10 Wallace Shawn movies and TV shows that you forgot you loved

Wallace Shawn is an American actor, essayist, screenwriter, and playwright and there are many Wallace Shawn movies and TV shows . Known for playing idiosyncratic or artistic roles, Shawn has had a lengthy career and became famous for his role in movies like The Princess Bride, Toy Story, and My Dinner with Andre. The actor has also appeared in other movies and shows like Young Sheldon, Manhattan, The Cosby Show, and more. Shawn is an acclaimed playwright as well and has written plays like Aunt Dan and Lemon, The Designated Mourner, and others. Here is a list of some of his movies and TV shows that one must watch.

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My Dinner with Andre, The Princess Bride, and other Wallace Shawn movies and TV shows

1. Southland Tales

Directed by Richard Kelly and starring Wallace Shawn, Dwayne Johnson, and others, this black comedy and dystopian thriller movie has a cult following. The movie is a biting satire on the military-industrial complex and the infotainment industry. Set in Los Angeles in 2008, the film offers ambitious and unwieldy commentary on post-9/11 America.

The movie focuses on Hollywood star Boxer Santaros (Johnson), who rebels against the totalitarian Republican Party because of his relationship with an adult film star. While the movie polarized critics and viewers, it does focus on serious themes like fascism. Shawn plays the role of a wealthy investor who is with the Republicans. He therefore portrays a man who has no morals and only cares about his profits. Known for his comic timing, Shawn gives a scene-stealing performance as he adds his touch of humor and leaves an impact even though Kelly’s narrative and dialogues are bizarre. It is therefore one of those Wallace Shawn movies and TV shows that one needs to watch to understand the actor’s caliber in elevating even the most implausible movies.

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2. The Bedroom Window

Starring Wallace Shawn, Steve Guttenberg, and others, this neo-noir psychological thriller is directed by Curtis Hanson and is based on the novel by Anne Holden. The movie focusses on Terry (Guttenberg), who is having an affair with his boss’s wife, Sylvia (Huppert).

However, when Sylvia sees an attack on a woman from Terry’s apartment window, Terry decides to falsely claim instead that he saw the attack and thus begins a web of lies and murder. While the movie had mixed reviews, some critics did note its strong plot and performances.

Shawn plays the role of a professional and no-nonsense prosecuting attorney who gives a stellar performance as he ruthlessly and chillingly grills Terry in court for his discrepancies. Shawn embodies the character of a lawyer who is hardened because of his years of practice and now only cares about his winning with precision. And even when he is grilling Terry, Shawn does not forget to add in his signature mix of humor to an otherwise serious movie. His humor is dry and witty and it is one of those Wallace Shawn movies and TV shows that one must watch.

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3. Young Sheldon

Created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro and starring Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, and others, this sitcom is a spin-off and a prequel to The Big Bang Theory and focusses exclusively on the titular character, Sheldon (Armitage), who grows up from a young child to a teenager and is known for his genius.

The series also revolves around the adventures of Sheldon’s family members that includes his grandmother or meemaw, his parents, and his siblings. While Wallace Shawn has appeared in guest roles in various sitcoms, this one is one where he has appeared the longest. Shawn plays the recurring role of Dr. Sturgis, who is the first mentor that Sheldon comes across on his quest to study science. His character is humorous and light-hearted and often forgets things. Shawn perfectly embodies his role and once again lends his humorous charm to the bumbling character of Dr. Sturgis. His character is also one of the love interests of Sheldon’s meemaw, which makes for some fun moments in the show.

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4. Vanya on 42nd Street

Directed by Louise Malle and starring Wallace Shawn, Julianne Moore, Jerry Mayer, and others, this comedy-drama movie interprets the play Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekhov, which was adapted by American writer David Mamet. The movie has a simple premise whereby several actors in New York City, rehearse Chekhov’s play in a rundown theatre.

The movie is written by Andre Gregory and the film has a unique approach where it combines film and theatre to state a point and look at the beauty of art. While other actors rehearse for their performance, Shawn plays the titular role and this allows him to showcase his full range and acting prowess. From humor to drama, Shawn gets lost in his role and delivers a deep and impactful performance. An engrossing and unique movie, Malle’s subtle direction brings out the best in all the actors of the movie and Shawn definitely steals the show with his ferocious performance.

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5. Manhattan

Starring Wallace Shawn, Diane Keaton, and others, and directed by Woody Allen, who also stars in it, this romantic comedy drama movie is about a divorced middle-aged man comedy writer (Allen), who is dating a 17-year-old girl, but falls for his best friend’s mistress, instead. Allen had a controversial reputation, however, his movies were able to get noticed by the critics and the viewers and this one also received positive responses. This is the first movie where Shawn got his first screen credit. He plays the role of Jeremiah, who is a New York socialite. As Shawn’s character indulges in parties that have riveting conversations around art and existence, Shawn’s stellar performance comes through. Shawn is known for his idiosyncrasies, and he therefore perfectly fit the part that Allen cut out for him with its clever and witty dialogues. Even though Shawn has a minor role in the movie, it is an early testament to the actor’s acting prowess, which would be seen in his later movies in a more defined form.

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6. Mozart in the Jungle

Based on the memoir by Blair Tindall, this comedy drama series is developed by Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Alex Timbers, and Paul Weitz. Starring Lola Kirke, Gael Garcia Bernal, and others, the series focusses on Rodrigo (Bernal), who is a new conductor of the New York Symphony and deals with his eccentric behavior, which some like and some loathe.

The series revolves around the world of art and music and all the insecurities that even the greatest artists can have in a competitive world. Wallace Shawn plays the character of Winslow Elliott, who is a famous but neurotic concert pianist. The role is perfect for the actor as he infuses his own idiosyncrasies’ into his character and delivers a riveting performance—even though he is the supporting actor. Shawn proves that movies about art is where he loves to be the most and he embodies the role he is given. The show is a balance of drama and comedy and Shawn lends a touch of magnificence to the show.

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7. The Princess Bride

Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Wallace Shawn, and others, this fantasy adventure comedy movie is based on a novel of the same name by William Goldman.

The movie opens with a sick young boy being read a fairytale story by his grandfather and the film the focusses on the story of a handsome farmhand, Westley (Cary), who must rescue his love, Princess Buttercup (Robin), from the Prince Humperdinck, along with his companions.

The movie gained steam and quickly became one of the most appreciated movies of the decade by critics and viewers. The film is still influential and regularly appears in several best movies lists. Shawn plays one of his most famous roles in this movie as he plays the part of Vizzini, who is a Sicilian criminal, hired to capture Buttercup. His scene with Westley, where he tries to outsmart him, thinking that he is a genius, is comedic gold.

The delivery of his catchphrase, “Inconceivable!”, is quoted till today. The movie highlighted Shawn’s strengths as a flustering and blubbering actor who can produce comedic relief. It is one of those Wallace Shawn movies and TV shows that one must watch.

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8. Clueless

Starring Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, and others, this coming-of-age teen comedy is written and directed by Amy Heckerling and is a loose adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, Emma.

The movie is about Cher (Silverstone), who is a rich, stylish, and a simple-headed teenager living in Beverly Hills. As one with a caring nature, Cher often gets involved in playing matchmaker for her teachers, befriending a newcomer and giving her a makeover, and finding her own way through love, life, and friendship. The movie gained popularity over the years and is now considered a cult film with many of its scenes and outfits, becoming a part of pop culture.

Wallace Shawn once again shines by displaying his comedic talents and plays the role of the teacher Mr. Wendell Hall in the movie and even though it is a short appearance, it is a charming one. His character is the first person on whom Cher applies her matchmaking skills and gives him his own lovable love story.

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9. All That Jazz

Directed by Bob Fosse and starring Roy Scheider, Jessica Lange, Wallace Shawn, and others, this musical drama movie is semi-autobiographical in nature as it captures aspects of Fosse’s own life and career as a dancer, choreographer, and a filmmaker. The movie focuses on Scheider’s character, Joe, who is an obsessive film and stage director and disregards his personal life to create the perfect musical. The movie was a critical and commercial success and received nine nominations at the Oscars. Once again, Shawn finds himself gravitating towards a role that explores the intricacies of art, obsession, and perfection. The actor plays the role of a ruthless and annoying insurance agent who conflicts with Gideon and causes him to sink deeper into despair. While most of the movie has touches of surrealism, characters like those of Shawn’s bring the film back to reality and portray the gritty, unvarnished reality of the world through their ruthlessness. Shawn gives a riveting performance even in a minor role and it is one of those Wallace Shawn movies and TV shows that one absolutely needs to watch.

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10. My Dinner with Andre

Starring Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory, this drama movie directed by Louis Malle, is one of the most famous works of Shawn. The movie has a unique premise whereby it focuses on Gregory and Shawn, who appear as fictionalized versions of themselves and have a lengthy conversation about various topics like theatre, experimental theatre, life, and Andre’s spiritual experiences as compared to Wallace’s humanism, over the course of a dinner. The movie is a meditation on various topics of human significance and emotional complexity. The movie was a personal project for Shawn as he wrote and starred in it with his friend, Andre. Filled with realistic dialogues, subtle humor, and a thought-provoking premise, this is one of Wallace Shawn’s best works till date. He lets go of his eccentric side and fully embodies the sincerity of his character, Wally. An avant-garde movie, Shawn gives a magnificent performance in his nuanced and charismatic portrayal and is one of those Wallace Shawn movies and TV shows that one needs to watch.