Stan Shaw facts for kids

Stan Shaw (born July 14, 1952) is an American actor who has appeared in many popular movies and television shows. He is known for playing a variety of characters, from boxers and soldiers to detectives. You might recognize him from famous films like Rocky, The Monster Squad, and Fried Green Tomatoes.

Early Life and Martial Arts

Stan Shaw was born in Chicago, Illinois. His family was very musical. His father, Eddie Shaw, was a saxophone player, and his cousin was the famous soul singer Sam Cooke.

Before he became an actor, Shaw was an expert in martial arts. He taught karate, judo, and jujutsu in Chicago. He earned a black belt in both judo and jujutsu, and an even higher-level black belt in karate. This training helped him in many of his action roles later in his career.

Acting Career

Starting on Stage and Screen

Shaw began his acting career on the theater stage. He performed in the famous Broadway musical Hair. In 1974, he appeared in his first movie, Truck Turner.

In 1976, he starred in the baseball comedy The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings with other famous actors like James Earl Jones and Richard Pryor.

Famous Roles of the 1970s

One of Shaw's most memorable early roles was in the classic 1976 movie Rocky. He played a rival boxer named "Big Dipper" Brown, who challenges Rocky Balboa.

Two years later, he starred in the war movie The Boys in Company C. The film followed a group of young men training to be Marines during the Vietnam War. In 1979, he played an important part in the TV miniseries Roots: The Next Generations, which told the story of a family's history.

Shaw believed in choosing his roles carefully. He wanted to build a long-lasting career by playing interesting characters in great stories.

A Busy Actor in the 80s and 90s

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Stan Shaw was a very busy actor. He often played tough, action-oriented characters.

• In Runaway (1984), he appeared in a science-fiction action film.
• In The Monster Squad (1987), he played Detective Sapir, a police officer who helps a group of kids fight classic monsters.
• In Harlem Nights (1989), he played a boxer named Jack Jenkins in a comedy set in the 1930s.
• In Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), he played the character Big George in this popular drama.
• In Cutthroat Island (1995), he played a pirate named Mr. Glasspoole alongside Geena Davis.
• In Daylight (1996), he played George Tyrell, a tunnel safety officer caught in a disaster.
• In Snake Eyes (1998), he played a heavyweight boxing champion.

He also appeared in many TV shows, including Hill Street Blues, Wiseguy, and several episodes of Murder, She Wrote.

Recent Work

After 2000, Shaw continued to act in both movies and television. He had guest roles on popular shows like The X-Files and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

In 2017, he returned to the big screen as Sheriff Dan Tashtego in the horror movie Jeepers Creepers 3. More recently, he has appeared in the TV drama series The Family Business and had a recurring role on the medical show Chicago Med in 2023.