Acclaimed filmmaker Charles Shyer, known for directing beloved movies like "Father of the Bride" and "Baby Boom," and co-writing the Oscar-nominated "Private Benjamin," has passed away at 83. His daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, confirmed his passing at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a short illness.
Shyer's family released a statement expressing their profound grief and celebrating his five-decade career in Hollywood. His work, they said, leaves a lasting legacy through his children and a remarkable body of work.
Shyer's career began with co-writing the 1979 hit "Private Benjamin" with Nancy Meyers and Harvey Miller. The film garnered significant success, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay and a Writer's Guild of America Award. Goldie Hawn, the film's star, also received a Best Actress nomination, and Eileen Brennan was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
Shyer and Meyers, who married in 1980, continued their collaboration on several successful projects, including "Irreconcilable Differences" (1984), which marked Shyer's directorial debut. They followed up with the Diane Keaton-led "Baby Boom" (1987), which garnered a Golden Globe nomination. The duo even created a sitcom based on the film.
Their remake of the 1950 classic "Father of the Bride" in 1991, starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, was another major triumph. They collaborated again on "I Love Trouble" (1994) and "Father of the Bride Part II" (1995).
Their final collaboration was the 1998 remake of "The Parent Trap," starring Lindsay Lohan, which Shyer produced and co-wrote. The couple divorced the following year.
Shyer's later work included the historical drama "The Affair of the Necklace" (2001), the remake of "Alfie" (2004), and the Netflix holiday films "The Noel Diary" (2022) and "Best. Christmas. Ever!" (2023), which he co-wrote.
Born in Los Angeles in 1941, Shyer was the son of a prominent Hollywood figure, Melville Shyer. He began his career assisting on the television show "The Odd Couple" before moving on to feature films. His early credits include "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977) and "Goin' South" (1978).
Shyer was married three times and is survived by his four children, including Hallie Meyers-Shyer, who has also become a successful filmmaker.
