Andrew Shue

Andrew Shue – Life, Career, and Memorable Reflections


Learn about Andrew Shue (born February 20, 1967) — actor, soccer player, entrepreneur, activist — his early life, major roles, ventures like DoSomething and CafeMom, and quotes that reveal his values and vision.

Introduction

Andrew Shue is an American actor, social entrepreneur, and former professional soccer player. Though many remember him primarily for his role as Billy Campbell on Melrose Place, his life and career encompass much more: activism, startup ventures, and bridging entertainment with social impact. His public statements and quotes often highlight themes of growth, relationships, courage, and serving others.

Early Life and Family

Andrew Eppley Shue was born on February 20, 1967 in Wilmington, Delaware.

He is the younger brother of actress Elisabeth Shue.

Andrew attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey. Dartmouth College, where he earned a B.A. in History in 1989.

Youth, Athletics & Early Career

While at Dartmouth, Shue played soccer and was recognized as a Regional All-America player.

After graduation, he lived in Zimbabwe for a time, where he taught high school math and played soccer. Bulawayo Highlanders, helping the club to significant success in Zimbabwean leagues.

He later played professionally in the U.S., including a stint with the Los Angeles Galaxy during his Melrose Place years.

Acting & Entrepreneurial Career

Breakthrough: Melrose Place and Acting

In 1992, Shue was cast as Billy Campbell on the television soap drama Melrose Place, a role he held for six seasons. The Rainmaker (1997).

Social Ventures: DoSomething & CafeMom

Outside acting, Shue co-founded DoSomething, a nonprofit dedicated to motivating young people toward social change. CafeMom, a social networking site for mothers (and related sites), which became a notable internet venture.

His involvement in these projects shows how he merged his public profile with activism and community building.

Personality, Values & Influence

From his public statements and quotes, several recurring themes emerge:

  • Growth through challenge: He often talks about how difficult experiences teach self-understanding.

  • Value of relationships: Many quotes emphasize that the joys in life stem from friendships, family, and human connection over material things.

  • Courage & risk: He speaks about stepping outside comfort zones, embracing uncertainty, and fighting fear.

  • Service & leadership: His ventures reflect a belief in empowering others, especially youth, to lead and make a difference.

Quotes & Reflections

Below are some of his memorable quotes (sourced and attributed) which reflect his character and worldview:

  • “Life is the most exciting opportunity we have. But we have one shot. You graduate from college once … and you have to find that courage that’s deep, deep, deep in there. Every step of the way.”

  • “When you start suppressing feelings at an early age, it hurts you down the road. Full expression of anger and pain is very important.”

  • “A good balance of winning and losing is important. If you just win all the time, you won’t get anything out of it; having some tough losses can be really important.”

  • “Community service has taught me all kinds of skills and increased my confidence. You go out there and think on your feet, work with others and create something from nothing. That’s what life’s all about.”

  • “The money was good while it lasted. The best part was clearly that it changed my view of what’s possible, as far as thinking how you can have an impact on a national level.”

  • “We started a movement… to build character, citizenship and confidence in young people.”

  • “If you can get a teen leader in each sector … Everybody wants to get involved, but most are too afraid. When they see a person they think is cool leading it, they’re first to join.”

  • “Fear is that thing that keeps you up there on that other plateau. Fear is that thing that just keeps you closed down, and quite frankly, alone.”

Lessons from Andrew Shue

  1. Don’t settle for comfort; growth often lies outside the safe zone

  2. Embrace vulnerability — suppressing emotions may damage you later

  3. Balance success and failure — both are part of forming character

  4. Leadership begins with small acts of service

  5. Relationships and connection matter more than status or wealth

Conclusion

Andrew Shue is far more than a TV personality. He has bridged entertainment, athletics, and social entrepreneurship in pursuit of meaning and impact. His quotes offer windows into a life striving for authenticity, purpose, and connection.

Articles by the author

When you start suppressing feelings at an early age, it hurts you down the road. Full expression of anger and pain is very important.

Andrew Shue

I'm just kind of taking a break now and enjoying the freedom of making my own choices. When you're on a television show for six years, they run your schedule.

Andrew Shue

I have amazing friends who have led inspirational lives.

Andrew Shue

If you can get a teen leader in each sector of a student population, you can pull people in. Everybody wants to get involved, but most are too afraid. When they see a person they think is cool leading it, they're first to join.

Andrew Shue

Life is the most exciting opportunity we have. But we have one shot. You graduate from college once, and that's it. You're going out of that nest. And you have to find that courage that's deep, deep, deep in there. Every step of the way.

Andrew Shue

With my new venture, Club Mom, we want to empower moms to feel their value and also build their collective power to make their lives better and easier. We want to bring them together as a community to share experiences and information.

Andrew Shue

The biggest lesson from Africa was that life's joys come mostly from relationships and friendships, not from material things. I saw time and again how much fun Africans had with their families and friends and on the sports fields; they laughed all the time.

Andrew Shue

Winning isn't everything, but playing and competing and striving and going through things can be a lot of fun and really important. As long as you're doing it in a way that's healthy, sports can be an incredible opportunity.

Andrew Shue

Unfortunately, there are so many people who live their whole life in a place that is safe and protected and simple and they don't really have that strength inside to fly.

Andrew Shue

I'd never been a teacher before, and here I was starting my first day with these eager students. There was a shortage of teachers, and they had been without a math teacher for six months. They were so excited to learn math.

Andrew Shue

I was on Oprah's show recently talking about the people who impacted me the most. One was a teacher and one was my soccer coach. I didn't even go into my family, who had the most influence.

Andrew Shue

The most important role models should and could be parents and teachers. But that said, once you're a teenager you've probably gotten as much of an example from your parents as you're going to.

Andrew Shue

There are 80 million moms in the United States. Forty million stay at home with their children.

Andrew Shue