Shawn was raised in West Vancouver, and began his career in radio at
the tender age of eleven on CBC radio dramas. By fourteen, he had his
first principal part in a feature film. By sixteen, Shawn had starred
in numerous television shows and had a lead in Beans Baxter.
By seventeen, Shawn had starred in the Disney Channel movie of the week
Sylvan Lake Summer and the Jesse nominated feature First Season. He
rounded out the year by joining the Pacific National Exhibition's rock
and roll review shows. Bright lights, big city beckoned, and Shawn left
Vancouver to attend the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts
in New York - on scholarship. Returning home in the summers, from 1989
to 1996, Shawn took the lead in over 600 shows per season - brushing up
his dance steps as well as his comedic gift - eventually becoming a
writer and producer of those shows.
Over the years, Shawn and his good friend from the rock and roll shows
- Bobby Bruce - had always wanting to reunite on stage. In 2001, that
opportunity arose when the concept for The Shagadelic Swingers Baby
Yeah came to life. With Bobby as Austin - there was only one man who
could fill the Evil shoes.