His film credits include When Harry Met Sally, City Slickers, The Addams Family, Sister Act, Sleepless in Seattle, The American President, The First Wives Club, Patch Adams, and South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut. He oft works in films by Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner and Trey Parker.

Shaiman has earned the Tony Award for his work on the musical Hairspray, five Academy Awards nominations, and an Emmy (plus deuce nominations).

He sleep in two Los Angeles and New York City with theater director & collaborator Scott Wittman, with whom he co-wrote a Broadway musical comedy version of John Waters' film Hairspray.