Known for movies

Short Info

Date Of BirthOctober 12, 1943
SpouseClayton Landey, Marshall Rubinoff
MarkOften plays a chain smoker
FactHer mother was a Russian Jewish immigrant, and her paternal grandparents were Romanian Jews.


Lin Shaye is an American actress, best known for her role as Elise Rainier in the Insidious franchise.

Born on October 12, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan, Shaye is the daughter of Dorothy (née Weitzel), a homemaker, and Max Mendle Shaye, a businessman and painter. She has two older sisters, Barbara and Beverly. Her father was Jewish and her mother was of German descent.

Shaye was raised in Oak Park, Michigan and graduated from Oak Park High School in 1961. She then attended the University of Detroit Mercy, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Education in 1965.

Shaye began her acting career in the late 1960s with small roles in television shows such as The Odd Couple and Love, American Style. She made her film debut in 1972’s The Heartbreak Kid.

Over the next few years, Shaye appeared in a number of films, including The Fury (1978), Dressed to Kill (1980), and Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987).

In 2010, Shaye reprised her role as Elise Rainier in Insidious. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $97 million worldwide.

Shaye has been married to actor Robert Graysmith since 1984. The couple has two children together.

As of 2020, Lin Shaye’s net worth is estimated to be $4 million.

General Info

Full NameLin Shaye
Date Of BirthOctober 12, 1943
ProfessionActor
EducationColumbia University School of the Arts, University of Michigan
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseClayton Landey, Marshall Rubinoff
ChildrenLee J. Landey
ParentsDorothy Shaye, Max Mendle Shaye
SiblingsRobert Shaye

Accomplishments

AwardsFright Meter Awards
NominationsBlockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress - Comedy
MoviesInsidious: Chapter 3, Insidious: Chapter 2, Insidious, There's Something About Mary, Kingpin, Ouija, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Dead End, Dumb and Dumber, Snakes on a Plane, 2001 Maniacs: Beverly Hellbillys, Detroit Rock City, The Signal, Boat Trip, Abattoir, Mega Spider, The Three Stooges, A Good O...

Social profile links

Marks

#Marks / Signs
1Often plays a chain smoker

Quotes

#Quote
1I may be the only actress in Hollywood who won't need a face lift, because when I take off my makeup, I look so great compared to my characters!

Facts

#Fact
12015: Named the Godmother of Horror by Wizard World Comic Con.
2Her mother was a Russian Jewish immigrant, and her paternal grandparents were Romanian Jews.
3Aunt of Katja Shaye and Juno Shaye.
4She is a lifetime member of the Actor's Studio.
5Has a son Lee J. Landey (born 1989).
6Is the only actor to appear in both Dumb & Dumber (1994) and the prequel Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003).
7Younger sister of New Line Cinema founder & CEO Robert Shaye.

Pictures

Movies

Actress

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Insidious: Chapter 42017post-productionElise Rainier
Re-Animator: Evolution2017pre-productionMeredith
Before Memory2016/IfilmingGrandma Kasper
Sick People2016completedWaitress (Sandra)
The Black Room2016completedMiss Black
Bayou Tales2016filmingMargot
Los Angeles Overnightpost-productionCousins
All About the Money2016Mrs. Womack
Ouija: Origin of Evil2016Lina Zander (2013)
The Midnight Man2016/IIIAnna
Buster's Mal Heart2016Pauline
American Gothic2016TV SeriesLila
Still the King2016TV SeriesRuthie
Abattoir2016Allie
Texas Heart2016Mrs. Smith
Jack Goes Home2016Teresa
Director's Cut2016Captain Wheeler
Grow House2016Mrs. Gilliam
Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves2015Helen Keller
Tales of Halloween2015Lynn's Mother (segment "Grim Grinning Ghost")
Insidious: Chapter 32015Elise Rainier
Don Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Mancha2015The Grand Lady
Hell Hunters2015TV SeriesEthel (2015)
Ouija2014/IIPaulina Zander
Grace2014/IHelen
Lost Time2014Mysterious Woman
Mountain Top2014Muriel Miller
The Signal2014Mirabelle
Killing Winston Jones2014Madeline Jones
Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight2014TV SeriesMrs. Abramson
All American Christmas Carol2013Barbara Belnap
Insidious: Chapter 22013Elise Rainier
Crazy Kind of Love2013Denise Mack
Big Ass Spider!2013Mrs. Jefferson
Kroll Show2013TV Series
Private Practice2013TV SeriesMrs. Taylor
Insidious: Spectral Sightings2013TV Series shortElise
Dr. 4202012Video shortDr. 420
Waffle Hut2012TV MovieJerrie Wolf (2012)
Life's an Itch2012Gloria
Matchmaker Santa2012TV MovieDebbie
Noobz2012Mrs. Theodore
3 Days of Normal2012May
Jewtopia2012Dr. Sutton
The Three Stooges2012Nurse Crotchet
FDR: American Badass!2012Eleanor Roosevelt
Brave New World2011TV MovieKathy
Dead of Nowhere 3D2011ShortMeemaw
Rosewood Lane2011Mrs. Hawthorne
I Was a Teenage Werebear2011ShortNurse Maleva
Chillerama2011Baglady / Nurse Maleva (segments "Wadzilla" and "I Was a Teenage Werebear")
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy2011Dody
Take Me Home2011Jill
Losing Control2011Dolores
Sedona2011Claire
Black Velvet2011Pool Lady
Goldberg - P.I.2011Violet
Red & Blue Marbles2011Janitor
Farewell Mr. Kringle2010TV MovieZelda
Sex Tax: Based on a True Story2010Lydia Friedman
Next Stop Murder2010TV MovieDetective Reeson
Insidious2010/IElise Rainier
Black Limousine2010Mrs. Harris
The Accidental Death of Joey by Sue2010Mrs. Rawlings
Small Town Saturday Night2010Phyllis Ryan
Pickin' & Grinnin'2010Bonnie Johnson
The Penthouse2010Frances
2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams2010Granny Boone
Killer by Nature2010Leona
VideoDome Rent-O-Rama2010ShortThe Lush
Yellow Brook2009ShortNarrator
Dark Moon Rising2009Sunny
Stuntmen2009Bumble Jackson
American Cowslip2009Lou Anne
My Sister's Keeper2009Nurse Adele
ER2009TV SeriesMargaret
Doggie Heaven2008Video shortWoman
Chronic Town2008Nurse
Asylum2008/IVString's Mother
Killer Pad2008Marge
Dirty Sexy Money2007TV SeriesLeslie Donovan
Chasing Robert2007Martha the Bookie
The Election2007ShortThe Wife
Time Upon a Once2007TV MovieBlue Wife
On the Lot2007ShortVarious
Homo Erectus2007Museum Guide
Kush2007Susan
Pledge This!2006Miss Prin
Driftwood2006Nancy Forrester
Down the P.C.H.2006Wendy O'Hara
Surf School2006Larry's Mom
Snakes on a Plane2006Grace
Hood of Horror2006Clara
My Name Is Earl2006TV SeriesPaul's Mom
Bachelor Party Vegas2006VideoCassandra
Hoboken Hollow2006Mrs. Brodrick
Unbeatable Harold2006Jeannie
Born Killers2005Willow
Jesus, Mary and Joey2005Lulu
2001 Maniacs2005Granny Boone
Drop Dead Sexy2005Ma Muzzy
Confessions of an Action Star2005Samantha Jones
Hate Crime2005Kathleen Slansky
The Hillside Strangler2004Jenny Buono
Wear Something Nice2004ShortMom
Cellular2004Exotic Car Driver
A Cinderella Story2004Mrs. Wells
The Latin Lover2004ShortEmilia
Cross Bronx2004Barbara Green
Crossing Jordan2004TV SeriesLeather Lauren
The Almost Guys2004Repo Boss
Who's Your Daddy?2004VideoBetsy Harding
Stuck on You2003Makeup Babe
Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd2003Margie
Barely Legal2003Tequila
Manfast2003Marge
Dead End2003/ILaura Harrington
Boat Trip2002Sonya the Coach
Wish You Were Dead2002Jinny Macintosh
Man of the Year2002Flora
Contagion2002Laura Crowley
Without Charlie2001
Surfacing: AKA A Letter from My Father2001Elise
Say It Isn't So2001Nurse Bautista
Code Blue2000Video GameLeslie Miller (voice)
Attention Shoppers2000Libby
Arli$$2000TV Series
Me, Myself & Irene2000Actor - Mrs. Caleron (scenes deleted)
Detroit Rock City1999Mrs. Bruce
Becker1998TV SeriesMrs. Cooper
Living Out Loud1998Lisa's Nurse
There's Something About Mary1998Magda
Breakfast with Einstein1998TV MovieMiss Desmond
Behind the Zipper with Magda1998Video shortMagda
Perversions of Science1997TV SeriesNurse
Trading Favors1997Darla
Last Man Standing1996The Madame
Kingpin1996Landlady
Frasier1996TV SeriesAnne
Project: ALF1996TV MovieWaitress
Trial by Fire1995TV MoviePhyllis Cardell
The Nature of the Beast1995Carol Powell
Sketch Artist II: Hands That See1995TV MovieBonnie
Dumb & Dumber1994Mrs. Neugeboren
My So-Called Life1994TV SeriesParent #2
Corrina, Corrina1994Repeat Nanny
New Nightmare1994Nurse with Pills
In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance1994TV MovieForeman #2
Sisters1993TV SeriesNightmare Host #2
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues1993Rubber Rose Maid
Amityville: A New Generation1993VideoNurse Turner
Torch Song1993TV MovieTeamster
Brain Smasher... A Love Story1993VideoMakeup Artist
Three of Hearts1993Operator
The Temp1993Rosemary
Loaded Weapon 11993Witness
Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter1992TV MovieInmate
Roadside Prophets1992Celeste
Life Goes On1991TV SeriesParent #2
Book of Love1990Mrs. Flynn
Pump Up the Volume1990PTA Parent #3
Lucky Stiff1988Bratty Kid's Mom
Critters 21988Sal
Highway to Heaven1988TV SeriesLila Barnes
The Running Man1987Propaganda Officer
The Hidden1987Carol Miller
Mistress1987TV MovieWoman Customer
Slam Dance1987Librarian
Who's the Boss?1987TV SeriesMrs. Padnick
Extreme Prejudice1987Employment Office Clerk
My Demon Lover1987Anemic Counter Girl
Stillwatch1987TV Movie
Critters1986Sally
Falcon Crest1986TV SeriesSmoking Female Prisoner
Cagney & Lacey1986TV SeriesSecretary
The Twilight Zone1985TV SeriesKate Simmons (segment "Chameleon")
Brewster's Millions1985Journalist at Rally
A Nightmare on Elm Street1984Teacher
Summer Fantasy1984TV MovieWoman on Beach
Why Me?1984TV Movie
Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again1982Nurse with Telegram
Alone in the Dark1982Receptionist at Haven
A Cry for Love1980TV Movie
The Long Riders1980Kate
The Seeding of Sarah Burns1979TV Movie2nd Nurse
The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal1979TV MovieFreida
Goin' South1978Parasol Lady
A Secret Space1977Amy
Eight Is Enough1977TV Series
Sex and the Married Woman1977TV MovieSandra
Hester Street1975Whore

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Accidental Death of Joey by Sue2010performer: "It's Hard Being a Woman" / writer: "It's Hard Being a Woman"
2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams2010performer: "Cannibals"

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy2010Video documentary archival material provided by

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Made in Hollywood2013-2015TV SeriesHerself
Chillerama Presents: Anton Troy, the Man Behind the Beast2011ShortHerself
Full Moon Fever: Behind the scenes of I was a Teenage Werebear2011Documentary shortHerself
Fred Heads: The Ultimate Freddy Fans2010Video shortHerself
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy2010Video documentaryHerself - 'Teacher'
2001 Maniacs: Behind the Screams2010Video documentary shortHerself
Starz Inside: In the Gutter2008TV Movie documentaryHerself
On the Lot2007TV SeriesNeighbor - 'Time Upon a Once'
Meet the Reptiles2006Video documentary shortHerself - 'Grace'
Pure Venom: The Making of 'Snakes on a Plane'2006Video documentary shortHerself - 'Grace'
Inside the Asylum: The Making of '2001 Maniacs'2006Video documentary shortHerself
Snakes on a Set: Behind the Scenes2006Video documentary shortHerself
The Snake Pit: On the Set of 'Snakes on a Plane'2006Video documentary shortHerself
Puffy, Boobs and Balls: Makeup 101 with Designer Tony Gardner and Actress Lin Shaye2003Video documentary shortHerself
Miscellaneous Shit: Behind the Scenes of 'Detroit Rock City'1999Video documentary shortHerself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
20 to 12006TV Series documentaryMagda
Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years2000TV Movie documentaryMagda
The Hidden II1993Carol Miller
Critters 31991Sal

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2012Chainsaw AwardFangoria Chainsaw AwardsBest Supporting ActressInsidious (2010)
2011Fright Meter AwardFright Meter AwardsBest Supporting ActressInsidious (2010)
2005Best of the FestBreckenridge Festival of FilmBest Supporting ActressHate Crime (2005)
2004Best ActressPeñíscola Comedy Film FestivalDead End (2003)
2002Best Supporting ActressMethod FestFeature FilmFor episode "{SUSPENDED".

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2015Fright Meter AwardFright Meter AwardsBest ActressInsidious: Chapter 3 (2015)
2012Saturn AwardAcademy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USABest Supporting ActressInsidious (2010)
2005Chainsaw AwardFangoria Chainsaw AwardsBest Supporting ActressDead End (2003)
1999Blockbuster Entertainment AwardBlockbuster Entertainment AwardsFavorite Supporting Actress - ComedyThere's Something About Mary (1998)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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