Wallace Shawn, the character actor and playwright, is a fascinating figure in the world of theater and film. At 82, he is as frank and fired-up as ever, with two hit stage shows and a summer blockbuster on the way. Shawn's latest stage work, What We Did Before Our Moth Days, is a primal return to his roots, structured as a series of direct audience addresses that delve into the ways a father's affair influenced the lives of his family members. Shawn's own father, William, was editor-in-chief of the New Yorker for over three decades and had a semi-public affair with one of its writers, Lillian Ross. Shawn's play is a poignant yet darkly satirical study of one upper-crust family's attempt to come to terms with their own grief. Shawn's ability to excel at avuncular, comic relief types in films like Clueless and Gossip Girl has not led to more dynamic parts, and he feels disappointment that his talent has not been recognized more. Shawn's financial situation was more or less solved in his late 30s when he realized he could make money by being a funny actor, leading to 17 singular stage works to date. Shawn's play The Fever is a very frank assessment of the role of the bourgeois class as predators preying on the planet, and its existential gallows humor is Kafka by way of Marx. Shawn's political views are also interesting, as he is a longtime member of the leftwing, anti-Zionist organization Jewish Voice for Peace. He has been open in his support of Palestine, which has led to some consequences, including being blacklisted by Hollywood for pro-Palestine views. Shawn's dual roles in Toy Story 5 and The Man Who Changed the World showcase his versatility as an actor, and he embraces being odd, even if everyone doesn't quite get it. Shawn's work and beliefs continue to be a source of inspiration and thought-provoking commentary, making him a fascinating figure in the world of theater and film.
