Elisabeth Shue

Biography:

Elisabeth Shue (born October 6, 1963) is an American actress known for her roles in numerous films, including The Karate Kid (1984), Adventures in Babysitting (1987), Cocktail (1988), Back to the Future Part II (1989), Back to the Future Part III (1990), Soapdish (1991), Leaving Las Vegas (1995), The Saint (1997), Hollow Man (2000), Piranha 3D (2010), Battle of the Sexes (2017), Death Wish (2018), and Greyhound (2020). Her performance in Leaving Las Vegas earned her nominations for an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Award for Best Actress.

On television, Shue portrayed Julie Finlay in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2012–2015) and played Madelyn Stillwell in The Boys (2019–2020), a role she reprised in its spin-offs The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022) and Gen V (2023). She also starred in the Netflix dramedy On the Verge (2021).

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, Shue is the daughter of Anne Brewster, a banking executive, and James William Shue, a lawyer, businessman, and former congressional candidate. She grew up in South Orange, New Jersey, alongside her three brothers, including actor Andrew Shue. Her parents divorced when she was nine. She attended Columbia High School, where she was later inducted into the Hall of Fame, and later enrolled at Wellesley College before transferring to Harvard University. She left Harvard one semester before graduating to pursue acting but returned in 2000 to complete her degree in government.

Shue started her career in television commercials for brands like Burger King and DeBeers. She made her film debut in The Karate Kid (1984) and soon became a recognized actress, appearing in films like Adventures in Babysitting (1987) and Cocktail (1988). She took over the role of Jennifer Parker in the Back to the Future sequels (1989, 1990) after Claudia Wells declined to return. Around this time, her older brother William passed away in an accident, influencing her decision to take a smaller role in the franchise.

She continued building her career with films like Soapdish (1991) and Heart and Souls (1993) before earning critical acclaim for her role in Leaving Las Vegas (1995), where she played a prostitute opposite Nicolas Cage. This performance garnered her several award nominations. She later appeared in The Saint (1997), Hollow Man (2000), and Mysterious Skin (2004).

Shue starred in Gracie (2007), a film inspired by her real-life experiences, and appeared in Hamlet 2 (2008) as a fictional version of herself. She later had roles in Piranha 3D (2010) and the thriller House at the End of the Street (2012). Her television career expanded with her main role in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, where she played a forensic investigator until the series ended.

She continued working in films such as Battle of the Sexes (2017), where she played a supporting role, and the Death Wish (2018) remake alongside Bruce Willis. In 2019, she joined The Boys as Madelyn Stillwell, a high-ranking executive in the superhero corporation Vought.

Shue reunited with Tom Hanks in Greyhound (2020) and made a guest appearance as Ali Mills in Cobra Kai, reprising her role from The Karate Kid.