High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Thomas Peter "Tom" Shadyac (born December 11, 1958) is an American comedian, director, screenwriter, and producer. Shadyac, who was the youngest joke-writer ever for comedian Bob Hope, is widely known for writing and directing the films Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty, and the documentary I Am. He is an adjunct professor of communication and teaches screenwriting at Pepperdine University`s Seaver College.