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Lin Shaye

Lin Shaye

Actor, also producer · Born October 12, 1943 (83) · Detroit, Michigan, USA

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.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 12, 1943 (83)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
148 on Motif · 197 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 20% in 30 days

What are Lin Shaye's films like?

Across their 78 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy22 titlesTypical Motif score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror21 titlesTypical Motif score: 13th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Drama10 titlesTypical Motif score: 28th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime9 titlesTypical Motif score: 36th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure7 titlesTypical Motif score: 25th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Action5 titlesTypical Motif score: 34th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Fantasy2 titlesTypical Motif score: 8th percentile
: browse their Fantasy movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
32%
Bonds
22%
Self
20%
Morality
16%
Society
5%
Ideas
2%
Power
2%
Survival26 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds19 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity15 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception9 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 78 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 30 · Serious 15 · Dark 33

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 34 · Stylized 31 · Heightened 13

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 14 · Charged 28 · Intense 36

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 25 · Shifting 42 · Whiplash 11

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 43 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 18

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 22 · Even-paced 51 · Relentless 5

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 38 · Engaged 31 · Full focus 9

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 34 · Affecting 27 · Heavy 17

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 49 · Open-ended 22 · Ambiguous 7

Roles they play

30 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 6 of 30 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
6 of 30
Shadow
6 of 30
Hero
5 of 30
Mentor
4 of 30
Herald
4 of 30
Ally
3 of 30
Trickster
2 of 30
Show the 30 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
55
Dread
39
Absurd
21
Melancholic
21
Warm
11
Other
55

How their films linger

Unsettling39 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 24 with a twist

  • Happy21
  • Bittersweet25
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous28

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lin Shaye's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 111 of their 148 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (80).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lin Shaye's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

197 credits, 148 with a Motif page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Insidious: Out of the Further(2026)

    as Elise Rainier

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Scared to Death(2024)

    Executive Producer · as Max

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all films

  • House of Abraham(2025)

    Executive Producer · Actor

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Common Side Effects(2024)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sonia (voice)

    Motif score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Stand of Ellen Cole (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2024)

    Executive Producer · as Ellen

  • Insidious: The Red Door(2023)

    as Elise Rainier

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Remote (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    as Kane

  • We Are Gathered Here Today(2022)

    as Jean Cole

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Quarry: Movie Mode (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2022)

    as Constance Hackett

  • Frank and Penelope(2022)

    as Ophelia

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Pines(2022)

    as Julie (voice)

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman(2021)

    as Mrs. Bundy

    Motif score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Call(2020)

    as Edith Cranston

    Motif score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Max Reload and the Nether Blasters(2020)

    as Mrs. Wylder

    Motif score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Voices(2020)

    as The Vagabond

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Dreamkatcher(2020)

    Executive Producer · as Ruth

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Penny Dreadful: City of Angels(2020)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dottie Minter

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Darkness Falls(2020)

    as Angela Anderson

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Grudge(2019)

    as Faith Matheson

    Motif score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Gothic Harvest(2018)

    as Griselda

    Motif score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Ambition (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2019)

    as Lady Bum

  • Get Gone(2019)

    as Mama

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Room for Rent(2019)

    Co-Producer · as Joyce

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Final Wish(2018)

    as Kate Hammond

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Herbert West: Reanimator (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2018)

    as Meredith

  • Los Angeles Overnight(2018)

    as Cousins

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Insidious: The Last Key(2018)

    as Elise Rainier

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • All About the Money(2017)

    as Mrs. Womack

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Buster's Mal Heart(2016)

    as Pauline

    Motif score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Black Room(2017)

    as Miss Black

    Motif score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Grow House(2017)

    as Mrs. Gilliam

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Mountain Top(2017)

    as Muriel Miller

    Motif score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Abattoir(2016)

    as Allie

    Motif score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Ouija: Origin of Evil(2016)

    as Old Paulina Zander

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Midnight Man(2016)

    as Anna

    Motif score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Director's Cut(2016)

    as Captain Wheeler

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Texas Heart(2016)

    as Mrs. Smith

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Jack Goes Home(2016)

    as Teresa

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Tales of Halloween(2015)

    as Lynn's Mother

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves(2015)

    as Helen Keller

    Motif score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Insidious: Chapter 3(2015)

    as Elise Rainier

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Don Quixote(2015)

    as The Grand Lady

    Motif score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Grace: The Possession(2014)

    as Helen

    Motif score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Ouija(2014)

    as Paulina Zander

    Motif score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Lost Time (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2014)

    as Mysterious Woman

  • The Signal(2014)

    as Mirabelle

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all films

  • All American Christmas Carol(2013)

    as Barbara Belnap

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Big Ass Spider!(2013)

    as Mrs. Jefferson

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Insidious: Spectral Sightings (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · as Elise

  • Insidious: Chapter 2(2013)

    as Elise Rainier

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Crazy Kind of Love(2013)

    as Denise Mack

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Noobz(2012)

    as Mrs. Theodore

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Eastsiders(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Diane

    Motif score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • Life's an Itch(2012)

    as Gloria

    Motif score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Matchmaker Santa(2012)

    as Debbie

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • FDR: American Badass!(2012)

    as Eleanor Roosevelt

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all films

  • 3 Days of Normal(2012)

    as May

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Jewtopia(2012)

    as Dr. Sutton

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Three Stooges(2012)

    as Nurse Crotchet

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Waffle Hut (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2012)

    as Jerrie Wolf

  • The Rosewood Lane(2011)

    as Mrs. Hawthorne

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Chillerama(2011)

    as Baglady / Nurse Maleva

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • A Good Old Fashioned Orgy(2011)

    as Dody

    Motif score: 44th percentile of all films

  • I Was a Teenage Werebear (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • Insidious(2010)

    as Elise Rainier

    Motif score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Take Me Home(2011)

    as Jill

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Sedona(2011)

    as Claire

    Motif score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Goldberg - P.I. (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2011)

    as Violet

  • Farewell Mr. Kringle(2010)

    as Zelda

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Black Limousine(2010)

    Actor

    Motif score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Next Stop Murder(2010)

    as Detective Reeson

    Motif score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Accidental Death of Joey by Sue (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Mrs. Rawlings

  • Small Town Saturday Night(2010)

    as Phyllis Ryan

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Pickin' and Grinnin' (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Bonnie Johnson

  • 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams(2010)

    as Granny Boone

    Motif score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Penthouse (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as Frances

  • Killer by Nature(2010)

    as Leona

    Motif score: 6th percentile of all films

  • VideoDome Rent-O-Rama (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2010)

    as The Lush

  • Dark Moon Rising(2009)

    as Sunny

    Motif score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Stuntmen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    as Bumble Jackson

  • American Cowslip (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2009)

    as Lou Anne

  • My Sister's Keeper(2009)

    as Nurse Adele

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Doggie Heaven (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    as Woman

  • Chronic Town (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    as Nurse

  • Asylum(2008)

    as String's Mother

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Killer Pad (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2008)

    as Marge

  • Private Practice(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Taylor

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Chasing Robert (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as Martha the Bookie

  • The Election (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2007)

    as The Wife

  • Homo Erectus(2007)

    as Museum Guide

    Motif score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Pledge This!(2006)

    as Miss Prin

    Motif score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Driftwood (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    as Nancy Forrester

  • Down the P.C.H. (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2006)

    as Wendy O'Hara

  • Surf School(2006)

    as Larry's Mom

    Motif score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Snakes on a Plane(2006)

    as Grace

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Hood of Horror(2006)

    as Clara

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Vegas, Baby(2006)

    as Cassandra

    Motif score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Hoboken Hollow(2006)

    as Mrs. Brodrick

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Unbeatable Harold(2006)

    as Jeannie

    Motif score: 20th percentile of all films

  • My Name Is Earl(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul's Mom

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • 2001 Maniacs(2005)

    as Granny Boone

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Drop Dead Sexy(2005)

    as Ma Muzzy

    Motif score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Sledge: The Untold Story(2005)

    as Samantha Jones

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Hate Crime(2005)

    as Kathleen Slansky

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Born Killers(2005)

    as Willow

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Hillside Strangler (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Jenny Buono

  • Cellular(2004)

    as Exotic Car Driver

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • A Cinderella Story(2004)

    as Mrs. Wells

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Almost Guys (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2004)

    as Repo Boss

  • Who's Your Daddy?(2002)

    as Ms. Harding

    Motif score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Dead End(2003)

    as Laura Harrington

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Stuck on You(2003)

    as Makeup Babe

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Barely Legal(2003)

    as Tequlia

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd(2003)

    as Margie

    Motif score: 1st percentile of all films

  • ManFast (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2003)

    as Marge

  • Boat Trip(2002)

    as Sonya the Coach

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Wish You Were Dead(2001)

    as Jinny Macintosh

    Motif score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Contagion(2002)

    as Laura Crowley

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • A Letter from My Father (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    as Elise

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Leather Lauren

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Say It Isn't So(2001)

    as Nurse Bautista

    Motif score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Without Charlie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Attention Shoppers (not in the Motif catalog yet)(2000)

    as Libby

  • Me, Myself & Irene(2000)

    as Mrs. Caleron

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Detroit Rock City(1999)

    as Mrs. Bruce

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Becker (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Cooper

  • Living Out Loud(1998)

    as Lisa's Nurse

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • There's Something About Mary(1998)

    as Magda

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Breakfast with Einstein (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Miss Desmond

  • Perversions of Science (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

  • Trading Favors (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1997)

    as Darla

  • Last Man Standing(1996)

    as The Madame

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Arli$$(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Shurja

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Kingpin(1996)

    as Landlady

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Project: ALF(1996)

    as Waitress

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Nature of the Beast(1995)

    as Carol Powell

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Trial by Fire(1995)

    as Phyliis Cardell

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Sketch Artist II: Hands That See(1995)

    as Bonnie

    Motif score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Dumb and Dumber(1994)

    as Mrs. Neugeboren

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter(1992)

    as Inmate

    Motif score: 71st percentile of all films

  • New Nightmare(1994)

    as Nurse with Pills

    Motif score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • My So-Called Life(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Parent #2

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Corrina, Corrina(1994)

    as Repeat Nanny

    Motif score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Even Cowgirls Get the Blues(1993)

    as Rubber Rose Maid

    Motif score: 9th percentile of all films

  • In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance(1994)

    as Foreman #2

    Motif score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Brain Smasher... A Love Story(1993)

    as Make up Artist

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Anne

    Motif score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Hidden II(1993)

    as Carol Miller (archive footage)

    Motif score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Amityville: A New Generation(1993)

    as Nurse Turner

    Motif score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Three of Hearts(1993)

    as Operator

    Motif score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Temp(1993)

    as Rosemary

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Loaded Weapon 1(1993)

    as Witness

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Roadside Prophets (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    as Celeste

  • Critters 3(1991)

    as Sal (archive footage)

    Motif score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Pump Up the Volume(1990)

    as PTA Parent #3

    Motif score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Book of Love(1990)

    as Mrs. Flynn

    Motif score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Life Goes On (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Parent #2

  • Lucky Stiff(1988)

    as Bratty Kid's Mom

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Critters 2: The Main Course(1988)

    as Sal

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Running Man(1987)

    as Propaganda Officer

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Hidden(1987)

    as Carol Miller

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Mistress (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    as Woman Customer

  • Slam Dance(1987)

    as Librarian

    Motif score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Extreme Prejudice(1987)

    as Employment Office Clerk

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • My Demon Lover(1987)

    as Anemic Counter Girl

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Stillwatch (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Critters(1986)

    as Sally

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Kate Simmons (segment "Chameleon")

  • Brewster's Millions(1985)

    as Journalist at Rally

    Motif score: 60th percentile of all films

  • A Nightmare on Elm Street(1984)

    as Teacher

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Who's the Boss?(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Padnick

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Lila Barnes

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Summer Fantasy(1984)

    as Woman on Beach

    Motif score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Why Me? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • Alone in the Dark(1982)

    as Receptionist at Haven

    Motif score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again(1982)

    as Nurse with Telegram

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Secretary

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Smoking Female Prisoner

    Motif score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • A Cry for Love(1980)

    Actor

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Long Riders(1980)

    as Kate

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Seeding of Sarah Burns(1979)

    as 2nd Nurse

    Motif score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal(1979)

    as Freida

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Goin' South(1978)

    as Parasol Lady

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • A Secret Space (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1977)

    as Amy

  • Sex and the Married Woman(1977)

    as Sandra

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Eight Is Enough(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Band Member

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Hester Street(1975)

    as Whore

    Motif score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Before Memory (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Carrier (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    as Joan Pierson

  • Dead of Nowhere 3D (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    as Meemaw

  • Devoted (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    as Aunt Dottie

  • Jackson's Hole (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    as Netter

  • Mascotland (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Bench (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    Actor

  • The Old World (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    as The Aunt (voice)

  • The Possession at Gladstone Manor (not in the Motif catalog yet)

    as Nurse

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 197 titles, 188 of them dated from 1975 to 2026; peak year 2019.

Biggest box office

There's Something About Mary (1998)

$370M worldwide

Highest rated

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Motif 93rd

Film career

19752026

Peak 2019 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 39 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting197 of 197: 192 only acting, 5 with another role · typical Motif score31stProducing5 of 197: 0 only producing, 5 with another role

197 titles, 5 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 5 of them.

By decade

1970s7 · acting1980s24 · acting1990s33 · acting2000s46 · acting2010s60 · 60 acting · 1 crew2020s18 · 18 acting · 4 crew

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 5% of 95 roles
758590950005101520

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Lin Shaye's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 29th percentile, the median of all 133; across their 78 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 23rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

23rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 78

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 78

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 78

Motif score across 148 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th23
  • 25th to 49th49
  • Below 25th61

Shape of the crowd

70 of their 148 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned7
  • Divisive8
  • Cult Classic11
  • Crowd Pleaser34
  • Broadly Agreed14
  • Mixed70

Most divisive · actor

Pledge This! (2006)

98th percentile spread · 74% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Common Side Effects (2024)

Motif 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 57/100 in their films, across 75 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 35. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Lin Shaye's work okay for kids?

Across up to 38 Motif titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore26 titles47–87 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity38 titles10–67 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 31
Profanity24 titles38–80 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 35
Alcohol & Drugs20 titles4–52 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense23 titles14–89 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Lin Shaye work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lin Shaye's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joseph Bishara shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles