WALLACE SHAWN (A Nasty Interesting Man/The Lord of the Underworld) started writing plays in 1967.  His play OUR LATE NIGHT was done at the Public Theater in New York in 1975.  He became a professional actor in 1977 when he appeared on stage at the Public Theater in New York in his own translation of Machiavelli's THE MANDRAKE, directed by Wilford Leach. His plays have been performed at the Public Theater and Scott Elliott's New Group in New York and in London at the National Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre.  They include MARIE AND BRUCE, AUNT DAN AND LEMON, THE FEVER, THE DESIGNATED MOURNER, GRASSES OF A THOUSAND COLORS, and EVENING AT THE TALK HOUSE. The plays are published in the US by TCG Books and Grove Press and in the UK by Faber and Nick Hern Books. His work as a film actor includes appearances in MANHATTAN, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, CLUELESS, RADIO DAYS, TOY STORY 1, 2, 3, and 4, THE MODERNS, and RIFKIN'S FESTIVAL. His three films with André Gregory, available in a boxed set from Criterion, are MY DINNER WITH ANDRE and VANYA ON 42nd STREET, both directed by Louis Malle, and A MASTER BUILDER, directed by Jonathan Demme. He has been a recurring character on many television shows, including TAXI, THE COSBY SHOW, MURPHY BROWN, STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE, GOSSIP GIRL, SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT, THE GOOD WIFE, THE GOOD FIGHT, EVIL, MOZART IN THE JUNGLE, and YOUNG SHELDON, where he can currently be seen as Dr. John Sturgis. His latest book is a long essay, NIGHT THOUGHTS. His earlier essays are collected in ESSAYS.  Both books are published by Haymarket Books.  In the U.K., his essays are collected in the book SLEEPING AMONG SHEEP UNDER A STARRY SKY. Allen Shawn's opera THE MUSIC TEACHER, with a libretto by Wallace Shawn, is available from Bridge Records.