Lin Shaye

Lin Shaye (born October 12, 1943) is an American actress. In a career spanning over 50 years, Shaye has appeared in more than a hundred feature films. She is regarded as a scream queen due to her roles in various horror productions, which include the films Alone in the Dark, A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Critters (1986) and its sequel Critters 2: The Main Course (1988), Amityville: A New Generation (1993), Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994), Dead End (2003), 2001 Maniacs (2005) and its sequel 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams (2010), Ouija (2014) and its prequel Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), Tales of Halloween (2015), Abattoir (2016), The Final Wish (2018), Room for Rent (2019), The Grudge (2020), Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman (2021), and the Insidious film series (2010–2026).

Lin Shaye is also well known for her comedic roles in numerous films by the Farrelly brothers, including Dumb and Dumber (1994), Kingpin (1996), There's Something About Mary (1998), Detroit Rock City (1999), Me, Myself & Irene (2000), Stuck on You (2003), and The Three Stooges (2012).

Early life Lin Shaye was born on October 12, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan, Her family is Jewish; her mother was born in Russia, and her paternal grandparents were from Romania, and settled in Michigan.

Shaye studied art history at the University of Michigan before she moved to New York to appear in Off Broadway productions. In 1977, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.

Career In 1975, Shaye made her film debut with a small role in Hester Street, followed by small roles in several movies and television shows. In 1978, she appeared in the Jack Nicholson-directed Western Goin' South. "I got a call saying, 'Mr. Nicholson wants you in Mexico for two weeks for this small role called The Parasol Lady'. It was so much fun." The Farrellys then subsequently cast her as Woody Harrelson's gruesome landlady in 1996's Kingpin. Next they gave her a role as Cameron Diaz's character's overtanned neighbor Magda in the 1998 hit There's Something About Mary. The Farrellys said, 'We want her to look like an old leather bag,' " recalled Shaye. "It was four hours every time they put on the makeup." That same year she co-starred with Ray Wise and Alexandra Holden in the cult horror film Dead End as Laura Harrington; Shaye received positive reviews and was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2004, she starred as Jenny Buono, the mother of 1970s Los Angeles serial killer Angelo Buono in The Hillside Strangler.

In 2005, Shaye appeared in the film 2001 Maniacs as Granny Boone and again in the sequel 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams. The next year she had a supporting role in the thriller Snakes on a Plane, playing Grace, the senior flight attendant who acts as the flight's purser. In 2007, she appeared in the short films Sponsored By, Under The Gun, Midnight Snack, Time Upon a Once, Old Home Boyz, Backseat Driving Test, and The Yes Men which were directed by contestants on the reality show On the Lot.

In 2011, Shaye played medium Elise, a supporting role, in the horror film Insidious. "It scared the daylights out of me," said Shaye. "I read it in bed, and when I finished, I took it downstairs and locked it in the closet. I really was chilled to the bone by the story." It was the most profitable film of 2011. Shaye received positive reviews and was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Fright Meter Award for Best Supporting Actress, and a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2012, she again appeared in a Farrelly Brothers film as a nurse in The Three Stooges. In November 2012, it was officially announced that Shaye, Patrick Wilson, and Rose Byrne would reprise their roles from the first film in Insidious: Chapter 2. The film was released September 13, 2013. It received mixed reviews and was a box office success.

Shaye returned as Elise, this time in the leading role, in the third and fourth installments of the Insidious franchise, Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) and Insidious: The Last Key (2018). Speaking of the role in the third film, Shaye said "Elise has become this sort of bad ass in this installment, I can't even tell you how much fun that was for me. I'm not taking names!" A writer from The Wrap opined that Shaye "shines" in the film. The Oakland Post Online said, "Shaye is able to give the film most of its heart. Many of the horror scenes rely on her to be either the calming voice or the badass heroine, and Shaye plays both of those roles perfectly," also adding, "Insidious: Chapter 3 could have been a disaster, but thanks to some genuinely scary moments and veteran acting from Lin Shaye, the film is able to be mostly enjoyable." Later horror films in which Shay appeared include Ouija (2014) and its prequel Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), Tales of Halloween (2015), Abattoir (2016), The Final Wish (2018), Room for Rent (2019), The Grudge (2020), and Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman (2021).

In 2020, Shaye received the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Drama Series for her guest role on the dark comedy web series EastSiders.

Personal life Shaye has been married twice. Her first husband, writer and musician Marshall Rubinoff, died in 1968 at age 24. In 1988, she married actor Clayton Landey, with whom she appeared in 2002's Wish You Were Dead. The couple had one child before divorcing in 2003.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1975 Hester Street Whore 1977 A Secret Space Amy 1978 Goin' South Parasol lady 1980 The Long Riders Kate 1982 Alone in the Dark Receptionist at haven Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again Nurse with telegram 1984 A Nightmare on Elm Street Teacher 1985 Brewster's Millions Journalist at rally 1986 Critters Sally 1987 My Demon Lover Anemic counter girl Extreme Prejudice Employment office clerk Slam Dance Librarian The Hidden Carol Miller The Running Man Propaganda officer 1988 Critters 2: The Main Course Sal Lucky Stiff Bratty kid's mom 1990 Book of Love Mrs. Flynn Pump Up the Volume PTA parent #3 1992 Roadside Prophets Celeste 1993 Loaded Weapon 1 Witness The Temp Rosemary Three of Hearts Operator Brainsmasher... A Love Story Makeup artist Amityville: A New Generation Nurse Turner Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Rubber Rose maid 1994 Corrina, Corrina Repeat nanny Wes Craven's New Nightmare Nurse Dumb & Dumber Mrs. Margie Neugeboren 1995 The Nature of the Beast Carol Powell 1996 Kingpin Landlady Last Man Standing The Madame 1997 Trading Favors Darla 1998 Living Out Loud Lisa's nurse There's Something About Mary Magda Behind the Zipper with Magda Magda Short film 1999 Detroit Rock City Mrs. Bruce 2000 Me, Myself & Irene Mrs. Caleron Scenes deleted Attention Shoppers Libby 2001 Say It Isn't So Nurse Bautista A Letter from My Father Elise Without Charlie Unknown 2002 Wish You Were Dead Jinny MacIntosh Contagion Laura Crowley Man of the Year Flora Boat Trip Coach Sonya Who's Your Daddy? Ms. Harding 2003 Manfast Marge National Lampoon's Barely Legal Tequila Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd Margie Neugeboren Dead End Laura Harrington Stuck on You Makeup babe 2004 The Almost Guys Repo boss Cross Bronx Barbara Green The Latin Lover Emilia Short film A Cinderella Story Mrs. Wells Cellular Exotic car driver Wear Something Nice Mom Short film The Hillside Strangler Jenny Buono 2005 Hate Crime Kathleen Slansky Confessions of an Action Star Samantha Jones 2001 Maniacs Granny Boon Drop Dead Sexy Ma Muzzy Born Killers Willow Jesus, Mary and Joey Lulu 2006 Unbeatable Harold Jeannie Hoboken Hollow Mrs. Brodrick Bachelor Party Vegas Cassandra Hood of Horror Clara Snakes on a Plane Grace Surf School Larry's mom Down the P.C.H. Wendy O'Hara Driftwood Nancy Forrester National Lampoon's Pledge This! Miss Prin 2007 The Election The Wife Short film Chasing Robert Martha, the Bookie Homo Erectus Museum guide Kush Susan 2008 Killer Pad Marge Asylum String's mother Chronic Town Nurse Doggie Heaven Woman Short film 2009 My Sister's Keeper Nurse Adele American Cowslip Lou Anne Stuntmen "Bumble" Jackson Dark Moon Rising Sunny Yellow Brook Narrator Short film 2010 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams Granny Boone The Penthouse Frances Pickin' & Grinnin''' Bonnie Johnson Small Town Saturday Night| Phyllis data-sort-value="Accidental Death of Joey by Sue, The" | The Accidental Death of Joey by Sue| Mrs. Rawlings data-sort-value="Land of the Astronauts, The" | The Land of the Astronauts| Mrs. Harris Insidious| Elise Rainier Killer by Nature| Leona Whitmore VideoDome Rent-O-Rama| The Lush Short film Sex Tax: Based on a True Story| Lydia Friedman

Sedona| Claire Losing Control| Dolores data-sort-value="Good Old Fashioned Orgy, A" | A Good Old Fashioned Orgy| Dody Chillerama| Baglady / Nurse Maleva Take Me Home| Jill Rosewood Lane| Mrs. Hawthorne Red & Blue Marbles| Janitor Jackie Goldberg: Private Dick| Violet Dead of Nowhere 3D| Meemaw Short film Black Velvet| Pool lady

data-sort-value="Three Stooges, The" | The Three Stooges| Nursery nurse FDR: American Badass!| Eleanor Roosevelt Jewtopia| Dr. Sutton 3 Days of Normal| May Noobz| Mrs. Theodore Life's an Itch| Gloria Dr. 420| Dr. 420 Short film

Insidious: Chapter 2| Elise Rainier All American Christmas Carol| Barbara Belnap Crazy Kind of Love| Denise Mack Big Ass Spider!| Mrs. Jefferson

Lost Time| Mysterious woman data-sort-value="Signal, The" | The Signal| Mirabelle Grace: The Possession| Helen Ouija| Paulina Zander

Don Quixote| The Grand Lady Insidious: Chapter 3| Elise Rainier Tales of Halloween| Lynn's mother Segment: "Grim Grinning Ghost" Sick People| Waitress / Sandra Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves| Helen Keller

Texas Heart| Mrs. Smith Director's Cut| Captain Wheeler Jack Goes Home| Teresa Abattoir| Allie Buster's Mal Heart| Pauline data-sort-value="Midnight Man, The" | The Midnight Man| Anna Luster Ouija: Origin of Evil| Paulina Zander

Mountain Top| Muriel Miller Grow House| Mrs. Gilliam All About the Money| Mrs. Womack data-sort-value="Black Room, The" | The Black Room| Mrs. Black

Insidious: The Last Key| Elise Rainier Los Angeles Overnight| Cousins Gothic Harvest| Griselda data-sort-value="Final Wish, The" | The Final Wish| Kate Hammond data-sort-value="Old World!, The" | The Old World!| The Aunt (voice) Short film

Room for Rent| Joyce Also producer Get Gone| Mama Maxwell Ambition| Lady Bum Bayou Tales| Margot

data-sort-value="Grudge, The" | The Grudge| Faith Matheson Dreamkatcher| Ruth Also executive producer data-sort-value="Voices, The" | The Voices| Vagabond Darkness Falls| Angela Anderson Max Reload and the Nether Blasters| Mrs. Wylder data-sort-value="Call, The" | The Call| Edith Cranston

Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman Mrs. Bundy Frank and Penelope| Ophelia 2022 We Are Gathered Here Today| Jean Cole 2023 Insidious: The Red Door| Elise Rainier

Scared to Death| Max The Last Stand of Ellen Cole| Ellen Cole 2026 Insidious: Out of the Further| Elise Rainier

Killing Winston Jones| Madeline Jones data-sort-value="Gnashing, The" | The Gnashing| Julie Post-production Devoted'' Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 1977 Sex and the Married Woman Sandra Television film Eight Is Enough Bandmember Episode: "The Return of Auntie V" 1979 The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal Freida Television film The Seeding of Sarah Burns 2nd nurse Television film 1980 A Cry for Love Unknown Television film 1984Why Me? Unknown Television film Summer Fantasy Woman on beach Television film 1985 The Twilight Zone Kate Simmons Episode: "Chameleon" 1986 Cagney & Lacey Secretary Episode: "DWI" Falcon Crest Smoking female prisoner Episode: "Unholy Alliances" 1987 Who's the Boss? Mrs. Padnick Episode: "Mona" Mistress Woman customer Television film 1988 Highway to Heaven Lila Barnes Episode: "A Mother's Love" 1991 Life Goes On Parent #2 Episode: "Life After Death" 1992 Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter Inmate Television film Roseanne Cynthia Episode: "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" 1993 Torch Song Teamster Television film Sisters Nightmare host #2 Episode: "Sleepless in Winnetka" 1994 In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance Foreman #2 Television film My So-Called Life Parent #2 Episode: "Guns and Gossip" 1995 Sketch Artist II: Hands That See Bonnie Television film Trial by Fire Phyllis Cardell Television film 1996 Project ALF Waitress Television film Frasier Anne Episode: "The Focus Group" 1997 Perversions of Science The Nurse Episode: "Dream of Doom" 1998 Breakfast with Einstein Miss Desmond Television film Becker Mrs. Cooper Episode: "Take These Pills and Shove 'Em" 2000 Arliss Unknown Episode: "The Value of Honesty" 2004 Crossing Jordan Leather Lauren Episode: "Is That Plutonium in Your Pocket, or Are You Just Happy to See Me?" 2006 My Name Is Earl Paul's mom Episode: "Number One" 2007 On the Lot Various roles Unknown episodes Dirty Sexy Money Leslie Donovan Episode: "The Game" 2009 ER Margaret Episode: "And in the End..." 2010 Next Stop Murder Detective Reeson Television film Farewell Mr. Kringle Zelda Television film 2012 Matchmaker Santa Debbie Television film Waffle Hut Jerrie Wolf Television film 2013 Private Practice Mrs. Taylor Episode: "Full Release" Kroll Show Unknown Episode: "Soaked in Success" 2015 Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight Mrs. Abramson 3 episodes 2016 Still the King Ruthie Episode: “Mother Trucker” American Gothic Lila Episode: "The Artist in His Museum" Grip and Electric Glenda 4 episodes 2019 EastSiders Diane 2 episodes 2020 Penny Dreadful: City of Angels Dottie Minter 6 episodes

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2000 Code Blue Leslie Miller 2022 The QuarryConstance Hackett Voice, motion capture and likeness

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1999 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Supporting Actress – Comedy There's Something About Mary 2002 Method Fest Independent Film Festival Best Supporting Actress 2004 Peñíscola Comedy Film Festival Best Actress Dead End 2005 Breckenridge Festival Of Film Best Supporting ActressHate Crime Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actress Dead End 2011 Fright Meter Awards Best Supporting Actress Insidious 2012 Cyber-Horror Awards Best Supporting Actress Insidious Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actress Insidious Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress Insidious 2014 Fright Meter Awards Best Ensemble Cast Insidious: Chapter 2 2016 Fright Meter Awards Best Leading Actress Insidious: Chapter 3 2019 HorrorHound Film Fest Legend Award Herself 2019 Fright Meter Awards Best Actress Room for Rent Action On Film International Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Get Gone 2020 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Performer in a Digital Drama Series Eastsiders