Shaw was born on May 29, 1905 in Holt, Norfolk, England. He was raised in Holt. Shaw stuided at Slade School and at the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts. He was married to Margaret Delamere from 1929 until they divorced in 1956. They had daughter, Drusilla. Shaw died on December 23, 1994 in Brighton, East Sussex, England from natural causes, aged 89.