Peggy Shaw (born July 27, 1944)[1] is an American actor, writer, and producer living in New York City.
She is a founding member of the Split Britches and WOW Cafe Theatre, and is a recipient of several Obie Awards, including two for Best Actress for her performances in Dress Suits to Hire in 1988 and Menopausal Gentleman in 1999.
[2] Born Margaret A. Shaw in Belmont, Massachusetts, she was raised in a working class Irish Congregationalist family with six siblings.
At the age of 31 after seeing Hot Peaches (a theater group in New York that consisted mostly of drag queens) perform in Sheridan Square, Shaw became involved with the company.
Shaw began by painting sets for Hot Peaches and constructing paper mâché heads for a parade performance.