Tom Shadyac - Details

Biography

TOM SHADYAC made his feature film directorial debut with Jim Carrey's breakout hit Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Following with the smash hit The Nutty Professor, produced by Brian Grazer and starring Eddie Murphy, he then reteamed with Carrey and Grazer for the box office sensation Liar Liar. Most recently, Shadyac directed the Robin Williams' Golden Globe-nominated hit comedy Patch Adams.

Last year Shadyac formed Shady Acres Entertainment, a production company based at Universal Pictures, which is currently developing a number of feature film projects as well as television and music.
Shadyac moved to Los Angeles in 1983 after completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia. He began his career in entertainment at the age of 23, working as the youngest staff joke writer for the legendary Bob Hope. He then returned to college, attending graduate school at UCLA in 1989 where he completed the critically acclaimed short, Tom, Dick & Harry. During this time, Shadyac performed as a stand-up comedian, appearing regularly at the Improv in Los Angeles.