Background
Mayer was born in New York City, New York, the daughter of actress Sasha von Scherler (1934–2000) and Paul Avila Mayer (c 1933 – July 10, 2009), and a granddaughter of screen writer Edwin Justus Mayer.
Mayer was born in New York City, New York, the daughter of actress Sasha von Scherler (1934–2000) and Paul Avila Mayer (c 1933 – July 10, 2009), and a granddaughter of screen writer Edwin Justus Mayer.
After contributing to the New York Shakespeare Festival as a teen, Von Scherler Mayer graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in theater and history.
Upon graduating from Wesleyan, Von Scherler Mayer went on to direct contemporary interpretations of classic plays such as Euripides" Electra, Shakespeare's The Tempest, and Shakespeare"s Two Gentlemen of Verona. Von Scherler Mayer’s feature film directing debut was the critically acclaimed 1995 film Party Girl. The success of the film led to a Fox television series starring Christine Taylor.
Since Party Girl, Von Scherler Mayer has been writing and directing films, as well as directing television productions.
Von Scherler Mayer directed Madeline, a 1998 film based on Ludwig Bemelmans’ famous children's books about the adventures of a young redhaired French girl. Madeline starred Frances McDormand, Nigel Hawthorne and Hatty Jones as Madeline.
Von Scherler Mayer is married to film composer David Carbonara. They have two children.