Stan Shaw

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**.