Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Lin Shaye loved "storytelling" so much, even as a child and knew that she was destined to act. She performed in plays at the University of Michigan where she was an art history major, but missing the theater so much, was accepted into Columbia University's Master of Fine Arts program in acting, from which she graduated. While in NY she also studied with Uta Hagan, Stella Adler, and Lee Strasberg. After graduation, she worked with the best and brightest in New York theater, including the infamous Joseph Papp. Some of the highlights include "Tartuffe" at the New York Shakespeare Festival, and "The Taking ofMiss Janie" at Lincoln Center (which won the NY Drama Critics Award).Shaye made her film debut in New York in "Hester Street" where she portrayed a Polish prostitute, to her mother's chagrin.
Shortly thereafter, she flew to Los Angeles after hearing that Jack Nicholson was interested in meeting her for the role. She was cast in his film "Goin' South." Upon her move to Los Angeles, her love of theater inspired her and twelve other actors to put together a theater company called the Los Angeles Theater Unit which lasted for a decade and earned many awards. Her most memorable performance was in the original play "Be Per Days" which earned her a Drama‐Logue Award for Best Actress. Lin has become undoubtedly one of the industry's greatest chameleons. The Farrelly Brothers cast her in a series of memorable characters beginning with their 1994 hit comedy "Dumb and Dumber", on to the infamous landlady in "Kingpin" opposite Woody Harrelson, and then as 'Magda,' the sun‐withered neighbor of Cameron Diaz in their hit "There's Something About Mary." Shaye was also unforgettable as the KISS‐hating mom in "Detroit Rock City" and as Sonia, the tough German/Swedish coach in "Boat Trip". In a dramatic change of pace, she received critical acclaim in "The Hillside Strangler" as the alcoholic mother.
The horror genre also found Lin, starting with a cult favorite, "Critters" and then onto Wes Craven's "Nightmare on Elm Street" which paved the way for more in the genre. She worked on a trio of movies with director Tim Sullivan:, "2001 Maniacs," starring opposite Robert Englund, its sequel, "2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams" and Sullivan's "Chillerama." Shaye also starred in the thriller "Snakes on a Plane" opposite Samuel L. Jackson, and the independent films "The Signal" starring Lawrence Fishburn, "Jack Goes Home," "Abattoir," "Buster's Mal Heart," and "The Midnight Man."
In 2010 she found herself in the blockbuster hit "Insidious" with director James Wan, which led to "Insidious Chapter 2," "Insidious: Chapter 3," and "Insidious: The Last Key" in which she now had become according to James Wan: "the name of the franchise." Upcoming film releases include "Room for Rent" which she also serves as co‐producer, "Anderson Falls," "Get Gone" and the highly anticipated horror film "The Grudge" reimagining written and directed by Nicolas Pesce.
Shaye has a solid resume in television as well with guest appearances most recently on "American Gothic" and "Still the King".She resides in Los Angeles and is a lifetime member of the Actor's Studio.