Tom Shadyac

Birth Name:

Thomas Peter Shadyac

Birth Place:

Falls Church, Virginia, United States

Profession

Producer, Director, Actor, Writer, Script department

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 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․""
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․""
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․"

Fast Facts