Stan Shaw (born July 14, 1952 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor. He started acting in the Chicago production of the Broadway musical Hair as well as the Broadway production of The Me Nobody Knows. His last Broadway show, Via Galactica was directed by Sir Peter Hall. Before becoming an actor, Stan was a karate, judo, and ju jitsu instructor in Chicago.
Stan Shaw played a professional fighter in Snake Eyes (1998), Tough Enough (1983) and Harlem Nights (1989), and also appeared in Rocky (1976). One of his most important roles was his appearance as Alex Haley's grandfather Will Palmer in the 1979 miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.
In addition to being involed in theatre and television he is son of saxophonist Eddie Shaw and cousin of the late soul singer Sam Cooke.
Started acting in the Chicago production of the Broadway musical "Hair" as well as the Broadway production of "The Me Nobody Knows". His last Broadway show "Via Galactica" was directed by Sir Peter Hall (I).
