Wallace Shawn & Tom Needham on SOUNDS

SOUNDS

Wallace Shawn is a multifaceted American actor, playwright, and screenwriter known for his distinctive voice and thought-provoking works. As a playwright, he is celebrated for creating intellectually rigorous and often politically charged plays such as “The Designated Mourner,” “Aunt Dan and Lemon,” and “Our Late Night.” His writing, which explores themes of power, privilege, and the human condition, often straddles the line between comedy and existential drama. Shawn's unique style is marked by dense, poetic dialogue and a deep engagement with philosophical questions, making him a respected but sometimes polarizing figure in modern theater.

In addition to his writing, Shawn has enjoyed a prolific acting career in film and television. He is widely recognized for his roles in “The Princess Bride” as the comical villain Vizzini, and in “My Dinner with Andre,” a film he co-wrote and starred in, which is a meditative conversation on life, art, and society. His voice work in animated features, particularly as Rex in “Toy Story,” has also earned him a broad fan base. Shawn has occasionally directed as well, bringing his own works to the stage, but it is his writing and acting that have most defined his eclectic and enduring career.