He received a parochial high school education, later attaining a degree in history from Fordham University.
Shea broke into the entertainment industry in 1951, initially as a stage manager for the TV series Philco Playhouse, and, following two years of service with the United States Air Force, serving from 1952 to 1954, during the Korean War, making instructional films in Los Angeles,[1] and later becoming an associate director.
Among his other credits include The Waltons, Silver Spoons (91 episodes[1]), Growing Pains and Designing Women, the last earning him a second Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
Shea was also a former member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee for Communications.
On January 2, 1954, Shea married the former Patricia C. Carmody, who, later known as Patt Shea, became a three-time Humanitas Award-nominated screenwriter whose credits include the CBS-TV series All in the Family, story editor and/or writer for 38 episodes of Archie Bunker's Place, in addition to screenwriter for episodes of Lou Grant, Valerie, Cagney & Lacey, In The Heat of The Night, Bagdad Café, and the CBS pilot for Gloria, Sally Struthers’ spin-off from the popular All In The Family TV series, among many other television series.