Shawn Elliott (February 24, 1937 – March 11, 2016) was an American actor and singer. He is best known for starring in the original cast of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris onstage and as Paco in the film Short Eyes (1977).
Early years Elliott was born Eliezer Santiago Solis in Santurce, Puerto Rico, and grew up in New York City's East Harlem area where he appeared in a community center production of Oklahoma!
Singing career Elliott had a No. 1 hit in Europe and South America with a cover of Sir Lancelot's "Shame and Scandal in the Family" in 1965.Billboard, November 6, 1965, p. 48: "Vogue is rush-releasing a follow-up to the Shawn Elliott smash, 'Shame'" The cover failed to chart in America where English comedian Lance Percival's version did. However, Peter Tosh and the Wailers, as well as the Blues Busters, copied the arrangement used by Elliot in preparing their own later covers of the song. Elliott recorded a minor disco hit "Nice and Slow" in 1976.
Elliott originally recorded for Roulette Records,Billboard, November 27, 1965, p. 24: "Roulette recording star Shawn Elliott visiting Holland for an appearance on the VARA TV show..." before moving with his brother Roland to Atlantic Records in 1968,Billboard, March 16, 1968: "Shawn Elliott joined Atlantic Records, where his first three numbers are being written by the artist and his brother, Roland Elliott"Billboard, June 15, 1968, p. 58: "Shawn Elliott, Atlantic Records artist, signed an exclusive song-writing contract with Hill & Range Music." although none of his later records matched the success of his 1965 hit.
Selected discography "Goodbye My Lover", 1962 "Sincerely and Tenderly", 1963 "Shame and Scandal in the Family"; B-side "Josephine", 1964 "You Opened Up My Eyes", 1967 "You've Turned Away", 1968 "Little Children", 1968 "I Found Myself a Brand New Baby", 1970 "Marieke" "Child Is Father of the Man", 1971 "Mr. Love", 1976
Acting career After his last single, Elliott turned increasingly to acting. He is known for his roles in the films Short Eyes, Beat Street,Crossover Dreams, Do the Right Thing, Impulse, 13 Conversations About One Thing, Double Take, and Arbitrage. His last screen credit was the 2013 film Broken City.
On TV, Elliott played Eduardo Fernandez, father of main characters Alex and Gaby, on the PBS children's show Ghostwriter. He also appeared in episodes of NBC's Law & Order, Lifetime's The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Miami Vice, CSI: Miami and American Family.
Elliott also appeared on Broadway in City of Angels (1989) and Marie Christine (1999)"Shawn Elliott Broadway", Playbill.com. Accessed March 19, 2016. and off-Broadway and regionally in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Cyrano De Bergerac, Senor Discretion Himself, Teresa's Ecstasy, Hamlet, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Man of La Mancha. A lifetime member of The Actors Studio, Elliott received a 1998 ALMA Award for Outstanding Latino Cast for PBS' Foto-Novelas. In 2000, he was honored with the Rita Moreno Award for Excellence by the Hispanic Organization of Latin Artists (HOLA).
Personal life Elliott married actress Donna Murphy in 1990. Elliott has two daughters from a previous relationship, Ivy Kaller and Justine McLaughlin. In 2006, Elliott and Murphy adopted a daughter, Darmia Hope Murphy Elliott.
Death Elliott died from cancer in New York City on March 11, 2016, at age 79.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1975 Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris 'Madeleine' Voice1977 Short Eyes Paco 1984 Beat Street Domingo 1985 Crossover Dreams Orlando 1986 Off Beat Hector 1988 The Dead Pool Chester Docksteder 1989 Do the Right Thing Puerto Rican Icee Man 1990 Impulse Tony Peron 1991 Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh 1992-1995 Ghostwriter Eduardo Fernandez 1996 Caught Santiago 1997 Hurricane Streets Paco 1998 Le New Yorker Farrakhan 2000 Blue Moon The Ambassador 2001 Double Take Thomas Chela / Minty Gutierrez 2001 Thirteen Conversations About One Thing Mickey Wheeler 2005 La fiesta del Chivo Johnny Abbes 2012 Arbitrage Flores 2013 Broken City Raul Barea (final film role)
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