Shawn Levy

Shawn Adam Levy (born July 23, 1968) is a Canadian-American filmmaker, producer, and occasional actor renowned for his work in family-oriented comedies and blockbuster entertainment. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a Jewish family, Levy graduated from Yale College in 1989 and earned a master's degree from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts in 1994. He began his career as a child actor in Canadian television and film, appearing in projects such as Miles to Go... (1986), before transitioning to directing in the 1990s with children's shows like The Famous Jett Jackson (1998–2001).

Levy gained prominence in the 2000s as a director of family comedies, helming hits including Big Fat Liar (2002), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), The Pink Panther (2006), and the Night at the Museum trilogy (2006–2014), which collectively grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide. His films often blend humor, adventure, and visual effects, appealing to broad audiences, and have amassed more than $4 billion in global box office earnings as a director. In 2005, he rebranded his production company as 21 Laps Entertainment, a powerhouse in film and television, with its films grossing over $5 billion worldwide at the box office (per company statement). It has produced projects like Arrival (2016), which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Shawn Levy was born on July 23, 1968, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to a Jewish family.