Larry Shue

Larry Shue was an American actor, playwright, and comedian who made a significant impact on the theater world before his untimely death in a plane crash in 1985. Born in New Orleans in 1946, Shue grew up in Kansas and attended Illinois Wesleyan University, where he earned a degree in theater.

After college, Shue moved to New York City and began his career as an actor, appearing in off-Broadway productions of plays like "The Foreigner" and "The Nerd." He also worked as a writer and performer for the sketch comedy group The Practical Theatre Company in Chicago, alongside future "Saturday Night Live" stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brad Hall.
In 1981, Shue wrote his first play, "The Nerd," which became a hit both on and off Broadway. The play tells the story of an architect named Willum who is visited by an old friend who turns out to be an obnoxious and socially inept "nerd." The play was praised for its witty dialogue and physical comedy, and it ran for over a year on Broadway, earning Shue a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play.
Shue followed up "The Nerd" with another successful play, "The Foreigner," which premiered off-Broadway in 1984. The play centers around a shy British man named Charlie who pretends to be a foreigner who doesn't speak English in order to avoid social interaction. "The Foreigner" was also praised for its humor and won two Obie Awards, including one for Shue's performance in the lead role.
Tragically, Shue's promising career was cut short when he died in a plane crash in 1985 at the age of 39. However, his legacy lives on through his plays, which continue to be performed around the world and have been translated into numerous languages.
In addition to his work in the theater, Shue also made a few appearances on television and film. He had a small role in the 1983 film "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" and appeared in an episode of the TV series "Spenser: For Hire" in 1985.
Most recently, Shue's play "The Foreigner" was revived off-Broadway in 2016 at the Laura Pels Theatre, produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company. The production was well-received by critics and audiences, proving that Larry Shue's legacy as a playwright and comedian is still going strong more than 30 years after his death.