Judith “Judy” Wyler Sheldon, the daughter of Oscar-winning director William Wyler, and her husband, Wylie Sheldon, have died after being found unresponsive inside a running SUV on Interstate 5 in Northern California.
The longtime San Francisco arts patrons were found Monday, June 15, on the shoulder of northbound I-5 north of Fawndale Road, near Redding.
People reported that Judith was 84 and Wylie was 86.
The California Highway Patrol said the circumstances and cause of death remain under investigation.
The Couple Were Found During a CHP Check
KRCR reported that a CHP officer stopped around 5:46 p.m. after seeing a 2022 Jeep Compass parked on the shoulder of Interstate 5.
The vehicle was still running, but the driver and passenger were unresponsive. A second CHP officer arrived, and officers helped medical personnel provide care at the scene. Both Judith and Wylie were pronounced dead at the scene. KRCR reported that the Northern Division Investigative Services Unit is investigating the cause of death.
Extreme Heat Was Present, but Not Confirmed as the Cause
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that CHP described the incident as apparently “medically related,” but said the cause and circumstances remain under investigation.
The Redding area was under an extreme heat warning that day, and temperatures reached about 109 degrees, according to the Chronicle. Officials have not said whether heat caused or contributed to the deaths.
The Chronicle reported that an autopsy could take several weeks and may help determine whether heat played a role. Investigators were also retracing the couple’s route from the Bay Area and checking where they may have stopped before their SUV was found.
They Were Traveling to a Theater Festival
The Sheldons were on their way to Ashland, Oregon, for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The Chronicle reported that the trip was an annual tradition with friends, who were driving separately and expected to meet them for dinner that evening.
The couple’s friends became concerned when Judith and Wylie did not arrive, did not answer repeated calls and had not checked into their hotel.
Judith Sheldon Had Deep Hollywood and Film Preservation Ties
Judith was born Judith Wyler in Los Angeles to William Wyler and actress Margaret Tallichet. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that she had several screen credits in the 1950s, including appearances in The Errol Flynn Theatre, The Buccaneers and BBC Sunday-Night Theatre, before becoming a major supporter of silent film preservation.
She served as board president of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival and later became its longtime chair. In 2024, she introduced her father’s 1929 silent Western Hell’s Heroes at the festival.
William Wyler directed films including Roman Holiday, Ben-Hur, The Best Years of Our Lives, Mrs. Miniver and Wuthering Heights. He won three Academy Awards for directing.
The Arts Community Remembered Their Generosity
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San Francisco Silent Film Festival artistic director Anita Monga told the Chronicle that the organization was “reeling” from the news.
“Judy and Wylie were very dear to us, supportive and a positive presence at all our events,” Monga said.
The Chronicle reported that the couple hosted festival welcome parties for years at their Pacific Heights home, where visiting archivists, musicians and film guests gathered.
Stacey Wisnia, the festival’s executive director, said Judith attended nearly every program she could remember across more than two decades and would be missed for her warmth, curiosity and stories about her father.
Authorities have not released a final cause of death.