Charles Shyer

Charles Richard Shyer (October 11, 1941 – December 27, 2024) was an American filmmaker. Shyer's films are mainly comedies, often with a romcom overtone. His writing-directing credits include Private Benjamin, Irreconcilable Differences (1984), Baby Boom (1987), Father of the Bride (1991), The Parent Trap (1998), The Affair of the Necklace (2001), and Alfie (2004).

Early life Shyer was born in Los Angeles, the son of Lois (née Jones) Delaney and Melville Shyer, a production executive and film director. His father worked with D.W. Griffith and was one of the founders of the Directors Guild of America. After attending UCLA, Shyer was accepted into the DGA's apprenticeship program, which led to work as an assistant director. However, Shyer's focus was soon diverted to writing and he went to work as an assistant to Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson, producers of the TV series The Odd Couple. He eventually worked his way up to head writer and associate producer on the popular series in the early 1970s. He was of Jewish descent.

Career After The Odd Couple, Shyer moved to feature films and received his first writing credit on Smokey and the Bandit (1977). The following year, Shyer co-wrote Goin' South, directed by and starring Jack Nicholson, and received his first Writers Guild of America nomination for Best Screenplay for the film House Calls (1978).

In 1979, Shyer teamed with Nancy Meyers and Harvey Miller to write and produce Private Benjamin, starring Goldie Hawn in the role of Private Judy Benjamin. Receiving positive reviews from critics and ranking number one at the box office its opening weekend, Private Benjamin grossed nearly $70 million within the U.S. and over $100 million worldwide. The screenplay for Private Benjamin won Shyer, Meyers, and Miller the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Comedy and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Screenplay category. The film was also nominated for multiple Golden Globe Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress.

Shyer's Irreconcilable Differences marked his directorial debut. Shelley Long and Ryan O'Neal played a Hollywood couple whose obsession with success destroys their relationship with their daughter, played by an eight-year-old Drew Barrymore. Critics praised the film's even-handed treatment of both main characters and its sensitive updating of 1930s comedy style. Irreconcilable Differences received Golden Globe nominations for Long and Barrymore.

Shyer's 1987 film Baby Boom, like Private Benjamin, dealt with the role of women in a changing, feminist-influenced world, in the form of a romantic comedy. Diane Keaton played J.C. Wiatt, a high-powered executive who unexpectedly finds herself saddled with a baby. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Keaton was nominated as Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.

In 1991, Meyers and Shyer, working from earlier material for the first time, remade the 1950 Vincente Minnelli Father of the Bride with Shyer directing. Father of the Bride received positive reviews from critics, including Janet Maslin's writing “Father of the Bride has been successfully refurbished with new jokes and new attitudes, but the earlier film's most memorable moments have been preserved." Steve Martin won acclaim for his performance of a father "losing" his daughter and his bank account at the same time. Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams, and Martin Short were singled out for praise for their performancess. Meyers and Shyer then wrote, produced, and directed Father of the Bride Part II. As Touchstone Pictures' major attraction for the 1995 Christmas season, Father of the Bride, Part II opened number one at the box office and grossed over $75 million within the U.S.

Shyer co-wrote and produced the Meyers-directed remake of The Parent Trap (1998), grossing over $65 million in the U.S.

Shyer's period drama The Affair of the Necklace (L'Affaire du Collier) starred Hilary Swank.

In 2004, Shyer wrote, directed and produced a remake of the 1966 film Alfie. Alfie starred Jude Law, Susan Sarandon and Sienna Miller in her first major role.

In 2012, jewelry designer Liv Ballard premiered the online fashion film Ieri Oggi Domani (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow), written and directed by Shyer in his first commercial endeavor. The fashion film has since won multiple awards, including two from the Internet Advertising Competition: "Best Fashion Online Advertisement" and "Best of Show 2012."

In 2022, Shyer wrote and directed The Noel Diary, starring Justin Hartley.

In 2023, Shyer co-wrote and produced Best. Christmas. Ever!.

Death Shyer died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on December 27, 2024, at the age of 83.

Films YearFilmCredit(s)Notes 1977 Smokey and the Bandit writer Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or ComedyNominated – Academy Award for Best Film EditingWon – People's Choice Award 1978 House Calls Nominated – WGA Award for Best Original Screenplay Goin' South Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Acting Debut 1980 Private Benjamin writer and producer Won – WGA Award for Best Original ScreenplayNominated – Academy Award for Best Original ScreenplayNominated – Academy Award for Best ActressNominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy 1984 Irreconcilable Differences writer and director Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or ComedyNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Film Protocol writer 1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash writer (as J.W. Melville) 1987 Baby Boom cowriter and director Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy 1991 Father of the Bride Won – BMI Film Music Award to Alan Silvestri (1993) 1992 Once Upon a Crime writer 1994 I Love Trouble writer and director 1995 Father of the Bride Part II writer and director Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy 1998 The Parent Trap writer and producerNominated – Young Artist Award for Best Family Feature – Comedy 2001 The Affair of the Necklace Director & Producer Nominated – Academy Award for Best Costume Design 2004 Alfie writer, director, and producer Won – Golden Globe Award for Best Original SongWon – Critic's Choice Award for Best SongNominated – Empire Award for Best Newcomer 2012 Ieri Oggi Domani (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) writer and director Won – Internet Advertising Competition 2012 for Best Online Fashion or Beauty FilmWon – Internet Advertising Competition 2012 for Best in ShowWon – Best Shorts Competition AwardWon – The Telly AwardWon – The Accolade Competition Award Won – Academy of Visual Arts Communicator Award 2022 The Noel Diary writer and director 2023 Best. Christmas. Ever! cowriter and producer