Shaw Purnell was born in Pittsburgh, PA. Dec. 1, 1948. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Masters in Teaching, but became interested in acting at the University of London while studying Educational Theater. She moved to New York in 1978 and soon landed her first big commercial for Chuck Wagon dog food. With a healthy commercial presence, she appeared regionally at the Barter Theater, People’s Light and Theater Company, Portland Stage Company, and Capital Repertory Company. In 1985, she was cast opposite Bill Smitrovich in an off-Broadway play called “Never Say Die.”. They have been married for thirty years, have two grown children and a granddaughter. She recently returned to acting and will soon be seen onstage at the Sierra Madre Playhouse as Myra in “Deathtrap.”