Father of the Bride director Charles Shyer dies aged 83

Father of the Bride director and Private Benjamin co-writer Charles Shyer has died aged 83.

Shyer, who created some of Hollywood’s most loved movies, has left an ‘unfillable hole’ in his family’s lives following his death on Friday December 27.

In a statement, they wrote: ‘It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing.

‘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’s left behind.

‘We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him,’ they added to Variety.

Alongside his former wife Nancy Meyers and Harvey Miller, Shyer was nominated for an original screenplay Oscar after their 1980 film Private Benjamin, which starred Goldie Hawn as the titular character.

The couple married in the same year as the film’s release, and continued to produce successful movies throughout the 80s and 90s.

Their other box office smashes included Baby Boom, Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride II. Irreconcilable Differences, featuring Drew Barrymore and Sharon Stone, also gained critical acclaim.

Their final movie was the iconic The Parent Trap, which saw Lindsey Lohan play twins separated at birth, who try to get their family back together.

Nancy and Shyer divorced after 19 years of marriage, but became chummy after reconnecting at their daughter’s friend’s wedding.

Speaking about their return to a friendship, Nancy, now 75, wrote in the New York Times: ‘Having written my share of romantic comedies, I do enjoy a happy ending, and I think Charles and I have finally found ours.

‘I am no longer almost 70; I am 70, and it turns out my 69th year came to a close with a surprise ending: It brought me a new relationship with Charles that can best be described as ‘old friends.’

Back to working solo, Shyer directed The Affair of the Necklace, and Alfie. His last directing credit is in the 2022 movie The Noel Diary, and he co-wrote Best. Christmas. Ever! in 2023 – both for Netflix.

Los Angeles-born Shyer began his writing career on TV series The Odd Couple, before working on Happy Days, The Partridge Family and Barefoot in the Park. He then made his move to feature films.

Speaking about the enduring love of his movies, Shyer previously told Indie Wire that it never crossed his mind whether people would still care about them in the future.

‘It never crossed my mind — or it never crosses my mind. You try to write things that are not basically of the moment, especially in comedy. Billy Wilder said, “Comedy is not like fine wine. It does not age well.” And so I guess you try to do movies that you don’t put in references that are of the moment,’ he explained.

‘I think it was: not be corny, don’t be of the moment, and try to write stories about human beings that will reflect on today and tomorrow and yesterday.’

Shyer added that throughout his career he always just ‘gravitated towards stuff I like.’

‘You just write what you feel. I like movies about people, and I want them to have substance of some sort.’

Shyer is survived by filmmaker Hallie Meyers-Shyer, 37, Annie Meyers-Shyer, 44, Sophia Shyer, 18, and Jacob, 18. 

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