The San Francisco film community is in mourning following the deaths of prominent arts patrons Judy Wyler Sheldon and her husband, Wylie Sheldon.

The couple was found deceased on Monday evening inside their running SUV on the right shoulder of northbound Interstate 5, north of Fawndale Road, near Redding, California.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the incident appears to be “medically related.” CHP officers discovered the couple unresponsive in their 2022 Jeep Compass, with Judy Sheldon, 84, in the driver's seat and Wylie Sheldon, 86, as the passenger.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The circumstances and exact cause of their deaths remain under investigation.

This development is significant for the San Francisco arts scene, as the Sheldons were deeply embedded in its cultural fabric.

The couple was reportedly en route to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.

Investigators are currently retracing their route from the Bay Area to determine any potential stops they may have made.

While Redding experienced extreme heat warnings with temperatures reaching approximately 109 degrees on the day of their deaths, the CHP has not confirmed if heat was a contributing factor.

Judy Wyler Sheldon was a highly respected figure, known for her decades of work supporting silent film preservation.

She served as a longtime leader and chair of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.

Her father was the acclaimed Oscar-winning filmmaker William Wyler, director of classics such as “Ben-Hur” and “Roman Holiday.” Wylie Sheldon was also a dedicated arts supporter, and together, their San Francisco home was a well-known gathering place for visiting archivists, musicians, and film enthusiasts.

Anita Monga, artistic director of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, expressed profound sadness, stating that Judy and Wylie were “very dear to us, supportive and a positive presence at all our events.” Stacey Wisnia, the festival’s executive director, highlighted Judy Sheldon’s consistent attendance and engagement, describing her as a “San Francisco treasure” who shared charming stories about her travels and her father.

Eddie Muller, founder of Noir City and a Turner Classic Movies host, remembered the Sheldons as “two of the kindest, sweetest, most generous people I knew,” emphasizing Judy’s vital role in the success of the Silent Film Festival.