- Twin brother of production designer Richard Sylbert.
- Uncle of Daisy Alexandra Sylbert-Torres and Lulu Sylbert.
- Brother-in-law of Sharmagne Leland-St. John.
- Ex-brother-in-law of Susanna Moore.
- Teaching production design at Temple University film school, his alma mater (September 2005)
- Elia Kazan (Sept 7, 1909-Sept 2, 2003, age 94), producer and director, hired identical twin brothers, born April 16, 1928, Richard "Dick" (deceased March 23, 2002, age 74) and twin brother Paul Sylbert as his "Baby Doll" art department set designers, both twin brothers sharing the art director credit. The Sylbert twins had primarily been working in New York City's live television production as IATSE #829 scenic designers and set decorators. The Sylbert twins had Kazan hire their fellow New York City CBS television studio set decorator Gene Callahan (Nov 7, 1923-Dec 26, 1990, age 67, cancer), who joined them in Benoit, Mississippi to scout local locations and prep the film's primary plantation house location. Consulting and working with Elia Kazan, Gene and the Sylbert twins shared their film designing duties. Knowing of Gene Callahan's Louisiana heritage, Gene was the perfect choice to decorate the squalid run down plantation house interiors and plantation sight exteriors. Gene found the "baby doll" iron bed in a local antique shop, which became a featured prop in the film's set and playbill advertisements. The Sylbert twins and Gene were always on the film set with Kazan and his cinema photographer, during cast/camera rehearsal blocking shot, subsequent filming, on every set up. This was a natural condition to a television art department team, being a part of the cast and crew rehearsal and filming schedule, day and night. When not with the film crew, they would be preparing the next scene/film shot for the company move. Upon completion of the Mississippi filming, Gene took the "iron baby doll bed" back with him to New York City, placing the bed in his spacious and large West Side apartment's living room, a conversation piece! Kazan relied on Gene's Southern upbringing and scene interpretation in his rehearsals and scene motivation. This professional "Baby Doll" film relationship and experience secured the Sylbert's and Callahan's future alliance with Elia Kazan's future creative film assignments.
- Both Sylbert brothers served in the same Army infantry unit in Korea and attended the school of art at Temple University.
- He contributed with the production design of four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar:One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Heaven Can Wait (1978) Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and The Prince of Tides (1991). Of those, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) are winners in the category.
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