Garry Marshall, writer/producer/director, known for creating “Happy Days” and directing ‘Pretty Woman,” among other projects, died at 81 on Tuesday.
According to Marshall’s publicist, Michelle Bega, Marshall died at a hospital in Burbank, California of complications from pneumonia after having a stroke. His family also confirmed his death to several news outlets.
Marshall graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism. After college, he was in the Army for two years and was stationed in Korea. His next career move was working at the New York Daily News; after pursuing journalism, he moved to California to try out the entertainment industry.
His entertainment career began in the 1960s. One of his first jobs was writing sketches for The Tonight Show, where he drew the attention of Joey Bishop, who recruited him to write for The Joey Bishop Show. Marshall and his writing partner, Jerry Belson, wrote scripts for popular comedies of the 1960s such as The Lucy Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show. In 1970, Marshall produced the sitcom The Odd Couple, which began his rise into TV sitcom fame. In 1979, Marshall had three popular comedies on air: Happy Days (1974-1984), Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983), and Mork and Mindy (1978-1982), which helped launch Robin Williams’ career”
Many of Marshall’s projects helped boost careers and celebrities who worked with him have expressed their condolences regarding his death.
“I believe that television was, and still is, the only medium that can truly reach society’s lowest common denominator and entertain those people who maybe can’t afford a movie or a play. So why not reach them and do it well” Marshall said in his 1995 autobiography, Wake Me When It’s Funny.
Along with writing, directing, and producing, Marshall also had an extensive acting career, starring in TV shows such as The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950-1958), and movies Lost in America (1985) and Soapdish (1991).
Marshall achieved immense success in show business, winning several awards, including the Valentine Davies Award (1995). In 1997, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame for his contributions to television; in 2012, he was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters’ Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Despite his achievements, Marshall remained humble. Marshall’s sister, Penny, also an actress, director, and producer, spoke to the New York Times in 2001, saying that if her brother “has something that doesn’t do great, he’s not around those people who won’t speak to you or will make you feel terrible.”
After having success with sitcoms, Marshall concentrated on directing films. Some of his notable films include Overboard (1987), Pretty Woman (1990), Runaway Bride (1999), among many others.
In a 1980s interview, Marshall spoke about growing up in the Bronx saying, “You only had a few choices. You were either an athlete or a gangster, or you were funny.”
Marshall is survived by his wife, Barbara, his three children Lori, Kathleen, and Scott, his two sisters, and his six grandchildren. Funeral services are private, but there is a memorial planned for November 13, Marshall’s birthday.
