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Charles Shyer, who earned an Academy Award nomination for co-writing “Private Benjamin” and directed hit films including “Father of the Bride” and “Baby Boom,” died. He was 83 years old.
On Saturday, a representative for Shyer confirmed the director’s death to Fox News Digital. His daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer, who he shared with former frequent collaborator and ex-wife Nancy Meyers, said The Hollywood Reporter that her father died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a brief illness.
“It is with an incredibly heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of our beloved father, Charles Shyer,” the Meyers-Shyer family wrote in a statement they shared. with deadline.
The director of the film “Father of the Bride” Charles Shyer died at the age of 83. (Jesse Grant/WireImage for Star Magazine)
They continued: “His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another like him.”
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In 1979, Shyer co-wrote the comedy “Private Benjamin” with Meyers and screenwriter Harvey Miller, which the trio co-produced with the film’s star, Goldie Hawn.
The film was a huge box office success with a script by Shyer, Meyers and Miller that received a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Comedy and an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Hawn’s performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, while the late Eileen Brennen received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
“Private Benjamin” premiered in 1980, and Shyer and Meyers were married in Rome that same year. The former couple reunited in the 1984 comedy-drama “Irreconcilable Differences,” starring Ryan O’Neal, Shelley Long and Drew Barrymore.
Shyer made his directorial debut with the film, which the duo co-wrote.
Nancy Meyers collaborated with Shyer on a number of hit films. (Presley Ann/Getty Images for TCM)
Shyer and Meyers’ next collaboration was the 1987 romantic comedy, “Baby Boom,” starring Diane Keaton. The pair co-wrote the screenplay for the film, and Shyer directed it. “Baby Boom” was nominated for a Golden Globe for best comedy or musical, while Keaton won for best actress.
Meyers and Shyer later created a sitcom of the same name based on the film, which ran from 1988 to 1989.
The former couple’s hit streak continued when they remade Vincente Minnelli’s 1950 comedy Father of the Bride. The 1990 hit version of “Father of the Bride,” starring Steve Martin, Keaton, Kimberly Williams and Martin Short, was directed by Shyer. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Meyers, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.
The former husband-wife duo collaborated on the 1994 film “I Love Trouble,” which the two wrote and Shyer directed.
The former couple teamed up for the remake of “Father of the Bride.” (Touchstone/Getty Images)
Shyer and Meyers teamed up again for the 1995 sequel, “Father of the Bride Part II.” They shared writing credits, with Shyer directing.
In 1998, Meyers made her directorial debut with the megahit romantic comedy The Parent Trap, starring Lindsay Lohan as long-lost twin sisters who conspire to reunite their parents. Shyer produced the film, which he also co-wrote with Meyers and David Swift.
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“The Parent Trap” will mark the final collaboration between Shyer and Meyers, who divorced in 1999.
Shyer went on to direct and co-produce the 2001 historical drama “The Affair of the Necklace,” starring Hilary Swank.
He followed it up with the 2004 remake of the 1966 film “Alfie,” which he wrote, directed and produced. The film starred Jude Law in the lead role, as well as Susan Sarandon and Sienna Miller.
One of Shyer’s latest projects was the 2022 Netflix film “The Noel Diary.” (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
In 2022, Shyer directed and co-wrote Netflix’s Christmas romantic comedy “The Noel Diary.” His most recent project was Netflix’s 2023 holiday comedy “Best. Christmas. Ever!” which he wrote.
Born in Los Angeles on October 11, 1941, Shyer was the son of executive producer and director Melville Shyer, who co-founded the Directors Guild of America, and Lois Delaney. Shyer later attended the University of California, Los Angeles and became an assistant to “The Odd Couple” TV series producers Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson. He later became the head writer and associate producer of the hit series.
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Shyer received his first feature screenplay credit for the 1977 film “Smokey and the Bandit,” starring Burt Reynolds. He co-wrote the screenplay for Jack Nicholson The 1978 film “Goin’ South”, in which the actor starred and directed.
Shyer’s daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, followed in her parents’ footsteps. (Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)
The director’s first major recognition came when he earned a WGA Best Screenplay nomination after co-writing 1978’s “House Calls.”
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Shyer was married to actress Debra Ewing from 1969 to 1974. After his marriage to Meyers ended, he was married to Deborah Lynn from 2004 to 2009.
Hallie Meyers-Shyer followed in her parents’ footsteps, directing and co-writing the 2017 comedy “Home Again,” in which she stars Reese Witherspoon. Meyers and Shyer also have a daughter, Annie Meyers-Shyer.
He is survived by Hallie and Annie, as well as twins Jacob and Sophia, whom he shared with Lynn.
