Paula Shaw, an actress recognized for her roles in horror and Hallmark films, passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 10, 2025, at her Vancouver, British Columbia, home. She was 84.
Shaw succumbed to an extended illness, according to The Max workshop’s statement. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce Paula passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025 morning at 9:00 am,” the statement read. The organization highlighted her impact through her transformative work and her lasting legacy in the communities she fostered.
Born in the Bronx, New York City, on July 17, 1941, Shaw began acting during her teenage years at NYU’s Bronx campus before women were officially admitted. She later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts from Bard College on a full scholarship.
Post-college, Shaw studied under renowned acting teacher Uta Hagen for nine years, performing in off-Broadway productions and summer theater. While working on “The Rainmaker,” she met actor James Mendenhall, and they co-managed a summer theater, Playhouse-on-the-Mountain, in Ellenville, New York, for three seasons. Shaw starred in significant productions like “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “Rain.”
Shaw relocated to Los Angeles, California, in the late 1960s for the West Coast premiere of Gus Weill’s “Geese,” which led her to audition for Lee Strasberg. Strasberg invited her to join The Actors Studio as a lifetime member, facilitating her television appearances on shows like “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Barney Miller,” “Three’s Company,” and “Lou Grant.”
Her film career featured roles such 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 repertoire expanded to include “21 Jump Street,” “The X-Files,” “Supernatural,” and “Van Helsing.”
Shaw is well-remembered by horror enthusiasts for portraying Pamela Voorhees, Jason’s mother, in “Freddy vs. Jason” (2003), succeeding Betsy Palmer. She also appeared in other horror films, including “Chupacabra Terror.”
Through the Hallmark Channel, Shaw reached new audiences, portraying Charlotte Jeffers on “Cedar Cove” in 2013. This role led to several holiday films, including “Hanukkah on Rye,” “Picture a Perfect Christmas,” “A Mrs. Miracle Christmas,” and “Round and Round,” one of her final performances.
Hallmark writer Julie Sherman Wolfe shared fond memories of Shaw. “We often chatted on FaceTime after she filmed Hanukkah on Rye, mostly about our shared heritage,” Wolfe wrote on Instagram, noting that Shaw would always be one of her honorary bubbies.
Apart from acting, Shaw became a workshop leader in the 1970s through the personal growth movement. She started leading EST graduate seminars, which evolved into helping both actors and the general public overcome personal barriers. Shaw described how acting and healing intertwined for her, finding that well-being and self-fulfillment came from challenging her personal boundaries.
Shaw developed and led “The Max: Stretching the Limits of Your Self-Expression” workshop at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, for over 30 years. The course became a requirement for Esalen staff and maintained a reputation as one of the institute’s most challenging offerings. Using theater techniques, games, and personal growth methods, Shaw developed a program that enabled thousands of people to discover their creativity and foster self-acceptance.
The Esalen Institute remembered Shaw’s contributions in a statement. Officials said she used a blend of theater technique, improvisational games, and personal growth expertise to create and facilitate a platform for thousands of people to discover, traverse, and maximize the reaches of their creativity and self-acceptance.
Shaw’s teaching had a lasting impact that extended beyond the United States to Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. She considered herself a student of Uta Hagen and credited Werner Erhard’s training in self-expression as foundational to her development of the workshop. “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 to act and conduct workshops until recently. She starred as Mrs. Byrne, a history teacher, on the Canadian sitcom “Mr. Young” from 2011 to 2013, spanning three seasons. Her career spanned decades, beginning 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.
