Shawn Levy

In the years that followed, Levy built a strong working relationship with Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel thanks to such series as The Journey of Allen Strange and The Famous Jett Jackson (the highest-rated movie to that point for The Disney Channel). In 1997, the director made his feature debut with the little-seen comedy drama Just in Time, and in the years that followed, his career gained momentum thanks to such made-for-TV efforts as Jett Jackson: The Movie. He stepped into the big leagues in 2002 with the feature Big Fat Liar. Starring Malcolm in the Middle mischief-maker Frankie Muniz as a young schoolboy whose essay turns into a hit movie after falling into the hands of a sleazy Hollywood producer, Big Fat Liar earned healthy box-office returns. Soon thereafter, Levy returned to the small screen to direct episodes of Do Over and Birds of Prey for the WB network. The following year proved to be a busy one as well, and after directing the moderately successful Ashton Kutcher/Brittany Murphy comedy Just Married, Levy had another hit on his hands with the high-profile Hollywood remake Cheaper by the Dozen. In 2004, he stepped behind the camera alongside producer Ivan Reitman to direct The Pink Panther, a remake of the original Blake Edwards favorite with Cheaper by the Dozen patriarch Steve Martin in the role of the bumbling Inspector Clouseau. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide