Elisabeth Shue Biography

This section contains Elisabeth Shue Biography
Elisabeth Judson Shue was born on October 6, 1963 in Wilmington, Delaware. She was raised in an upper-class and well-educated family, growing up mainly in Bergen and Essex Counties in New Jersey. She was a state junior-level gymnast. She attended Columbia High School, Wellesley College and Harvard University, which she dropped out of when she decided to pursue an acting career. In 2000, after 15 years from withdrawing, she returned to Harvard to finish a degree in Government.

During her parents’ divorce, Elisabeth Shue found a way to make money by appearing in TV commercials. She became a regular commercial model and appeared in ads for DeBeers diamonds, Hellman’s mayonnaise and Burger King, among others.

In 1984, Elisabeth Shue became the on-screen girlfriend of Ralph Macchio in the classic movie, The Karate Kid. She also appeared in the series, Call to Glory and several films including Adventures in Babysitting, Soapdish, Cocktail and The Marrying Man. During the late 80s, she appeared alongside Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future III.

In her hopes of shedding her “girl-next door image”, Elisabeth Shue accepted a role in the low budget film, Leaving Las Vegas. Her portrayal as a prostitute earned her a nomination as Best Actress in BAFTA, SAG, Golden Globe and Academy Awards. She won the Best Actress awards at the L.A. Film Critics Association Awards, Independent Spirit Awards and National Society of Film Critics. Due to her success in Leaving Las Vegas, she starred in numerous films including The Trigger Effect, The Saint, Deconstructing Harry, Palmetto and Hollow Man.

In 2006, Elisabeth Shue and her two brothers produced the film, Gracie. The movie was about a teenage with a passion for soccer. It was based on Elisabeth’s own experience and was filmed on some areas where she and her brothers grew up.

Elisabeth Shue worked with James Cameron in the 2008 movie, She Works Hard for the Money, where she portrays businesswoman Melinda Mucci in her true-to-life story working in New York during the 80s.

Elisabeth Shue is married to Davis Guggenheim, director of the HBO TV hit series, Deadwood and An Inconvenient Truth. She has two daughters and an only son. Her brother Andrew Shue is an actor made popular in the soap Melrose Place. Her other brother, William, died at age 26 due to a swimming accident in 1988.

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