Shay Dunphy was born in Dublin, Ireland. He studied acting at the Dublin Oscar Theatre School where he met his future wife, actress Fiona Dwyer. He studied film directing at the American Film Institute where he co-directed the film "Suicide King." He has three film projects in development. He is the author of several screenplays and stage plays including a screenplay on the life of legendary Irish writer Brendan Behan. His play "American Muscle" about the death of a minor league baseball player from steroid abuse was selected by Laurence Olivier winning playwright and Oscar nominee David Hare to be a finalist in the Yale Drama Series. Shay is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.