At age 15 wrote, produced, and directed training film for the carryout boys at his father's supermarket

Won grand prize, split with a young Martin Scorsese, for a short entered in a national competition for under-25-year-olds

Wrote, produced, directed and edited short films, trailers and television commercials

Founded New Line Cinema Corporation out of his Greenwich Village apartment; served as president and chief executive officer

Initially specialized in distributing 16mm films on the college circuit

Distributed features as diverse as "Reefer Madness" and Jean-Luc Godard's experimental documentary "Sympathy for the Devil" (marketing the latter as a rock'n'roll film)

Acquired John Waters' breakthrough feature "Pink Flamingos" for distribution; beginning of New Line's long association with writer-director Waters

Feature producing debut, "Stunts", a suspenser for which he also provided the story

Credited as executive producer on Waters' first mainstream comedy, "Polyester"

New Line produced and distributed its first major hit with Wes Craven's "A Nightmare on Elm Street"; began successful franchise

Completed an initial public offering of New Line on the stock market in September; remained controlling stockholder

Increased New Line's production slate to at least 12 films per year, at an average production budget of $5-7 million

TV producing debut, executive produced "Freddy's Nightmares", a syndicated horror anthology series inspired by the popular "A Nightmare on Elm Street" movies

New Line achieved record profits and sales at the end of the fiscal year, buoyed by the success of "A Handful of Dust", "A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master" and Waters' "Hairspray" and the domestic and foreign merchandizing of products related to Freddy Kruger of the "Nightmare" films

New Line made its most ambitious acquisition picking up all North American distribution rights to "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", produced by Hong Kong's Golden Harvest Film

New Line's net profit fell 86 percent for the year ending December 31; loss attributed to relatively poor performance of "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child"; only one in-house produced film that year

Announced largest slate to date with seven in-house productions and eight acquisitions

New Line produced and distributed Reginald Hudlin's "House Party", a black teen-oriented comedy which became one of their most profitable features to date

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" grossed more than $133 million domestic (New Line had only paid $2 million to distribute)

Made feature directorial debut with "Book of Love"

Launched New Line Home Video

With Chemical Bank putting up the bulk of the money, New Line invested in RHI Entertaionment thereby gaining access to RHI's 1,000-title Qintex/Halmi/Hal Roach Library

Launched Fine Line, a division of New Line devoted to producing, distributing and marketing art films; features produced include "My Own Private Idaho" and "Hoop Dreams"

New Line bought out Media Home Entertainment's share of the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series

New Line Television Distribution formed; operated as a division of RHI Entertainment Inc.

New Line acquired distribution rights to Nelson Entertainment's library of 600 films and subsequent foreign theatrical and worldwide video rights to all Castle Rock product; Castle Rock's "Misery", directed by Rob Reiner, first release of New Line Home Video

New Line teamed with financier John Kluge to attempt to buy Orion Pictures Corp. out of bankruptcy; later abandoned effort

New Line acquired by Turner Broadcasting System Inc.; Shaye paid $100 million; signed five-year management contract to continue as president and CEO

New Line signed newlywed actress Geena Davis and director Renny Harlin to two-year, production and development first look, non-exclusive deal

Appeared as himself in "Wes Craven's New Nightmare", a superior and reflexive horror sequel

Named in a $5,000 small-claims court suit against New Line for failing to pay actor Brian Evans residuals for the preceding three years for his work in "Book of Love" (which Shaye helmed)

New Line announced its intent to produce 25 features over the next two years at a cost of $520 million

Produced "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy through New Line Cinema

Returned to directing with "The Last Mimzy"