Wallace Shawn is the definition of an entertainment Renaissance man, with great success as a performer in films and on the stage, as well as being a voice actor and an author of multiple books and plays.
Whether it is comedy (“The Princess Bride,” 1987), drama (“Manhattan,” 1979), voice acting (“Toy Story,” 1995) or cult classics (“My Dinner with Andre,” 1981), Shawn has done it all. Add in countless cameos, including “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” “Crossing Jordan” — as well as being a recurring series character in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” “The Cosby Show,” “Young Sheldon,” “The Stinky & Dirty Show” — and the list just goes on and on.
The 76-year-old Harvard graduate recently spoke to the Tribune-Review via telephone to promote his upcoming appearance at the Steel City Con, held Dec. 6-8. Shawn, as well as fellow “Princess Bride” cast Cary Elwes (Westley) and Chris Sarandon (Prince Humperdinck), will be at the show.
Question: With approximately 200 acting roles to your credit, which of your many roles resonates with your fans the most?
Answer: Resonates is a strong word. There are people that have been moved even by things I like. I meet people on the street who are fans of “The Princess Bride” more than anything else. Although I meet a lot of people who are fans of “Clueless” (1995). I do meet people on the street who are fans of “My Dinner With Andre” (1981). And, even a few who appreciated “Vanya on 42nd Street” (1994).
Q: Is there one that’s your personal favorite?
A: Of course, I loved being Mr. Hall in “Clueless.” And, in the less well-known category, obviously the role of master builder Solness in (Henrik Ibsen’s) “A Master Builder” (2013). It’s a great, classic role. I’d like to go back to a previous answer and add to my answer about which are my favorite characters. The character I’m playing right now, Dr. Sturgis, on “Young Sheldon.” It’s an absolutely wonderful character to play and I love playing it.
Q: What makes the role so special?
A: I don’t know why they thought it was appropriate for me to play that part. I don’t think of myself as being as eccentric as Dr. Sturgis, but other people have hinted that I might be. And, to me, as I have the destiny of being me, it seems like I’m the most typical person that there is, because I’m the person I’ve spent so much time with. But, others have told me — or hinted to me — or I deduced that I might be eccentric like Dr. Sturgis.
Q: Do you know how you ended up voicing Rex in “Toy Story”?
A: I think that (director) John Lasseter may have seen both “My Dinner with Andre” and “The Princess Bride” and saw me, perhaps, as an excitable. I don’t know what he saw in me. But I think both of those characters are very animated and excitable, unlike the very bland person I am in my daily life.
Q: Speaking of experiences with other actors, Pittsburgh is a huge wresting town, where the late, great Bruno Sammartino lived. You worked with Andre the Giant in in Rob Reiner’s cult classic, “The Princess Bride.” What was it like working with the colossal wrestler?
A: I had a very good time. He was a very fascinating person. And I felt a lot of affection for him. Being a giant was a disability and he — to a certain extent — turned to his advantage, but all the same, it was a disability. And, would soon die, not many years after the movie. We knew — and he knew — that he was not long for this world. … He was already losing his strength, and there was some poignancy to it, as well as the isolation that any disability creates. Children were frightened by him.
Q: What do you remember most about “The Princess Bride”?
A: Well, we shot it in a very beautiful landscape, in northern England. When we were shooting at the London studio, I stayed at a glorious hotel and had a very agreeable drive to the studio every morning. That was all very pleasant.
Q: Your “Princess Bride” character of Vizzini gets to say many of the best, most memorable lines in the film. What inconceivable quality did you bring to this role that makes such a truly unlikeable character so charming?
A: Well, what can I say? They eventually decided to give me the part and obviously I tried to do the best I could with it.
Q: Where do you land on the “The Princess Bride” reboot? Elwes has come out pretty strongly against the idea.
A: You mean recreating that part?
Q: If they were to make another version.
A: I don’t think that — you know — elderly people are likely to be cast in such youthful roles. And, I don’t know, I don’t think I’m going to be offered that part.
