Wallace Shawn Biography: Parents, Height, Wife, Movies, Nationality, Net Worth, Age

Wallace Shawn is a renowned American actor, playwright, and essayist whose distinctive voice and razor-sharp wit have made him a beloved figure in Hollywood and beyond.

From his iconic role as Vizzini in The Princess Bride, shouting “Inconceivable!” to voicing Rex the dinosaur in Toy Story, Wallace brings humor and heart to every project.

Profile

• Full Name: Wallace Michael Shawn
• Stage Name: Wallace Shawn
• Born: November 12, 1943
• Age: 81 years old
• Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actor, Playwright, Essayist, Screenwriter, Voice Actor
• Height: 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm)
• Religion: Atheist (Jewish background)
• Parents: William Shawn, Cecille Lyon
• Siblings: Allen Shawn, Mary Shawn
• Spouse: Deborah Eisenberg
• Children: None
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $8 million to $10 million

Early Life & Education

Wallace Shawn was born on November 12, 1943, in New York City.

His father, William Shawn, was the longtime editor of The New Yorker, and his mother, Cecille Lyon, was a journalist, giving him a childhood surrounded by books and ideas.

His ethnicity is White, with his father’s family having roots in Central Europe, and he was raised in a Jewish family but later identified as an atheist.

Wallace attended The Putney School, a private high school in Vermont, where he began exploring his passion for learning.

He then studied history at Harvard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. After Harvard, he attended Magdalen College at the University of Oxford in England, where he studied politics, philosophy, economics, and Latin.

Career

Wallace Shawn started his career in the 1960s, writing plays and acting in New York’s theater scene. His first play, Four Meals in May (1967), was written while he was at Oxford, but he broke through with Our Late Night (1975), which won an Obie Award.

His 1979 play, Marie and Bruce, and 1985’s Aunt Dan and Lemon, tackled tough social and political themes, earning him praise as a bold American playwright.

His 1990 play The Fever won another Obie for Best American Play, and The Designated Mourner (1996) was adapted into a film. He also translated Bertolt Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera for a 2006 Broadway production.

His acting career kicked off in 1979 with a small role as Diane Keaton’s ex-husband in Woody Allen’s Manhattan.

His big break came in 1981 with “My Dinner with Andre,” a film he co-wrote and starred in with Andre Gregory, which became a cult classic for its in-depth, philosophical dialogue. In 1987, he played Vizzini in The Princess Bride, making “Inconceivable!” a pop culture catchphrase.

He’s voiced Rex in all four Toy Story films (1995–2019) and appeared in six Woody Allen movies, including Radio Days (1987) and Rifkin’s Festival (2020).

On TV, he’s had recurring roles in The Cosby Show (1987–1991), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999), Gossip Girl (2008–2012), Young Sheldon (2018–2024), and Evil (2022–2024).

Other films include Clueless (1995) as Mr. Hall, The Incredibles (2004) as Gilbert Huph, and Marriage Story (2019).

His work as an essayist includes Essays (2009) and Night Thoughts (2017), demonstrating his affinity for grand ideas and America’s tradition of free thought.

Social Media

He does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

At 81 years old, Wallace Shawn stands at 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm), with a distinctive look and voice that make him unforgettable.

He’s been in a long-term relationship with writer Deborah Eisenberg since the 1980s, living together in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.

They have no children, and Wallace has never married, keeping his personal life private.

Net Worth

Wallace Shawn’s net worth is estimated to be between $8 million and $10 million.

His income comes from acting in films like The Princess Bride and Toy Story, as well as TV roles in Young Sheldon and Gossip Girl, and voice work in animated films such as The Incredibles.

His plays, including Aunt Dan and Lemon and The Designated Mourner, as well as books like Essays (2009), also contribute to his earnings.

Filmography

• Manhattan (1979) – Jeremiah (Film)
• My Dinner with Andre (1981) – Wally Shawn (Film, co-writer)
• The Princess Bride (1987) – Vizzini (Film)
• Radio Days (1987) – Masked Avenger (Film)
• The Cosby Show (1987–1991) – Jeff Engels (TV Series)
• Prick Up Your Ears (1987) – John Lahr (Film)
• Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989) – Howard (Film)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999) – Grand Nagus Zek (TV Series)
• Vanya on 42nd Street (1994) – Vanya (Film)
• Clueless (1995) – Mr. Hall (Film)
• Toy Story (1995) – Rex (Voice, Film)
• A Goofy Movie (1995) – Principal Mazur (Voice, Film)
• The Fever (1990) – Playwright (Theater, Obie Award)
• Aunt Dan and Lemon (1985) – Playwright (Theater, Obie Award)
• The Designated Mourner (1996) – Playwright, Actor (Theater, Film 1997)
• The Incredibles (2004) – Gilbert Huph (Voice, Film)
• Gossip Girl (2008–2012) – Cyrus Rose (TV Series)
• Toy Story 3 (2010) – Rex (Voice, Film)
• A Master Builder (2013) – Halvard Solness (Film, co-writer)
• Maggie’s Plan (2015) – Supporting Role (Film)
• The Greatest Showman (2017) – Mr. Winthrop (Film)
• Young Sheldon (2018–2024) – Dr. John Sturgis (TV Series)
• Marriage Story (2019) – Frank (Film)
• Toy Story 4 (2019) – Rex (Voice, Film)
• Evil (2022–2024) – Father Frank Ignatius (TV Series)
• The Man Who Changed the World (2025) – Supporting Role (Film)