Wyler’s Daughter and Husband Die in Hot Car on Northern California Interstate

The elderly daughter of legendary filmmaker William Wyler and her husband were discovered dead in a hot car in Northern California on Monday, July 17, 2023. Judith Wyler Sheldon, 84, and her husband Wylie Sheldon, 86, were found by a California Highway Patrol officer on the side of Interstate 5, north of Redding, according to SFGATE.

The couple, well-known art patrons in the San Francisco art community, were reportedly driving to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival when tragedy struck. The National Weather Service had issued an extreme heat warning for the Northern California area on that day, which was described as the hottest or second hottest day of the year so far.

Josh Smith, a spokesperson for the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, told SFGATE that a coroner would determine the cause of death, but he suspected high temperatures may have been a factor. "It was the hottest day of the year so far, or second hottest," he said.

"I'm sure there's always a possibility that excessive heat played a role."

A longtime friend of the couple, David Smith, told The New York Times that the victims had no liquids in their Jeep Compass, which didn't have a working air conditioner. No signs of automotive failure or a crash were evident.

"They stopped," Smith said. "They both just died there." He had known the Sheldons for more than 40 years.

Smith said he and other friends became concerned when the victims failed to check into their hotel room and couldn't be reached by phone. The San Francisco Chronicle reported their deaths were "medically related."

Anita Monga, artistic director of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, told SFGATE that the Sheldons were an integral part of the Bay Area arts community. "They were so dear and devoted to one another," she said.

Judy was a board chairperson of the film festival's committee.

William Wyler, Judith's father, directed classic films including "Wuthering Heights," "The Best Years of Our Lives," "Roman Holiday," "The Big Country," "Ben-Hur" and "Funny Girl." The Academy Award winner died in 1981.