Charles Shyer, Writer-Director on ‘Baby Boom’ and the ‘Father of the Bride’ Remakes, Dies at 83

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As a seasoned observer of the dynamic world of Hollywood, it is truly captivating to delve into the remarkable journey of Charles Shyer, a man whose life has been as colorful and entertaining as some of his most iconic films. Born and bred in Studio City, he was no stranger to the glitz and glamour that permeated the Tinseltown air. Yet, it was not the allure of stardom or the lure of fame that drew him in; instead, it was the irresistible charm of comedy that ignited his passion and guided his career.

Renowned director and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Charles Shyer, who collaborated with his spouse Nancy Meyers to create numerous heartwarming, laughter-inducing comedies such as ‘Private Benjamin’, ‘Irreconcilable Differences’, ‘Baby Boom’ and ‘Father of the Bride’, has passed away. He was 83 years old.

Shyer died Friday, his family announced. No other details were immediately available.

As a devotee, I’m proud to trace my roots back to Melville Shyer, a legendary assistant director who co-founded the DGA. Together with my then-writing partner, Alan Mandel, I cut my teeth in television comedy, contributing to shows like ‘The Odd Couple’ and ‘The Partridge Family.’ Our big break came when we ventured into feature films, penning the blockbuster ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ (1977), which starred Burt Reynolds and Sally Field.

Shyer’s career took off significantly when he collaborated with Meyers and Harvey Miller to write the script for the 1980 movie “Private Benjamin“, directed by Howard Zieff, which showcased Goldie Hawn in her debut leading role on the big screen. This comedy, centered around a naive Jewish-American princess who joins the U.S. Army following her husband’s death on their wedding night, landed them a nomination for the Oscar for best original screenplay. (Bo Goldman won for “Melvin and Howard.”)

For over two decades starting from 1980, Meyers and Shyer built a formidable reputation as a highly successful married couple duo in the film industry, known for their unique blend of comedy. Their works often resonated strongly with mainstream American society.

1984’s film “Irreconcilable Differences,” marking Shyer’s first foray into big-screen directing, playfully satirized America’s propensity for lawsuits by narrating the story of a 9-year-old girl (Drew Barrymore) who decides to sue her parents (Shelley Long and Ryan O’Neal) over their persistent arguments.

1987’s “Baby Boom,” directed by Shyer, delved into the idea that women can balance careers and family through the story of a successful New York management consultant (Diane Keaton) who unexpectedly becomes responsible for an infant following the demise of a distant relative.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but reminisce about the immense triumph of Meyers and Shyer with their comedy gem, “Father of the Bride” (1991), a delightful take on the chaos that weddings can unleash. This vibrant reimagining of the 1950 original brilliantly showcased Steve Martin as a flustered father grappling with the reality that his cherished daughter (Kimberly Williams) has grown into a woman, ready to embark on her own marital journey.

Steve Martin reached out to us. He had watched ‘Baby Boom’ and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, the script that was previously written didn’t appeal to him,” Shyer explained during an episode of the Indie Film Hustle podcast in 2021.

We adored Steve immensely, and he was in New York. Incidentally, I had never watched the original ‘Father of the Bride’. I didn’t even realize it existed. It wasn’t a genre I’d typically enjoy. However, we enthusiastically agreed, ‘Let’s go see Steve.’ So, we boarded the plane without having read the script. To be clear, I just yearned to direct Steve. Upon reading the script, my desire escalated so much that I felt like leaping out of the aircraft.

However, the opportunity to collaborate with Martin proved irresistible. Recognizing that they could tailor the script to highlight his comedic talents, Shyer and Meyers accepted the offer and studied the original, which starred Spencer Tracy in the father role and Elizabeth Taylor as the bride.

In her review for The New York Times, Janet Maslin noted that the remake of ‘Father of the Bride’ has been effectively updated with fresh humor and new perspectives, yet it still retains its original most iconic scenes.

Just as the original “Father of the Bride” spawned a sequel, so did “Father’s Little Dividend” (1951) inspire laughter from Steve Martin reprising his role as George Banks in “Father of the Bride Part II” (1995), where he grapples with becoming a grandfather.

In the pair of films, they were involved in writing the script for the group comedy “Once Upon a Crime” (1992) and put together a salute to the screwball comedies from the 1930s with the movie starring Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte titled “I Love Trouble” (1994).

In the year 1999, Meyers and Shyer parted ways in marriage. Their final joint project was the script for “The Parent Trap” (1998), which introduced Lindsay Lohan to the silver screen. This film adaptation of the 1961 Disney comedy also served as Meyers’ first directorial endeavor. It’s worth noting that Shyer mentioned in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that Meyers assisted him on his 2022 Netflix movie, “The Noel Diary.

Apart from that, he was also in charge of the film “I Love Trouble”, directed “The Affair of the Necklace” (released in 2001, starring Hilary Swank), and jointly wrote and directed a 2004 adaptation of “Alfie” with Jude Law in the lead role.

Charles Richard Shyer, born on October 11, 1941, in Los Angeles, is the son of Lois and Melville Shyer. His father, versatile in many areas, gained knowledge from film legends like D.W. Griffith and Mack Sennett. He served as the head of production for Chesterfield Pictures and was a founding member of Progressive Pictures, one of the pioneering independent film companies.

Throughout more than five decades in the glamorous world of Hollywood, the senior Shyer not only took charge of several movies but also was instrumental in setting up the Directors Guild of America back in 1936. Some of his directorial ventures include “The Murder in the Museum” (1934) and “Mad Youth” (1939).

Following his graduation from UCLA, his son became one of the initial individuals accepted into the DGA training program.

As a child, I frequently visited film sets with him, and it seemed I had a knack for it. If his profession had been something like dry cleaning, I might’ve ended up in that field. However, I chose to pursue a career in movies instead.

Shyer’s first professional assignments arose from that chance, which included working on “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming,” directed by Norman Jewison (1966), and the NBC sitcom “The Mothers-in-Law,” created by Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Davis.

Initially, Shyer aspired to walk the same path as his father, focusing on direction. However, that plan was temporarily paused when, at a young age, he found himself working as an assistant for screenwriters Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson.

This experience propelled me into a whole new path of writing,” Shyer explained. “At the time, I was Marshall’s assistant on the TV series titled ‘Hey, Landlord,’ which aired in 1966-67 on NBC. My duties primarily included handling their holiday shopping and car washing tasks.

During his free time, Shyer often shared humor and plot concepts during story conferences, with Marshall motivating him to compose. In the early 1970s, Shyer devoted the initial half of the decade to writing scripts for sitcoms, such as “Barefoot in the Park,” “The Partridge Family,” “The Odd Couple” (for which he worked as head writer for several years), and “Happy Days.

Initially more reserved, his ambition lay in cinema. A screenplay he co-authored with Mandel garnered interest from Universal, leading them to invite him for a revision of the comedic road trip film “Smokey and the Bandit,” helmed by Hal Needham.

Originating from Studio City, I’ve never come across the concept of an 18-wheeler radio before. Frankly, I wasn’t aware of its existence,” Shyer explained. “However, when presented with the opportunity, I knew Burt Reynolds was a prominent figure in Hollywood.

1977 saw “Smokey and the Bandit” achieve massive success, ranking as the fourth highest-earning domestic film of that year, trailing behind the record-breaking box office performance of Star Wars. (Star Wars led the pack.)

Shyer and Mandel were hired to revamp two films originally released in 1978 – namely, the romantic comedy “House Calls” starring Walter Matthau and Glenda Jackson, as well as the Western movie “Goin’ South,” directed by and featuring Jack Nicholson.

The film Private Benjamin served as Meyers’ initial credited project, inspired by her real-life story of leaving her wedding and transforming into a screenwriter. Shyer, Meyers, Miller, and Hawn collaborated in the role of producers.

In the past, Miller collaborated with Shyer on projects such as “The Odd Couple” and “The Mothers-in-Law.” It was through this collaboration that Shyer had his first encounter with Meyers. During a date in 1976, Shyer noticed Meyers. As Meyers shared with the “Jewish Journal” in 2003, “Charles was an adorable man wearing a B’nai B’rith T-shirt.

Nancy and I shared the same sense of humor, enjoying similar movies. We often learned about each other’s favorite films, enriching our mutual appreciation. Nancy had a knack for crafting hilarious one-liners, second only to Neil Simon in my opinion. Moreover, we always seemed to be on the same wavelength – as filmmakers, we shared a unique connection.

Shyer and Meyers were acknowledged for their role in creating and producing the 1988-89 NBC version of Baby Boom, with Kate Jackson playing the lead.

In 2011, Shyer collaborated with jewelry designer Liv Ballard on the web series titled “Ieri oggi domani” (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow). Written and directed by Shyer himself, this stylish production showcased Ballard’s designs to critical acclaim across the online world and advertising communities.

The cinematic approach pioneered by the Shyers is being carried forward to a new era. In 2017, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, their daughter, wrote and directed the comedy “Home Again,” with Reese Witherspoon in the lead role.

In addition to the survivors, there is Annie Meyers-Shyer, along with Jacob and Sophia – the twins born during his marriage with Deborah Lynn Shyer from 2004 to 2010. Deborah Lynn Shyer was one of his three wives; prior to her, he was married to actress Diana Ewing from 1969 to 1974.

During his podcast discussion, Shyer expressed that comedy had always been his preference. He stated, “I never found appeal in films set in outer space. Frankly, I never enjoyed them then and still don’t today.” However, he fondly admitted, “Billy Wilder films and those of Preston Sturges were the ones I truly admired. Those were the movies I cherished.

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2024-12-28 18:55