Oscar-Winning Director William Wyler's Daughter and Her Husband Found Dead Inside Car

Judith Sheldon, 84, the daughter of director William Wyler, was found dead inside a car alongside her husband, Wylie Sheldon, 86, in northern California on Monday, June 15, E! News reports.

In a collision report obtained by the outlet, the California Highway Patrol stopped to investigate a car parked on the shoulder of a highway at 5:45 p.m. local time.

"The CHP officer observed the vehicle was running and the driver and passenger were unresponsive inside the vehicle," the report said. "A second CHP officer arrived on scene, and both officers rendered medical aid to the parties along with medical personnel."

Both Judith and Wylie were pronounced dead on the scene, with it being described as "what appears to be medically related."

The exact cause of death as well as the circumstances surrounding it are under investigation.

Lieutenant Josh Smith of the California Highway Patrol spoke with SFGate, saying that they do not suspect foul play, adding that they are "retracing the couple's journey from the Bay Area to check where they stopped along the way."

"It was the hottest day of the year so far, or second hottest. I'm sure there's always a possibility that excessive heat played a role," Smith said. "But I can't confirm that without a medical exam."

Judith is the daughter of Wyler, a director who received numerous accolades across his five-decade career, including winning three Academy Awards. Wyler, who died in July 1981, still holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations for Best Director with 12. Behind him is Martin Scorsese with 10 nominations and Steven Spielberg with nine. Her mother, actress Margaret Tallichet, appeared in numerous films across her career, being best known for her leading role in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940),

Judith was a big supporter of the arts and served as the chairman of the board of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival for nearly 30 years.

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 11:12 AM.