The American filmmaker, known for cult comedies that he wrote or directed, died following a short illness.
Charles Shyer, American director, screenwriter and producer, died Friday December 27 at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles after a brief illness, according to his daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer who spoke to the Hollywood Reporter. He was 83 years old.
The filmmaker has directed several cult comedies, notably Baby Boom with Diane Keaton (1987), The Father of the Bride with Steve Martin (1991), The Necklace Affair with Hilary Swank (2001) or even Irresistible Alfiewith Jude Law (2004).
He signed or co-signed the screenplays for most of his productions, but also for feature films such as Divorce in Hollywood, The four of us or even La Bidasse (Private Benjaminin VO), which earned him a nomination at the 1981 Oscars in the “best original screenplay” category.
Winning tandem
A screenplay he wrote with Nancy Meyers, another producer, screenwriter and director of comedies (The four of us, The Holiday, Not so simple). Married from 1980 to 1999, they collaborated on numerous occasions, forming a winning tandem of screenwriters/directors/producers.
The family tradition continues with their daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, director ofA Heart to Take with Reese Witherspoon (2017) and Goodrichreleased this year in the United States, worn by Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis.
He had three other children: Annie Meyers-Shyer, born from the same union, and the twins Jacob and Sophia whom he had with his third wife, Deborah Lynn Shyer. He married Diana Ewing for the first time between 1969 and 1974.
Last production in 2023
Son of director Melville Shyer, Charles Shyer was born on October 11, 1941 in Los Angeles. A graduate of UCLA, he began his career in the 1960s with assistant jobs on sitcoms.
Charles Shyer’s most recent films are The Christmas Journalreleased on Netflix in 2022, which he wrote and directed, and Best. Christmas. Ever! comedy released in 2023 in the United States which he co-wrote and produced.
