Biography
Who is Vinessa Shaw?
Early life and education
Vinessa Elizabeth Shaw was born in Los Angeles, California. Her parents are Susan Damante and Larry Shaw. She has a sister named Natalie Shaw. Her father worked as a psychologist and taught at Antioch University. The family raised her in the Nichiren Buddhist faith. She attended Barnard College in New York City.
She initially felt lonely and depressed during her first year of college in 1996. This led her to practice chanting daimoku daily as part of her Buddhist faith. She also serves as a facilitator for the SGI-USA lay Buddhist Association. Before finding fame, she signed with the Elite Models agency in 1989 at age 13. She also performed in a UCLA acting camp short at age 10 and toured with folk singer Peter Alsop at age 11.
Acting career beginnings
Her first feature film role was in the 1981 slasher movie Home Sweet Home. This film depicted a serial killer during Thanksgiving. She later appeared in the 1991 NBC television film Long Road Home. This project served as her debut in television.
In 1992, she acted in the family sports comedy Ladybugs opposite Jonathan Brandis. The film gained an audience through television broadcasts. In 1993, she played a teenager in the Disney Halloween film Hocus Pocus. She acted alongside Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. Her character lived in a town taken over by witches on Halloween. The film became a popular project with a significant fanbase in later years.
Transition to adult roles
In 1998, she starred in the comedy-drama L.A. Without a Map with David Tennant. While attending college, she secured a role in Stanley Kubrick's 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut. She played a prostitute encountered by Tom Cruise. Kubrick encouraged her to continue her acting career. She subsequently appeared in Kathryn Bigelow's mystery-drama The Weight of Water in 2000. She played a Norwegian immigrant in that film.
She starred opposite Chris Kattan in the 2001 film Corky Romano. In 2002, she played an ex-girlfriend in the comedy 40 Days and 40 Nights. She also had a minor part in Woody Allen's 2004 film Melinda and Melinda.
Later career and television
In 2006, she appeared in the remake of The Hills Have Eyes. She played a young mother attacked by mutants in the desert. She also acted as a barmaid in the 2007 western 3:10 to Yuma with Russell Crowe. She appeared in the independent films Garden Party and Stag Night. In 2008, she starred in the romantic drama Two Lovers with Joaquin Phoenix. This film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2013, she performed in the thriller Side Effects. She appeared in the 2014 biopic Electric Slide and the crime thriller Cold in July. She joined the cast of the Showtime drama Ray Donovan for its second season. She starred as a psychiatrist in the 2017 film Clinical. In 2021, she acted in the sports drama 12 Mighty Orphans and the psychological horror film We Need to Do Something. She also guest-starred in Swagger in 2023 and appeared in Yellowstone and Cruel Intentions in 2024.
Family and relationships
Vinessa Shaw married Kristopher Gifford on November 30, 2007. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in February 2018. They separated on October 25, 2023. Kristopher Gifford filed for divorce in May 2025.
Birthday and age
Vinessa Shaw was born on July 19, 1976, which makes Vinessa 50 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Vinessa shares the date with 26 other famous people.
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