Hallmark star Paula Shaw dead at 84: Tributes pour in for the beloved actress who ‘touched countless lives’

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Paula Shaw, known and loved by Hallmark movie fans for playing warm and caring grandmothers, passed away at the age of 84.

Her passing was confirmed on the website for her long-running workshop, The Max.

We are deeply saddened to share that Paula passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 9:00 am. She had a profound impact on many people through her work with The MAX and Mastery, and her transformative influence will be remembered by the communities she built and the lives she touched. Her legacy will continue to inspire.

Shaw started her career in Hollywood by moving to Los Angeles to perform in the West Coast debut of Gus Weill’s play, Geese.

She soon caught the attention of Lee Strasberg, who invited her to join The Actors Studio.

By the 1970s, she was performing with the improv group Synergy Trust and began to regularly appear on television.

She made guest appearances on popular television shows like The Bob Newhart Show, Starsky & Hutch, Barney Miller, Three’s Company, Lou Grant, and Ironside.

In 1982, Shaw appeared alongside Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton in the musical comedy film, *The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas*, playing the character Wulla Jean.

She continued to appear in films, taking on roles like a coroner in Christopher Nolan’s *Insomnia* (2002) and, notably, Pamela Voorhees-Jason’s mother-in *Freddy vs. Jason* (2003), a role first made famous by Betsy Palmer.

On television, Shaw starred as Mrs. Byrne on the Canadian sitcom Mr. Young from 2011 to 2013.

In her later career, Shaw found an enduring home at Hallmark. 

She began her career in the 2012 TV movie, Hitched for the Holidays, and then joined the drama series Cedar Cove in 2013, playing Andie MacDowell’s character’s mother.

Viewers of Hallmark especially loved her for playing kind and lively grandmothers. She starred in movies like “Coming Home for Christmas” (2017), “Wedding of a Lifetime” (2022), and her last role was in “Round and Round” (2023).

Oh my gosh, her role as Grandma Vivian in ‘It Was Always You’ from 2021? Absolutely unforgettable! I still think about that performance – it’s honestly one of her best, and it completely stole my heart. I’ve rewatched that movie countless times just for her scenes!

A touching piece of advice given to Erin Krakow’s character – that she’d recognize real love by a feeling of excitement – quickly became a beloved scene among Hallmark viewers.

Beyond her work in movies and TV, Shaw also left a lasting impact as a teacher and mentor.

For over thirty years, she led a popular course called The Max at the Esalen Institute in California, helping people explore and express themselves.

For over 32 years, Paula Shaw led popular self-expression workshops called THE MAX at Esalen Institute. As a trained actor and facilitator, she created the course, which became well-known as a transformative experience for Esalen’s staff and participants, and remains a challenging and highly-regarded program today, according to an Instagram post from the organization.

When I heard about Roseanne Shaw’s passing, I was so saddened. As a longtime fan of Hallmark, I learned she wasn’t just a talented writer, but someone many in the industry, like screenwriter Julie Sherman Wolfe, considered a close friend and someone they could really trust. It’s lovely to know she had such meaningful connections alongside her incredible work.

Wolfe shared on Instagram that they were heartbroken to learn of Paula Shaw’s death. They often connected with her via FaceTime after she filmed ‘Hanukkah on Rye,’ and their conversations usually revolved around their common background and whether they might be family.

She said they never learned the details, but it wasn’t important. She’d always consider her a beloved, honorary grandmother figure.

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2025-09-17 00:09