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Dan Shor
Dan Shor
Dan Shor
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Daniel Shor (born November 16, 1956) is an American actor, director, writer, and acting teacher with a career spanning over 40 years. His most recognized roles include Enoch Emery in John Huston's Wise Blood (1979), Pete Brady in Strange Behavior (1981), Ram in Tron (1982), and Billy the Kid in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989).

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Shor was born and raised in New York City. He attended McBurney School from the 6th through the 8th grade. His mother, an actress, died when he was 14.[1] He graduated from Elisabeth Irwin High School (June 1974) and began at Northwestern University that fall. He returned to New York, where he landed the lead role of Alan Strang in the first national company of Equus.

Acting

[edit]

Shor's studies continued at the Davis Center for Performing Arts at the City College of New York and at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in England.

While in London, he appeared with Nigel Planer in Ann Jellicoe's punk rock musical play The Sport Of My Mad Mad Mother at The Roundabout Theater. After leaving London for Los Angeles (due to his casting in the title role in the ABC mini-series Studs Lonigan), he produced and reprised his role in his own version of Jellicoe's play, changing the setting from London to New York. Three months later, the set from the production was used in Billy Idol's classic music video for the song "Dancing With Myself".[1]

Shor's acting credits include Air Force One, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Tron, Red Rock West, and John Huston's Wise Blood. Television films and mini-series include Friendly Fire, Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story and The Blue and the Gray (for which Shor won a People's Choice Award). He was a series regular on Cagney and Lacey and several other television series as well as numerous guest star appearances including a Ferengi doctor on Star Trek: The Next Generation, a role he reprised seven years later on Star Trek: Voyager. In 1983, he starred in the band Kansas' music video "Fight Fire with Fire" and made appearances in their "Everybody's My Friend" video. Shor's stage performances in Los Angeles and San Diego have brought him eight Drama-Logue and LA Weekly performance awards.

Shor recently returned to the continental U.S. after living and working in the Northern Mariana Islands of the Western Pacific since 2003. In addition to running his production company, ShodaVision, he remains active in New York theater and was recently involved (as an actor) with the experimental conversational play "Outpost".[2]

He has continued with stage work at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis and at the Pittsburgh Public Theater.

Writing, directing

[edit]

In 1995, Shor directed for the LA Diversified Theater Company, a multi-cultural theater alliance. He directed the Ovation Award winning production of He Who Gets Slapped[3] starring Bud Cort at the Hudson Theater, as well as productions at the LA Theater Center, Company of Angels, Court, Zephyr, Two Roads and LA Jewish theaters. His productions have received more than 30 Dramalogue, Ovation and LA Weekly awards.

Shor's credits include two screenplays co-written with Czech film director Jiri Weiss. Shor has worked in videos and shows including "Life On Film: Rock", "Ecomaniacs", "State of Liberty", "Fish Out of Water" and over 30 short videos for the Saipan and Guam Visitors Channels. His recent work includes Bigfoot Entertainment and Fashion TV's reality show Screen Test. He has also taught acting at the International Academy of Film and Television in Cebu, Philippines.

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]

Acting

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Wise Blood Enoch Emory
1981 Back Roads Spivey
1981 Strange Behavior Pete Brady
1982 Tron Roy Kleinberg / "Ram"
1982 Talk to Me Julian Howard
1983 Strangers Kiss Farris, the Producer
1983 Strange Invaders Teen Boy (Prologue)
1984 Mike's Murder Richard
1986 Mesmerized George
1986 Black Moon Rising Billy Lyons
1988 Daddy's Boys Hawk
1989 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure Billy The Kid
1990 Solar Crisis Harvard
1990 Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College Professor
1993 Doppelganger Stanley White
1993 Red Rock West Deputy Bowman
1997 Air Force One Notre Dame Aide
1999 Night Train Jones
2004 Wild Roomies The Bartender
2009 Passing Strangers Photographer Short
2011 Tron: The Next Day Roy Kleinberg / "Ram" Short
2017 Crown Heights District Attorney Snyder
2021 Come Find Me Arthur

Directing

[edit]
Year Title Notes
2011 My Angel My Hero Short

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1978 Once Upon a Classic Clarence / Sir Paragraph Episode: "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court"
1979 Studs Lonigan Young Studs Miniseries
1979 Friendly Fire Prince TV movie
1980 If Things Were Different Eric TV movie
1980 The Boy Who Drank Too Much Art Collins TV movie
1980 A Rumor of War Manhole Miniseries; 2 episodes
1981 Knots Landing Bobby Episode: "Step One"
1982 The Blue and the Gray Luke Geyser Miniseries; 3 episodes
1983 This Girl for Hire Punk TV movie
1984 My Mother's Secret Life Jack Camaras TV movie
1985–86 Cagney & Lacey Det. Jonah Newman 20 episodes
1988 Murder, She Wrote Pierce Episode: "Murder Through the Looking Glass"
1988 Beverly Hills Buntz Terry Dickstein Episode: "Terry and the Pirates"
1989 Beauty and the Beast Bernie Spirko Episode: "What Rough Beast"
1989 Thirtysomething Kit Episode: "Legacy"
1989 Star Trek: The Next Generation Dr. Arridor Episode: "The Price"
1992 Dark Justice Kellogg (Stafford's Attorney) (uncredited) Episode: "Instant Replay"
1993 Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold Story Jass TV Movie
1993 Against the Grain Sheriff Episode: "A House Is Not a Home"
1996 Star Trek: Voyager Arridor Episode: "False Profits"
2000 Judging Amy D.A. Daniel Boyd Episode: "The Burden of Perspective"
2002 The X Files 2nd ER Nurse Episode: "William"
2007 Looking for America: A Saipan Story Sergei TV movie; also director
2015 Blue Bloods Len Hardin Episode: "Rush to Judgment"
2017 Bull Dr. Shepard Episode: "Teasher's Pet"
2019 Jessica Jones Mathias Cole Episode: "A.K.A. Customer Service Is Standing By"
2022 The Blacklist FJ Powell Episode: "Arcane Wireless"[4]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dan Shor

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dan Shor (born November 16, 1956, in , New York) is an American actor, director, writer, and acting teacher with a career spanning over four decades. Shor began his professional acting career in 1979 with a role in the miniseries and a film debut as Enoch Emery in John Huston's adaptation of Flannery O'Connor's . His early work also included the television film (1979). In the 1980s, Shor gained prominence with supporting roles such as Ram in the science fiction film Tron (1982) and a part in the Civil War miniseries The Blue and the Gray (1982), for which he received a People's Choice Award. He also appeared in films like Strange Behavior (1981) and Black Moon Rising (1986), and guest-starred on series including Cagney & Lacey. Shor's most recognized role came in 1989 as in the comedy . Later credits include the guest role of Arridor in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Price" (1989) and a part in (1993). Beyond acting, Shor has directed theater productions, earning eight Los Angeles theater awards, and founded the production company Shoda Vision, where he has created educational videos and documentaries.

Early life and education

Family background

Dan Shor was born on November 16, 1956, in , New York, . He was raised in the bustling cultural environment of , a hub for theater and the that likely contributed to his early cultural awareness. Shor's parents were politically active; in 1971, they rode on opposite sides of a limousine carrying Soviet Premier during his visit to New York. His mother was an actress whose profession placed the family in proximity to the New York theater scene, providing him with indirect early exposure to . Tragically, she died when Shor was 14 years old, an event that occurred before he developed a personal interest in acting or theater. Shor's interest in was initially sparked during his teenage years at a theater arts camp. This personal family dynamic, combined with New York's vibrant artistic milieu, laid a foundational backdrop for his eventual pursuit of , transitioning into more structured training in his later teenage years.

Schooling and early training

Shor graduated from Elisabeth Irwin High School in in June 1974. That fall, he enrolled at in , to pursue theater studies, though his time there was brief before he returned to New York. Back in the city, Shor landed the lead role of Alan Strang in the first national company production of Peter Shaffer's Equus, a pivotal pre-professional experience that immersed him in intense dramatic theater. He further developed his craft through studies at the Aaron Davis Center for Performing Arts at the and at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art () in , where he trained in methods and stage performance.

Acting career

Theater performances

Shor began his acting career in theater, landing the lead role of Alan Strang in the first national touring company of Peter Shaffer's Equus shortly after graduating high school in 1974. His stage work in and earned him eight Drama-Logue and performance awards.

Film and television roles

Dan Shor's acting career in film and television began in 1978 and continues to the present day, encompassing a range of genres including drama, , and . His breakthrough role came in 1979 as Emery in John Huston's adaptation of Flannery O'Connor's , where he portrayed a dim-witted young man guided by his "wise blood" instinct, earning praise for his vivid and comic performance in his film debut. In 1982, Shor received the People's Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a New Television Special or for his role as Confederate soldier Luke Geyser in the Civil War epic The Blue and the Gray, a performance that highlighted his versatility in and contributed to the miniseries' acclaim for its balanced portrayal of the conflict. That same year, he gained prominence in science fiction with the role of Ram, a loyal actuarial program and friend to the protagonist in Disney's groundbreaking Tron, a part that involved preparation for integration with early CGI and action sequences. Shor's television work expanded notably in the 1980s, including a recurring role as brash Detective Jonah Newman in 19 episodes of Cagney & Lacey during its fifth season (1985–1986), where he played a young precinct detective. He also appeared as the Ferengi physician Dr. Arridor in the 1989 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Price," adding to his sci-fi portfolio with a scheming character involved in a business scam. Transitioning to comedy, Shor delivered a memorable performance as in the 1989 time-travel film , infusing the outlaw with humorous quick-draw antics and bewildered reactions to modern life that amplified the film's lighthearted tone. Over his career, Shor has balanced these genres, with later credits including dramatic turns in Crown Heights (2017), Come Find Me (2021), and a guest role in (2022), demonstrating sustained adaptability across screen formats.

Directing and writing

Theater direction

Dan Shor directed the 1996 production of Leonid Andreyev's He Who Gets Slapped at the in , starring in the lead role. This adaptation, presented by the LA Diversified Theater Company, earned Shor the Los Angeles Ovation Award for Direction in a Play. The production highlighted Shor's ability to blend classical drama with contemporary staging in a multicultural context, drawing on the company's mission as a multi-cultural theater alliance. In addition to He Who Gets Slapped, Shor helmed other theater productions in through the LA Diversified Theater Company, a multicultural ensemble focused on inclusive . Notable among these was the 1998 world premiere musical Caderas, an original of ' short story "Rejuvenation Through Joy," featuring a 23-person cast and integrating elements with by Kim Blank. His work emphasized classical and contemporary plays, often adapting scripts to reflect diverse cultural perspectives while maintaining fidelity to the source material. Shor's directing has earned him eight Los Angeles theater awards, though specific additional credits beyond these productions are not detailed in . Shor's approach to theater direction centered on close with , informed by his extensive career, to cultivate ensemble dynamics over individual stardom. He prioritized ensemble work to create cohesive performances, fostering environments where performers from varied backgrounds could contribute equally to the vision. Shor served as director in residence at the LA Diversified Theater Company beginning in 1995. He has continued involvement in regional theater, though detailed post-2022 activities remain undocumented in public sources as of 2025.

Screen projects

Dan Shor's transition to screen writing and directing drew upon his extensive experience, allowing him to infuse authentic character development into his projects. Early in this shift, he stepped behind the camera on the low-budget horror-comedy Daddy's Boys, a production, where he directed a single night's shoot after the original director, Joe Minion, abruptly left the set; this impromptu role highlighted the improvisational demands of independent filmmaking and marked his initial foray into on-set leadership. In the mid-2000s, Shor expanded into television hosting and production with , a reality competition series for Entertainment and Fashion TV , filmed across in , ; as host, he guided aspiring actors through challenges mimicking Hollywood auditions, blending his performance expertise with creative oversight in a format that emphasized practical screen training. This project exemplified his adaptation to reality TV's fast-paced, location-based demands, where he navigated cultural and logistical hurdles in a remote international setting to deliver engaging content distributed across . A pivotal achievement came with the TV movie State of Liberty: Chapter One - Looking for America, which Shor wrote and directed as a pilot for a proposed documentary series exploring American identity through immigrant stories; shot entirely on Saipan in the , the film featured narratives of cultural displacement and featured performers like Li Ying Guo and Sean Maycock, showcasing Shor's innovative use of non-professional locations to authentically capture themes of liberty and belonging on a modest . This self-financed endeavor, emphasizing experimental storytelling, addressed challenges in transitioning from scripted acting to documentary realism by leveraging his on-camera intuition for directing natural performances. Through his , Shoda Vision, founded after a 2003 trip to the South Pacific, Shor directed and produced a range of screen content, including short-form tourism documentaries for visitor channels in Saipan, , Tinian, and Rota, as well as longer narrative and reality pieces distributed in the , , and the South Pacific; these works innovated by combining educational travel narratives with high-production values on limited resources, reflecting his strategic pivot from Hollywood acting to global independent media creation amid industry shifts toward . His behind-the-camera efforts consistently tackled the rigors of low-budget operations and international collaboration, fostering a hybrid career that bridged performance insights with directorial vision.

Other professional activities

Production work

In 2003, inspired by a sojourn in the South Pacific, Dan Shor founded ShodaVision, a full-service company that handles projects from inception to completion with a team of writers, producers, directors, and craftspeople. The company specializes in short-form and long-form documentaries, narrative and reality TV series, music videos, and corporate video streams, blending creative approaches with practical production economics. ShodaVision's operations extend internationally, with bases in the , , , , and New York, enabling work across diverse markets including the , , , , and the South Pacific. Key projects include documentaries produced for visitor channels on Saipan, , Tinian, and Rota in the , which aired regionally and online. In the , ShodaVision contributed to the reality competition series for Fashion TV , spanning three seasons and filmed in from 2006 to 2008, where Shor served as host and co-writer. With Shor's over 30 years of experience in the communications industry, ShodaVision has facilitated expansion into global markets, producing content that reaches audiences through television, online platforms, and corporate channels. This production work has significantly diversified his career after 2000, shifting focus from earlier roles to entrepreneurial ventures in media production and international collaboration. As of 2025, Shor has expanded into , serving as a news anchor at KSPN2 in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, where he reports on local events and features.

Teaching and mentorship

Dan Shor has served as an instructor in and at several institutions, leveraging his extensive training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art () and other prestigious programs to inform his pedagogical approach. His classes emphasize practical skills in and production, often highlighting the collaborative nature of theater and as akin to team sports, where ensemble building fosters mutual support and creative synergy among artists. From 2007 to 2008, Shor taught at the of Film and Television (IAFT) in , , where he conducted summer performing arts workshops for aspiring performers, focusing on on-camera techniques and character development drawn from his professional experience. These sessions catered to emerging artists, providing hands-on mentorship in and directing to build confidence in international production environments. Additionally, Shor instructed courses at Northern Marianas College, mentoring students in and audio-visual production while residing on Saipan, and extended similar guidance to local communities through training initiatives. Shor's mentorship extends to emerging talents in and , where he has offered workshops and coaching sessions informed by his award-winning stage performances, using real-world examples from his theater career to illustrate ensemble dynamics and production challenges. His approach integrates his background in team-oriented productions to develop curricula that prioritize collective storytelling over individual spotlight, aiding students in navigating the collaborative demands of the industry.

Personal life

Family and residences

Shor maintains a high degree of regarding his personal life, with limited public information available about his relationships and family beyond his professional disclosures. He is married to voice actress Denise Blasor, a woman he met while residing in Saipan, though details about their partnership remain undisclosed. No public records indicate children, and Shor has emphasized his focus on career over personal revelations in interviews. In 2003, Shor relocated from the U.S. mainland to the , specifically Saipan, where he established a new phase of his career in production and teaching while residing there for several years. This move influenced his professional opportunities, including work in nearby regions such as the , where he taught acting at the International Academy of Film and Television in and hosted programs. By the early 2010s, Shor had returned intermittently to the continental U.S. for projects under his company ShodaVision, but as of 2025, he resides again in Saipan, serving as a news anchor for KSPN2. The early loss of his at age 14, as noted in biographical accounts, contributed to Shor's independent approach to structures and residences.

Later years

In the , Dan Shor continued his acting career with selective and appearances, including the role of in the 2021 thriller Come Find Me. He followed this with a guest spot as FJ Powell in an episode of The Blacklist in 2022, marking his most recent on-screen credit as of November 2025. During his time abroad, including an extended teaching engagement at the of Film and Television in Cebu, , Shor intermittently returned to creative pursuits , focusing on acting, production, and direction. Through his company ShodaVision, founded during his time abroad, he has sustained involvement in creating long-form documentaries, narrative series, and educational video content, leveraging a team of film professionals for global distribution. Approaching his 69th birthday on November 16, 2025, Shor remains engaged in the entertainment industry, emphasizing mentorship and behind-the-scenes contributions amid a quieter public profile in recent years.

Filmography

As actor

Shor's acting credits in film and television are listed chronologically below, organized by year, title, medium, and role.
YearTitleMediumRole
1979Studs LoniganTV MiniseriesYoung Studs
1979Friendly FireTV MoviePrince
1979Wise BloodFilmEnoch Emery
1981Back RoadsFilmSpivey
1981Strange BehaviorFilmPete Brady
1982TronFilmRam
1982The Blue and the GrayTV MiniseriesLuke Geyser
1983Strangers KissFilmFarris
1984MesmerizedFilmGeorge
1984Mike's MurderFilmRichard
1985–1986Cagney & LaceyTV SeriesDet. Jonah Newman (18 episodes)
1986Black Moon RisingFilmBilly Lyons
1988Daddy's BoysFilmHawk
1989Bill & Ted's Excellent AdventureFilmBilly the Kid
1989Star Trek: The Next GenerationTV SeriesDr. Arridor (1 episode: "The Price")
1990Solar CrisisFilmHarvard
1990Ghoulies Go to CollegeFilmProfessor
1993DoppelgangerFilmStanley White
1993Red Rock WestFilmDeputy Russ Bowman
1993Elvis and the Colonel: The Untold StoryTV MovieJass
1996Star Trek: VoyagerTV SeriesArridor (1 episode: "False Profits")
1997Air Force OneFilmNotre Dame Aide
1999Night TrainFilmJones
2000Judging AmyTV SeriesD.A. Daniel Boyd (1 episode)
2002The X-FilesTV SeriesSecond ER Nurse (1 episode: "William")
2004Wild RoomiesFilmBartender
2007Boston LegalTV SeriesRon Lander (1 episode: "Guise 'n Dolls")
2017BullTV SeriesDr. Shepard (1 episode: "Teacher's Pet")
2017Crown HeightsFilmD.A. Snyder
2015Marvel's Jessica JonesTV SeriesMathias Cole (1 episode: "AKA Customer Service is Standing By")
2022The BlacklistTV SeriesFJ Powell (1 episode: "Arcane Wireless")
2021Come Find MeFilmArthur

As director

Shor directed his most notable theater production in 1996 with He Who Gets Slapped (also presented as He Who Gets Slapped: The Painted Laugh), an adaptation of Andreyev's play staged at the Hudson Theater in , starring . This production earned Shor an Ovation Award for direction. As director in residence for the Diversified Theatre Company from 1995 onward, Shor helmed multiple original adaptations for the multicultural ensemble, focusing on diverse theatrical works in the LA area. In , Shor's directing credits through his ShodaVision include documentaries, environmental exposés, cultural pieces for visitor channels in the , and internet corporate web streams, though specific titles and years for these projects remain sparsely documented in public records.
YearTypeTitleNotes
1996TheaterHe Who Gets SlappedWritten and directed by Shor; starring ; Hudson Theater, Los Angeles; Ovation Award for direction.

References

  1. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2550-dan-shor
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794890/
  3. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/176744|0/Dan-Shor
  4. https://www.tvstoreonline.com/blogs/tv-movie-news-updates/interview-dan-shor-tron-bill-ted-excellent-adventure
  5. https://www.conventionallstars.com/dan-shor
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794890/bio
  7. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794890/bio/
  8. https://tron.fandom.com/wiki/Dan_Shor
  9. https://lenniedifino.com/dan-shor/
  10. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Dan_Shor
  11. https://www.tcdb.com/Person.cfm/pid/228083/Dan-Shor
  12. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wise_blood
  13. https://www.apocalypselaterfilm.com/2011/05/wise-blood-1979.html
  14. https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/reviews/view/7471/wise-blood
  15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YRcRfLmWT8
  16. https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/4223-cagney-lacey/episodes?credit_id=5ce51b1b9251414bbabaf2a0&person_id=4bc88b6b017a3c122d001a0f
  17. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Arridor
  18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIrqlkhwVzI
  19. https://www.amazon.com/prime-video/actor/Dan-Shor/amzn1.dv.gti.0d843ac2-8158-4139-8a84-c1a1a5296793/
  20. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-02-ca-49538-story.html
  21. https://playbill.com/article/la-ovation-award-winners-com-68850
  22. https://variety.com/1998/legit/reviews/caderas-1200452869/
  23. https://www.playhouseonpark.org/web2/Season7_20152016/mainstage_thechosen.html
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1639401/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1639401/fullcredits
  26. https://vimeo.com/39762074
  27. http://www.shoda-vision.com/about.html
  28. https://mediamikes.com/2011/09/interview-with-trons-dan-shor/
  29. https://www.playhouseonpark.org/web2/Season10_20182019/mainstage_AsherLev.html
  30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNZ58qkwvbU
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC8sa-wQplU
  32. https://www.philstar.com/cebu-lifestyle/2008/02/25/46808/bring-out-performer-you-summer-asiarsquos-premier-film-school
  33. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0087757/
  34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjkFnQ5zIQs
  35. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-shor-4956b111
  36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J9t3PVlKlo
  37. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/dan-shor.html
  38. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/dan_shor
  39. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083395/fullcredits
  40. https://www.tvguide.com/movies/black-moon-rising/cast/2030010224/
  41. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bill_and_teds_excellent_adventure
  42. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/red_rock_west
  43. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106804/
  44. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708895/characters/nm0794890/
  45. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0751261/
  46. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/DanShor
  47. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0990426/
  48. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6118252/
  49. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4868424/
  50. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17291296/
  51. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14933654/
  52. https://variety.com/1996/film/reviews/he-who-gets-slapped-1200446256/
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