Malinda Lee Shaffer was born in Dixon Illinois, but raised in Montgomery, Alabama. Her father committed suicide when she was 5 and she was raised by her Mother who was a college professor and child star during the depression. Her mother was Jeanne Ellis, who , not only sang with Paul Whiteman's Big Band from 1937-1942., but also played Jeannette MacDonald as a child in The Girl Of The Golden West. Malinda Moved to NYC at 19 to become a professional dancer. She gained a scholarship from the Alvin Ailey School of Dance while Alvin was still alive and cherished her time there learning from him and Judith Jamison. She realized she wanted more than dance and became a Broadway Gyspy. She was blessed to first work With Graciela Daniele in Dangerous Games. It may not have been a success on Broadway , but it taught her what real art and passion meant. She later worked with Bernadette Peters and Martin Short in The Goodbye Girl, where she understudied friend of the star and garnered a scene with her idol on stage. It changed her life. Malinda later appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Damn Yankees, with with Victor Garber and Jerry Lewis and Chita Rivera, The Dancer's Life, with the renowned Chita Rivera. She moved to LA and discovered film. She has been grateful to begin the journey. Ever hard working and grateful, her very first short became an award winning film which won her a best Supporting actress. She works on The Crossbreed (2017)with award winning Turkish director Biray Dalkiran. The journey continues. Show less «