Stan Shaw, born on July 14, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, is an accomplished American actor. He is the son of Bertha Shaw and renowned saxophonist Eddie Shaw, and he shares a familial connection with legendary soul singers Sam Cooke and Tyrone Davis. Shaw's theatrical journey began with the Chicago production of the Broadway musical **Hair** and continued with his performance in **The Me Nobody Knows**. His final appearance on Broadway was in **Via Galactica**, which was directed by the esteemed Sir Peter Hall.
Before venturing into acting, Shaw was a skilled martial arts instructor in Chicago, holding a black belt in both judo and jujutsu, as well as a second-degree black belt in karate.
Shaw is perhaps best known for his role as Dipper, a fellow boxer in the iconic film **Rocky** (1976). He also portrayed professional fighters in **Tough Enough** (1983) and **Harlem Nights** (1989), and had a significant role as Will Palmer, Alex Haley's grandfather, in the miniseries **Roots: The Next Generations** (1979). Notable performances include Private Washington in **The Boys in Company C** (1978) and Toomer Smalls in **The Great Santini** (1979), alongside actors Robert Duvall and David Keith. His film credits extend to **Fried Green Tomatoes** (1991), **Houseguest** (1995) with Sinbad, and **Cutthroat Island** (1995) featuring Geena Davis. Shaw's television appearances include roles in popular shows like **Matlock**, **Murder, She Wrote**, and **CSI**.
Before venturing into acting, Shaw was a skilled martial arts instructor in Chicago, holding a black belt in both judo and jujutsu, as well as a second-degree black belt in karate.
Shaw is perhaps best known for his role as Dipper, a fellow boxer in the iconic film **Rocky** (1976). He also portrayed professional fighters in **Tough Enough** (1983) and **Harlem Nights** (1989), and had a significant role as Will Palmer, Alex Haley's grandfather, in the miniseries **Roots: The Next Generations** (1979). Notable performances include Private Washington in **The Boys in Company C** (1978) and Toomer Smalls in **The Great Santini** (1979), alongside actors Robert Duvall and David Keith. His film credits extend to **Fried Green Tomatoes** (1991), **Houseguest** (1995) with Sinbad, and **Cutthroat Island** (1995) featuring Geena Davis. Shaw's television appearances include roles in popular shows like **Matlock**, **Murder, She Wrote**, and **CSI**.
