remember, this is their first movie too—‘She screams when they open the door.’ I said, ‘What if instead of screaming, I had them do my hair like a poodle? And since people are like their dogs, if she goes’—and I did a little poodle cry.”
Lin Shaye has been part of a variety of movies, but one of her highest-rated works in recent years is We Are Gathered Here Today (2022). On the other hand, one of her lower-rated films includes Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman (2021). While her performances are often praised, the reception of the projects she’s in can vary quite a bit. Lin Shaye continues to be a respected figure in the industry, even when some of her projects don’t receive the same level of acclaim.
United States
