Wallace Shawn’s involvement with theater began in 1970 when he met Andre Gregory, who has since directed several of his plays. As a stage actor, he has appeared mostly in his own plays and other projects with Gregory.

Shawn made his film debut in 1979, playing Diane Keaton’s ex-husband in Woody Allen’s Manhattan. His film roles include two collaborations with Andre Gregory and Louis Malle: the semi-autobiographical My Dinner with Andre, and Vanya on 42nd Street, as well as the evil Vizzini in The Princess Bride (1987) and debate teacher Mr. Hall in Clueless (1995). Shawn frequently appears on television, where he has had recurring roles on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Murphy Brown, The Cosby Show, Crossing Jordan, and Taxi. He is also a voice actor for animated films and TV series, including Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., The Incredibles, Shawn’s early plays include Four Meals in May (1967), Our Late Night (1975), The Family Play (1978), Marie and Bruce (1978), and A Thought in Three Parts which caused a minor uproar in London in 1977 when the production was investigated by a vice squad and attacked in Parliament due to allegedly pornographic content. Among the best-known of his later plays are Aunt Dan and Lemon (1985), The Fever (1990), and The Designated Mourner (1997). Three of Shawn’s plays have been adapted into films: The Designated Mourner, Marie and Bruce, and The Fever, staring Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave.

Shawn has also written political commentary for The Nation, and in 2004 he published the one-issue-only progressive political magazine Final Edition, which features interviews with and articles by Jonathan Schell, Noam Chomsky, Mark Strand, and Deborah Eisenberg.

Shawn has written librettos for two operas composed by his brother Allen Shawn, In The Dark (1976), and The Music Teacher (1983).