Tom Shadyac Biography

Fast Facts

• Graduated from UCLA in 1989 with a Master's in film after finishing the acclaimed short "Tom, Dick and Harry․"
• Studied pre-law at the University of Virginia before going to UCLA
• His father was a member of the board for St․ Jude Hospital as the CEO of their fundraising section ALSAC until his passing in 2009
• Became the youngest joke writer on the staff for Bob Hope at the age of 24
• Made his directorial debut with "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective․"
• Quote: "(On his accident) ""I think that when you face death, things like privacy don't matter as much․""
• Quote: "(On his accident) "The accident didn't create a wisdom moment-I simply got knocked from my head to my heart and had the courage to talk about all the hypocrisy I'd woken up to in my life․""
• Quote: "(On comedy) "Joke writing is often about what we find absurd, and I saw a lot of absurdity in the way we walk in this world, the way we behave with each other, and the way adults quite often don't behave like adults․""
• Quote: "(On getting in comedy) "Something happened in me when I watched her watching Johnny Carson․ I could see how his humor and perspective alleviated her pain, and how powerful and sacred that act was․ Comedy became my medicine to help heal․""
• Came to appreciate a less lavish lifestyle after a bicycle accident in 2007
• Found in the "Who's Who Among High School Students" in 1975 and 1976
• Revealed bits of his post-accident life through the documentary, "I Am․"