Classic actress Judith Sheldon and her husband were discovered dead in a running vehicle on Monday, the California Highway Patrol said.
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CHP reported that the couple was unresponsive in a parked Jeep Compass on the shoulder of Interstate 5. They were pronounced dead on the scene, despite receiving medical treatment.
Sheldon, 84, was the daughter of William Wyler, an award-winning filmmaker. Wyler was known for many Hollywood hits, including his 1959 epic Ben-Hur, which boasted the largest budget in history at the time of release.
Produced on a $15 million budget -- roughly $166 million in today's economy -- Ben-Hur won 11 Academy Awards, a record that only Titanic and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003) have matched.
By the end of its theatrical run, only Gone With the Wind outpaced Ben-Hur in box office revenue. The film director is also known for Wuthering Heights, Mrs.Miniver, and The Best Days of Our Lives.
Like her father, Sheldon also possessed a passion for filmmaking.
Judith Sheldon Helped Preserve Silent Film
Sheldon was the board chair of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. The Bay Area arts community is mourning her loss.
"We are reeling from this news," Anita Monga, artistic director of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, told the Chronicle. "Judy and Wylie were very dear to us, supportive and a positive presence at all our events."
Authorities said that the specifics of the couple's death are unclear, but it is under investigation. They have not indicated that foul play was involved.
Following her brief career as an actress in the 1950s, Sheldon devoted much of her life to preserving silent film.
She shared nearly 60 years of marriage and two sons with her husband, Wylie Sheldon. They were both well regarded in the San Francisco arts scene.
"They were so dear and devoted to one another," said Monga. "I know that being part of San Francisco was very important for them. They were in a position to be supportive of the arts. They raised their family here, and they were such integral parts of the community."
