Hollywood veteran and beloved Hallmark star Paula Shaw has died at the age of 84. The Hollywood Reporter (THR) broke the news of Shaw’s death on September 15, 2025, noting that the lifelong actress died in her sleep in Vancouver on September 10.
Born in the Bronx in 1941, Shaw grew up loving and working in theater, including off-Broadway productions, before moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s, per THR. She appeared as a character actor on many TV series during that era, from “Barney Miller” to “Three’s Company” to “21 Jump Street.” Shaw was also iconic among horror fans, having starred in 2003’s “Freddy vs. Jason” as Jason’s mother, Pamela Voorhees.
But in her later years, Shaw found a home at Hallmark, starting with 2012’s “Hitched For the Holidays” and, in 2013, landing the role of Andie MacDowell’s mom in the Hallmark series “Cedar Cove.”
Hallmark Fans Loved Watching Paula Shaw Play a Wise, Spunky & Loving Grandma
HallmarkShaw became known for her roles as a wise, spunky, and loving grandma in many Hallmark movies, including 2017’s “Coming Home for Christmas,” 2022’s “Wedding of a Lifetime,” and her final role in 2023’s “Round and Round.”
One of her standout roles was as Grandma Vivian in the hit 2021 movie “It Was Always You,” starring Erin Krakow and Tyler Hynes. Her encouraging chat with Krakow’s character — advising her that she’d know she’s truly in love once she feels a “zing” — is a favorite scene for many Hallmarkies.
Victor Webster — who appeared in two Hallmark movies with Shaw, “The Wedding Veil Legacy” and “Five Star Christmas” — posted an adorable video of them in 2021, dancing together during a break on set.
“The amazing Paula Shaw ladies and gentlemen,” he captioned the video. “She said her doctor told her to keep moving so we did. 80 years strong!!!”
HallmarkIn an August fan thread on Reddit about Hallmark stars people wished they could meet, one person summed up Shaw’s reputation perfectly, writing, “If I could pick one to meet, it would be Paula Shaw. She’s Hallmark’s best Grandma, Nonna, Bubbe, Abuela, Yaya. I would definitely attend a Hallmark event that had her. I imagine in person that she is a sweet, loving lady or she is some cantankerous old biddy who DNGAF. Either way, I could see myself enjoying her company. Win-win.”
Another fan agreed, “Paula Shaw is one (of many) I’d love to meet! She looks a lot like my grandma did, so every movie she’s in is a favorite! Loved her in Five Star Christmas!”
Paula Shaw Also Spent 30 Years Leading Workshops on Self Expression
Shaw was also a self-expression coach for three decades, splitting her time between Vancouver and Los Angeles to teach students online and at CAL ARTS, the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute of Los Angeles and the Esalen Institute how to find their authentic voices, according to her website.
In a video filmed in 2019 at Esalen, seen above, she shared how her healing and perspective-expanding work transformed her life and others’, and inspired her to develop an “edgy” five-day workshop titled The Max.
Many of Shaw’s friends and mentees are remembering her online as a vibrant force of nature, including one who wrote on Facebook, “We will forever remember Paula’s acerbic wit, contrary and independent nature, her wise counsel and dedication to unlocking our unique powers of creativity and self-expression.”
According to her website, memorials are being planned in Vancouver, Los Angeles and Big Sur, California.
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