Biography
Jimmy Shaw is an American actor known for his work in film, television, and theatre. Born in Los Angeles and raised along the northern coast of Massachusetts, he moved to New York on a journalism scholarship to attend The School of Visual Arts. There, a classmate invited him to be a scene partner for an audition in Uta Hagen’s class at HB Studios. The scene was from Lyle Kessler’s "Orphans," and although Jimmy had no lines, he was surprised when he was accepted into the class based on his ability to listen and be present. From that moment, he realized he had found his true calling. He continued his training with notable instructors including Warren Robertson, Wynn Handman, Stephen Strimpell, Michael Shurtleff, and Alan Miller.
Shaw made his legitimate New York theatre debut playing Karel, a brainwashed Hitler youth, in Charles Busch’s popular Off-Broadway comedy "The Lady In Question" at The Orpheum Theatre. On television, he appeared in smaller roles on series such as "Major Dad," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Sisters," and "Will and Grace." In 2001, he traveled to Spain to study Spanish for three months and ended up staying after being offered a job as an English teacher.
He rose to international fame in the Spanish-speaking world with his recurring role as Matthew on Spain’s prime-time comedy hit "La Que Se Avecina," where he appeared for three seasons. He also portrayed Peter Fox in the acclaimed Spanish miniseries "El Tiempo Entre Costuras" (Netflix), showcasing his dramatic range and challenging his reputation as a comedic actor. Shaw has worked extensively in Spanish prime-time series and films, dividing his career between Madrid and Los Angeles.
Recently, he returned for a second season of the popular prime-time drama "El Ministerio del Tiempo" (Netflix) in a recurring role as Paul Walcott. Upcoming projects include starring roles in Alberto Rodriguez’s Goya-winning film "El Hombre de las Mil Caras" alongside Eduard Fernandez and Jose Coronado, Doug Spearman’s "From Zero To I Love You," and Miguel Angel Jimenez’s "The Night Watchman."
In 2008, Jimmy received critical acclaim for his solo portrayal of Christopher in James Carrol Pickett’s one-character play "Dream Man" at the Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles, directed by Michael Kearns. He also starred in productions of the same play in Dublin, Edinburgh, and Madrid.
