Quiet Frames: Dina Shawkat — Mother, Maker, and the Shawkat-Burke Family Story

Basic Information

A cinematic family tree — the players and the frames

I like to think of this family as a long, slow tracking shot — generations layered one after another, faces half-lit, lives in the background suddenly stepping forward. At the far edge of frame is Paul Burke (1926–2009), the actor whose career is the parental horizon; he anchors the family narrative in mid-20th-century Hollywood. One shot closer is Dina — sometimes credited as Dina Burke, sometimes referred to by the family name you supplied, Dina Shawkat — who moves between the world of practical film work and the intimate, quieter life of an artist and mother.

Center frame, compelling and unmistakable, is Alia Shawkat (born 1989), the actress whose credits (think Arrested Development and later indie-mainstay roles) pulled a bright spotlight onto the family. Alia’s public life is the magnet that draws attention to Dina; yet when you step off the red carpet and into the stills of Instagram or festival galleries, you see Dina’s presence: production credits in the 2000s, paint on her hands, a parent in the wings.

Below is a compact family rundown — a production slate if you will — listing who’s who and what role they play in the family story.

Career: small credits, large texture

If careers were movie genres, Dina’s would be an art-house cross-cut with a documentary — modest on the marquee but rich in texture. Under the name Dina Burke she appears in production and credit lists for at least two films in the 2000s: Vlad (2003) and Bart Got a Room (2008). Those years — 2003, 2008 — read like markers on a timeline that show active involvement in film production during that decade.

But film credits don’t tell the whole set design. Outside the IMDb-style listings, Dina’s footprint is that of a maker: artist posts, festival photographs, and a presence at industry events that suggest someone who knows both the backstage and the palette. She appears to move fluidly between production tables and studio easels — a dual life that gives her a behind-the-scenes credibility and a front-row eye for composition.

If you like numbers: at least two confirmed film credits across a five-year span of the 2000s, three named generations in the family (Paul, Dina, Alia), and one public-facing daughter (Alia, b. 1989) whose celebrity amplified interest in the family.

Public presence and the rumor mill (what is said, what is real)

Here’s where the tracking shot tightens: Dina’s public mentions are usually collateral to stories about Alia. Profiles of the actress often include family notes — a father or grandfather who acted, a mother who worked in production and makes art — and social media posts occasionally surface that show Dina’s creative output.

Gossip? Sparse. There’s more human-interest warmth than tabloid fever: mentions in obituaries, festival photo captions, and artist-feed posts. The “story” that circulates is cinematic but domestic: a mother who made space for an actress to grow, a family whose name we see in credits and captions rather than headline scandals. Net worth whispers are virtually non-existent; no authoritative financial figure is attached to Dina in the public record.

Family dynamics: personalities in close-up

I’ll be honest — when you dig into a family portrait, you find more texture than data. Paul Burke’s era gives the family a classic-Hollywood backbeat; Tony Shawkat’s heritage and entrepreneurial life add a diasporic, modern rhythm; Dina stands at the intersection, practical and creative. Alia’s two brothers exist in the margins of public life — present, private, shielded — which feels appropriate for siblings of a public figure who have chosen quieter lives.

Think of it like this: if Alia is a leading character in a TV series with long monologues and season arcs, Dina is the recurring, unforgettable character who shows up with a single, perfect line that reshapes a scene.

The public record and what’s intentionally off-screen

Numbers again: Paul Burke — born 1926, passed 2009; Alia — born 1989; Dina’s film credits — 2003 and 2008. Beyond those anchors, deliberate silences appear: Dina’s birthdate and private financials are not part of the public script, and two of Alia’s siblings prefer not to be named on the marquee. That’s an important fact in a culture that often confuses visibility with truth — privacy, here, is part of the family’s composition.

FAQ

Who is Dina Shawkat?

Dina Shawkat — sometimes credited as Dina Burke — is the mother of actress Alia Shawkat and has film production credits and an artistic presence in public records.

Is Dina related to actor Paul Burke?

Yes; Paul Burke (1926–2009) is Dina’s father, placing her in a multi-generational acting lineage.

What does Dina do for a living?

Public documents show Dina with production credits in the 2000s and activity as an artist; she appears in festival photos and creative social feeds.

How many children does Dina have?

Public biographies list Alia and mention two brothers for Alia, indicating Dina has at least three children, though the brothers’ names are not widely published.

Does Dina have a public net worth?

No reliable, authoritative net-worth figure for Dina Shawkat is available in public records.

Are there any scandal or gossip stories about Dina?

Major gossip outlets do not appear to focus on Dina; most mentions are family-oriented and arise in profiles about Alia or in memorial notices for relatives.

Under what name does she sometimes appear professionally?

She sometimes appears professionally as Dina Burke, which is used in film credits and public imagery.

Where can I see Dina’s creative work?

Dina’s creative presence shows up in social-media art accounts and occasional festival photos; she blends production experience with visual art in public-facing posts.