Lin Shaye
Acting
Biography
Lin Shaye (born October 12, 1943) is an American actress. In a career spanning over fifty years, Shaye has appeared in more than a hundred feature films. She is regarded as a scream queen due to her roles in various horror productions, which include the films Alone in the Dark (1982), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Critters (1986) and its sequel Critters 2: The Main Course (1988), Amityville: A New Generation (1993), Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994), Dead End (2003), 2001 Maniacs (2005) and its sequel 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams (2010), Ouija (2014) and its prequel Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016), Tales of Halloween (2015), Abattoir (2016), The Final Wish (2018), Room for Rent (2019), The Grudge (2019), Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman (2021), and the Insidious film series (2010–2026).
Shaye is also well known for her comedic roles in numerous films by the Farrelly brothers, including Dumb and Dumber (1994), Kingpin (1996), There's Something About Mary (1998), Detroit Rock City (1999), Me, Myself & Irene (2000), Stuck on You (2003), and The Three Stooges (2012).
Description above from the Wikipedia article Lin Shaye, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Lin Shaye
Insidious
2011
Filmography
Acting (189)
2026
Insidious: Out of the Furtheras Elise Rainier
6.5
2026
Scared to Deathas Max
6.1
2025
1000 Women in Horroras Self
6.8
2025
9.5
2024
The Last Stand of Ellen Coleas Ellen
8.2
2023
Insidious: The Red Dooras Elise Rainier
6.5
6.6
2022
Remoteas Kane
2022
We Are Gathered Here Todayas Jean Cole
6.0
2022
Living with Chuckyas Self
6.6
2022
The Quarry: Movie Modeas Constance Hackett
10.0
2022
Frank and Penelopeas Ophelia
7.4
2022
Pinesas Julie (voice)
8.7
2021
Ted Bundy: American Boogeymanas Mrs. Bundy
6.6
2020
The Callas Edith Cranston
5.4
2020
The Horror Crowdas Self
5.7
2020
Max Reload and the Nether Blastersas Mrs. Wylder
5.8
2020
The Voicesas The Vagabond
5.4
2020
Dreamkatcheras Ruth
5.2
2020
Darkness Fallsas Angela Anderson
5.4
2019
The Grudgeas Faith Matheson
5.4
2019
Gothic Harvestas Griselda
3.6
2019
Ambitionas Lady Bum
5.0
2019
Get Goneas Mama
4.3
2019
Room for Rentas Joyce
6.4
2019
The Final Wishas Kate Hammond
5.0
2018
Herbert West: Reanimatoras Meredith
4.7
2018
2018
2018
Los Angeles Overnightas Cousins
4.6
2018
Insidious: The Last Keyas Elise Rainier
6.3
2017
All About the Moneyas Mrs. Womack
5.4
2017
Buster's Mal Heartas Pauline
6.1
2017
The Black Roomas Miss Black
3.8
2017
Grow Houseas Mrs. Gilliam
6.0
2017
Mountain Topas Muriel Miller
7.4
2016
Abattoiras Allie
4.5
2016
Ouija: Origin of Evilas Old Paulina Zander
6.2
2016
The Midnight Manas Anna
5.8
2016
Director's Cutas Captain Wheeler
6.0
2016
Texas Heartas Mrs. Smith
4.7
2016
Jack Goes Homeas Teresa
5.2
2015
Tales of Halloweenas Lynn's Mother
5.7
2015
Helen Keller vs. Nightwolvesas Helen Keller
5.1
2015
Insidious: Chapter 3as Elise Rainier
6.3
2015
Don Quixote: The Ingenious Gentleman of La Manchaas The Grand Lady
5.4
2014
Graceas Helen
5.0
2014
Ouijaas Paulina Zander
5.1
2014
Lost Timeas Mysterious Woman
3.3
2014
The Signalas Mirabelle
6.0
2013
All American Christmas Carolas Barbara Belnap
4.2
2013
Big Ass Spider!as Mrs. Jefferson
5.6
2013
Insidious: Chapter 2as Elise Rainier
6.7
2013
Crazy Kind of Loveas Denise Mack
5.4
2013
Noobzas Mrs. Theodore
5.8
2012
Life's an Itchas Gloria
3.0
2012
Matchmaker Santaas Debbie
5.7
2012
FDR: American Badass!as Eleanor Roosevelt
5.1
2012
3 Days of Normalas May
4.3
2012
Jewtopiaas Dr. Sutton
4.7
2012
The Three Stoogesas Nurse Crotchet
5.8
2012
Waffle Hutas Jerrie Wolf
2011
Rosewood Laneas Mrs. Hawthorne
4.7
2011
Chilleramaas Baglady / Nurse Maleva
5.7
2011
A Good Old Fashioned Orgyas Dody
5.9
5.8
2011
Insidiousas Elise Rainier
7.0
2011
Take Me Homeas Jill
6.5
2011
Sedonaas Claire
5.6
2011
Goldberg - P.I.as Violet
2010
Farewell Mr. Kringleas Zelda
6.2
6.3
2010
Next Stop Murderas Detective Reeson
6.6
2010
The Accidental Death of Joey by Sueas Mrs. Rawlings
1.0
2010
Small Town Saturday Nightas Phyllis Ryan
5.2
2010
7.8
2010
Pickin' and Grinnin'as Bonnie Johnson
2.0
2010
2001 Maniacs: Field of Screamsas Granny Boone
3.8
2010
The Penthouseas Frances
3.4
2010
Killer by Natureas Leona
3.1
2010
VideoDome Rent-O-Ramaas The Lush
2009
Dark Moon Risingas Sunny
4.5
2009
Stuntmenas Bumble Jackson
3.4
2009
American Cowslipas Lou Anne
5.1
2009
My Sister's Keeperas Nurse Adele
7.4
2008
Doggie Heavenas Woman
5.1
2008
Starz Inside: In the Gutteras Self
4.5
2008
Chronic Townas Nurse
6.0
2008
Asylumas String's Mother
4.1
2008
Killer Padas Marge
3.8
2007
Chasing Robertas Martha the Bookie
2.0
2007
The Electionas The Wife
7.0
2007
Homo Erectusas Museum Guide
4.0
2007
Pledge This!as Miss Prin
2.9
2007
6.0
2007
5.0
2006
Driftwoodas Nancy Forrester
4.5
2006
Surf Schoolas Larry's Mom
2.8
2006
Down the P.C.H.as Wendy O'Hara
4.3
2006
Snakes on a Planeas Grace
5.5
2006
Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horroras Clara
4.8
2006
Bachelor Party Vegasas Cassandra
4.9
2006
Hoboken Hollowas Mrs. Brodrick
3.8
2006
7.0
2006
Unbeatable Haroldas Jeannie
5.0
2005
2001 Maniacsas Granny Boone
5.4
2005
Drop Dead Sexyas Ma Muzzy
4.9
2005
Confessions of an Action Staras Samantha Jones
4.3
2005
Hate Crimeas Kathleen Slansky
5.7
2005
Born Killersas Willow
5.3
2004
The Hillside Strangleras Jenny Buono
5.1
2004
Cellularas Exotic Car Driver
6.4
2004
A Cinderella Storyas Mrs. Wells
6.6
2004
The Almost Guysas Repo Boss
6.8
2004
Who's Your Daddy?as Ms. Harding
4.9
2003
Dead Endas Laura Harrington
6.4
2003
Stuck on Youas Makeup Babe
5.4
2003
Barely Legalas Tequlia
5.9
2003
4.2
2003
ManFastas Marge
4.1
2002
Boat Tripas Sonya the Coach
5.2
2002
Wish You Were Deadas Jinny Macintosh
5.0
2002
Contagionas Laura Crowley
4.2
2001
A Letter from My Fatheras Elise
2001
Say It Isn't Soas Nurse Bautista
4.8
2001
4.5
2000
Attention Shoppersas Libby
4.3
2000
Me, Myself & Ireneas Mrs. Caleron
6.6
1999
Detroit Rock Cityas Mrs. Bruce
6.8
1998
Living Out Loudas Lisa's Nurse
6.0
1998
There's Something About Maryas Magda
6.6
1998
Breakfast with Einsteinas Miss Desmond
4.1
1997
Trading Favorsas Darla
4.6
1996
Last Man Standingas The Madame
6.4
1996
Kingpinas Landlady
6.5
1996
Project: ALFas Waitress
6.0
1995
Nature of the Beastas Carol Powell
5.9
1995
Trial by Fireas Phyliis Cardell
5.5
1995
Sketch Artist II: Hands That Seeas Bonnie
6.0
1994
Dumb and Dumberas Mrs. Neugeboren
6.7
1994
6.3
1994
Wes Craven's New Nightmareas Nurse with Pills
6.5
1994
Corrina, Corrinaas Repeat Nanny
6.7
1994
Even Cowgirls Get the Bluesas Rubber Rose Maid
4.3
1994
In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeanceas Foreman #2
5.7
1993
Brain Smasher... A Love Storyas Make up Artist
5.2
1993
The Hidden IIas Carol Miller (archive footage)
3.8
1993
Amityville: A New Generationas Nurse Turner
4.3
1993
Three of Heartsas Operator
4.9
1993
The Tempas Rosemary
4.8
1993
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1as Witness
6.1
1992
Roadside Prophetsas Celeste
5.6
1991
Critters 3as Sal (archive footage)
5.3
1990
Pump Up the Volumeas PTA Parent #3
7.1
1990
Book of Loveas Mrs. Flynn
5.5
1988
Lucky Stiffas Bratty Kid's Mom
4.6
1988
Critters 2as Sal
6.2
1987
The Running Manas Propaganda Officer
6.5
1987
The Hiddenas Carol Miller
6.9
1987
Mistressas Woman Customer
4.3
1987
Slam Danceas Librarian
4.9
1987
My Demon Loveras Anemic Counter Girl
5.3
1987
Extreme Prejudiceas Employment Office Clerk
6.3
1987
6.6
1986
Crittersas Sally
6.5
1985
Brewster's Millionsas Journalist at Rally
6.6
1984
A Nightmare on Elm Streetas Teacher
7.4
1984
Summer Fantasyas Woman on Beach
5.3
1984
5.6
1982
Alone in the Darkas Receptionist at Haven
5.8
1982
Jekyll and Hyde... Together Againas Nurse with Telegram
5.0
1980
10.0
1980
The Long Ridersas Kate
6.7
1979
The Seeding of Sarah Burnsas 2nd Nurse
7.5
1979
The Triangle Factory Fire Scandalas Freida
7.2
1978
Goin' Southas Parasol Lady
5.8
1977
A Secret Spaceas Amy
9.0
1977
Sex and the Married Womanas Sandra
4.0
1975
Hester Streetas Whore
6.3
—
The Old Worldas The Aunt (voice)
—
Carrieras Joan Pierson
—
—
Dead of Nowhere 3Das Meemaw
1.0
—
Devotedas Aunt Dottie
—
Jackson's Holeas Netter
Production & Directing (5)
2026
Scared to DeathExecutive Producer
6.1
2025
House of AbrahamExecutive Producer
9.5
2024
The Last Stand of Ellen ColeExecutive Producer
8.2
2020
DreamkatcherExecutive Producer
5.2
2019
Room for RentCo-Producer
6.4