Thomas Peter "Tom" Shadyac is an American comedian, director, screenwriter, and producer. Although Shadyac had been the youngest joke-writer ever for comedian Bob Hope, he is widely known for writing and directing the films Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty, and I Am. He is an adjunct professor of communication and teaches screenwriting at Pepperdine University's Seaver College..