Elisabeth Shue
She transformed from a charming 80s teen star into a raw, Oscar-nominated force with her devastating turn as a Las Vegas escort.
Born 1963 (age 63)·American actress·Birthday: October 6·Baby Boomers
Biography
Elisabeth Shue arrived on screen with an effortless, girl-next-door magnetism that defined a generation of 80s cinema, from the plucky love interest in 'The Karate Kid' to the resourceful lead of 'Adventures in Babysitting.' For years, she navigated Hollywood with a reliable charm, but it was a radical left turn that cemented her legacy. In 1995, she stripped away all glamour for 'Leaving Las Vegas,' delivering a performance as the self-destructive Sera that was unflinching in its vulnerability and pain, earning her an Academy Award nomination. This role proved she was far more than a fixture of light entertainment; she was an actor of profound depth. Shue has since balanced blockbuster fare with sharp independent work, consistently bringing a grounded intelligence to every part, whether in a superhero film or a tennis biopic, maintaining a career built on surprising resilience and quiet power.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Elisabeth was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Elisabeth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Elisabeth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in 'Leaving Las Vegas'.
- Starred as Jennifer Parker in the iconic 'Back to the Future Part II' and 'Part III'.
- Headlined the cult classic teen adventure film 'Adventures in Babysitting'.
- Played a key role in the critically acclaimed war film 'Greyhound' alongside Tom Hanks.
Did You Know?
She was a nationally ranked gymnast in high school before focusing on acting.
She took a hiatus from acting to study political science at Harvard University.
Her brother, Andrew Shue, is also an actor, known for the TV series 'Melrose Place'.
“I think the most interesting characters are the ones that are struggling with their own demons.”
