Andrew Caple-Shaw, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, began his career in regional theater at the age of eight. He later moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18 to play defensive end for Occidental College, with no intention of pursuing acting as a career. Instead, he sought work in TV and commercials to support his goal of obtaining a college degree, with the hope of becoming a professor someday.
However, his football career was cut short after his junior year due to an abdominal injury and a series of concussions. He went on to graduate from Occidental College Magna Cum Laude and was nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship. Despite being offered a chance to stay in academia, he decided to pursue a career in acting, seeing himself as more of a work-a-day character actor than a leading man.
As he established himself in Hollywood, he became heavily involved in the politics of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He played a key role in several campaigns for leaders of the various pro-merger and moderate factions, including those of Melissa Gilbert, Morgan Fairchild, and Roberta Reordan. He also chaired AFTRA's New Technology Committee for several years, held a seat in the AFTRA strategy cabinet, and helped prevent a major work stoppage following the writer's strike of 2007.
Not expecting his coalition to be successful, he enrolled in law school, graduating in less than two years while still actively involved in the union and working as an actor. He also won numerous accolades as an interscholastic Trial Advocate, leading his law school to their first national tournament championship.
In 2010, he left Los Angeles to pursue a career in trial law in Nashville, Tennessee. He was voted onto the board of the AFTRA local and was there when the two unions merged, a personal goal of his for over a decade. Shortly thereafter, he was unanimously voted Vice President of the new SAG-AFTRA Nashville.
He eventually closed his law practice and joined the litigation consulting practice of actress/playwright Katherine James and her partner, Alan Blumenfeld. He now teaches trial skills in some of America's best law firms, as well as within law schools and for attorney trade associations. He prepares attorneys and witnesses for trial and deposition in high-stakes litigation, showing them how to honestly and sincerely tell their story within the restraints of the rules of the courtroom.
Under the moniker "The Advocate," he produces internet videos for law students seeking to learn courtroom technique. He also still works in TV/film in the Southeastern market.
