Chillin With Ivan Shaw

Born in Taiwan, raised in Upland, California, actor Ivan Shaw is currently juggling roles on the hit FOX drama The Cleaning Lady with Oliver Hudson and AMC+’s brand new spaghetti western The Dirty Black Bag.

In AMC+’s series he stars as deputy to Dominic Cooper’s Sheriff McCoy. Shaw is also set to join Taylor Schilling and Connie Britton in the AppleTV+ drama series, Dear Edward, from showrunner Jason Katims.

 

Ivan began to dabble in acting while studying Math and Economics at UCLA. Not long after graduating, he moved to New York for a contract role on All My Children. During that time, he worked in various Off-Broadway productions before landing the primetime NBC series The Book of Daniel, alongside Aidan Quinn and Ellen Burstyn. Following the series, he began writing and directing shorts, music videos, and commercials while appearing in shows such as On The Verge, Casual, New Girl, Insecure, Better Things, Silicon Valley, Rizzoli & Isles, NCIS, CSI, Monk, and The Closer among others.

 

His film credits include the Blumhouse thriller Nocturne opposite Sydney Sweeney for Amazon Prime, Netflix’s Life Happens, and Get Him To The Greek. He went on to produce and appear in The Time Being feature film which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and co-starred Sarah Paulson, Corey Stoll, and Wes Bentley.

 

Chilled chats with Shaw about his lifestyle, including how he spends his downtime, where and what he likes to drink, his one time behind the stick, and more. Tell us about the projects you are working on.

 

The latest development is I’ve joined an Apple show called Dear Edward, based on the novel by Ann Napolitano. It’s about a plane crash where the lone survivor is a 12-year-old boy, Edward. Jason Katims wrote the series, and it will be shot in New York. To say I’m overly excited is an understatement.

 

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With your busy schedule, what do you like to do with your downtime?

Surf. I try to get in the water the moment I have any downtime. It’s just the best way to destress and hit the reset button. New York will make that a bit more challenging.

 

When you go out to eat, where do you like to dine?

Oh man, all sorts of places. Anywhere from the local natural wine bar to several Koreatown restaurants, to some of the best Taiwanese food in town.

 

What types of dishes do you typically order?

It really depends on where I am. If I’m in Koreatown, Galbi. If I’m at Pine and Crane, dan dan mien.

 

Any favorite bars?

The Ten Bells in NYC.

 

What drinks do you order when out? Favorite drink?

I love natural wine. So, it’s a lot of that. A good pet nat, or a funky orange. Depends on what I’m eating. I’m always up for a good negroni.

 

Do you prepare drinks at home?

Yes, americanos. Campari, vermouth, soda, with an orange peel. At the beginning of lockdown, I just naturally gravitated towards it for some reason. I’m not sure why. Maybe it reminded me of better times.

 

Tell us about your home bar. What is it stocked with?

Well, we have the gamut of things. I have a Johnny Walker Black from the 70s, an Old Taylor from that time as well (I believe). Then I have Kavalan, Nikka, and Hibiki. A bunch of random things for guests. Vodka, gin, vermouth, etc. Other than that, mostly natural wine.

 

Have you ever been a bartender?

Yes for one night. I was doing a charity event in New York decades ago and they had the actors shake drinks. I didn’t know what I was doing.

 

If you could share a drink with anyone, who would it be?

Bruce Lee.