Iconic actress Paula Shaw, who cemented her place in horror movie history when she replaced actress Betsy Palmer to play Pamela Voehees, the mother of Jason in Freddy vs. Jason has died at the age of 84. She sadly died in her sleep at home in Vancouver following a long illness. The news was confirmed on her website for her workshops The Max with Paula Shaw.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce Paula passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025 morning at 9:00 am. Paula touched countless lives through The MAX, the Mastery, and her transformational work,” the statement began. “Her legacy lives on in the communities she created and the lives she changed.” The star was also well known for her work in the Hallmark holiday movies. Her Hallmark co-star Julie Sherman Wolfe paid tribute in an Instagram post upon hearing the news. “So sad to hear about Paula Shaw’s passing. We often chatted on Facetime after she filmed Hanukkah on Rye, mostly about our shared heritage (and trying to figure out if we were related!) We never found out, but it didn’t matter. She will always be one of my honorary bubbies,” she wrote.
Fans also rushed to pay tribute as the news broke. “I just found out that Paula Shaw has passed. Few days ago I believe. Im SO sad…I absolutely loved her in all her movies,” one wrote. 2This is so sad. Paula was a great actress. Picture a Perfect Christmas was one of the best. May she rest in peace,” another added.
“I loved her in all the Hallmark movies she played in, what a loss to Hallmark. Prayers to her entire family and may she rest in peace,” a third penned. “Aww, I’m so sorry to hear this. She was so loved in all her movies. Prayers for the family and all friendsm” a fourth shared.
“Absolutely loved her in anything she was in. A great actress. Drama. Comedy. She was great at it all. Will sadly miss her and please replay all her movies. Rest in peace Paula. What a gem! Condolences to her family,” a fifth offered.
Meanwhile a sixth siad: “Awww so sad. May she Rest In Peace. Loved her in all the movies she was in. She was a classic lady.”
A life long member of the legendary Actor’s Studio in her six decade career she had many memorable roles. On TV in the 1970s she appeared on shows including The Bob Newhart Show, Starsky & Hutch, Barney Miller, Three’s Company, Lou Grant and Ironside. Decades later she would have roles in shows such as 21 Jump Street, The X-Files, The Commish, Terminal City, Supernatural and Van Helsing.
In 1982 she starred opposite Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds playing Wulla Jean, the original owner of the Chicken Ranch, in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
She also played a coroner in Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia in 2002 opposite Al Pacino. A year later she landed the role that turned her into a horror icon when she played Jason’s mother Pamela Voorhees in Freddy vs Jason.
On the Hallmark channel she played Charlotte Jeffers, the onscreen mother of Andie MacDowell’s character, on the first season of Cedar Cove in 2013. She then went to star in a number of the channel’s famous holiday movies, including Hanukkah on Rye, Hitched for the Holidays, Picture a Perfect Christmas, A Mrs. Miracle Christmas and Round and Round.
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