Paula Shaw, an actress recognized for her roles in both horror films and Hallmark movies, passed away in her sleep on September 10, 2025, at her residence in Vancouver, British Columbia. She was 84 years old.
The Max workshop released a statement confirming Shaw’s death following a prolonged illness. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce Paula passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025 morning at 9:00 am,” the statement said. The organization highlighted Shaw’s impactful legacy through her transformative work and community contributions.
Born in the Bronx, New York, on July 17, 1941, Shaw began her acting career as a teenager at New York University’s Bronx campus before women were officially admitted. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts from Bard College, supported by a full scholarship.
Following her college education, Shaw trained with renowned acting instructor Uta Hagen for nine years, appearing in off-Broadway productions and summer theater. During “The Rainmaker,” she met actor James Mendenhall, and together they operated a summer theater called Playhouse-on-the-Mountain in Ellenville, New York, for three seasons. Her notable performances included roles in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “Rain.”
In the late 1960s, Shaw relocated to Los Angeles, California, for the West Coast premiere of Gus Weill’s play “Geese.” This led to her audition for Lee Strasberg, who offered her lifetime membership to The Actors Studio. This affiliation paved the way for television appearances on series such as “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Barney Miller,” “Three’s Company,” and “Lou Grant.”
Shaw’s film career included her role as Wulla Jean in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1982) alongside Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton, and an appearance in Christopher Nolan’s “Insomnia” (2002) with Al Pacino. Her television credits included “21 Jump Street,” “The X-Files,” “Supernatural,” and “Van Helsing.”
In the horror genre, Shaw was recognized for portraying Pamela Voorhees, Jason’s mother, in “Freddy vs. Jason” (2003), succeeding Betsy Palmer. She also appeared in other horror films like “Chupacabra Terror.”
Shaw gained a new audience on the Hallmark Channel, playing Charlotte Jeffers on “Cedar Cove” in 2013. This role led to her participation in several holiday films, including “Hanukkah on Rye,” “Picture a Perfect Christmas,” “A Mrs. Miracle Christmas,” and “Round and Round,” one of her last performances.
Hallmark writer Julie Sherman Wolfe shared memories of Shaw, stating, “We often chatted on FaceTime after she filmed Hanukkah on Rye, mostly about our shared heritage,” Wolfe wrote on Instagram. She mentioned Shaw as one of her honorary bubbies.
Besides acting, Shaw became a workshop leader in the 1970s through the personal growth movement. She led EST graduate seminars, which evolved to assist both actors and non-actors in overcoming personal challenges. Shaw described the integration of acting and healing as powerful, enabling her to push the boundaries of her identity and creativity.
For over 30 years, Shaw led “The Max: Stretching the Limits of Your Self-Expression” workshop at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. The course became essential for Esalen staff and was renowned as a challenging program. Shaw employed theater techniques, games, and personal growth strategies to help thousands explore their creativity and self-acceptance.
The Esalen Institute acknowledged Shaw’s contributions, stating she utilized a mix of theater techniques, improvisational games, and personal growth knowledge to facilitate a platform for thousands to discover, explore, and maximize their creativity and self-acceptance.
Shaw’s teachings impacted individuals beyond the United States, reaching Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. She credited Uta Hagen and Werner Erhard’s self-expression training as crucial to her workshop’s development. “Many years ago, Werner Erhard trained me in self-expression, and I have led many workshops, including THE MAX, since then,” Shaw stated.
Shaw divided her time among Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Big Sur, continuing her acting and workshop activities until recently. She portrayed Mrs. Byrne, a history teacher, on the Canadian sitcom “Mr. Young” from 2011 to 2013, spanning three seasons. Her career began with her first film role in 1969.
Shaw is survived by her sister Greta, brother-in-law Gary, nephew Nicholas, his wife Raphaela, their daughter Elowyn, and godchildren Marissa and David. Details of her memorial service will be available on The Max workshop website.
