Conan O’Brien O’Brien opened Thursday night’s show by paying tribute to Shandling.
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A spokesman for the LAPD said they received a call from Shandling’s home on Thursday, saying the comedian suffered from a “medical emergency”. He was not known to be ill and recently retweeted Kathy Griffin’s photo of herself with him and actor Bob Odenkirk.
The Larry Sanders Show received 18 Emmy nominations, but it was the series finale that finally won an Emmy.
Garry Shandling attends the “Not Just the Best of The Larry Sanders Show” DVD Release Party in 2007.
Coroner’s Lt. David Smith said it appeared Shandling died of natural causes.
“Garry Shandling, besides being a comedian, I always said he was a doctor of soul”. In 1992, Shandling starred in and co-created The Larry Sanders Show. His first assignment was as a writer for the show Sanford and Son which aired in the 70s.
Shandling substituted for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show a few times before starting his own critically acclaimed show. Show business isn’t exactly known for being a very welcoming place, so he was particularly valued among his peers and those who followed in his footsteps.
In addition to his TV credits, Shandling also appeared in films such as Iron Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Dr. Dolittle, Zoolander, and voice acted in Over the Hedge. “I can not tell you the times where I walk off, and maybe it’s not the level you want the show to be, and I’ll think to myself, ‘Well, it’s not Best of Larry.’ It makes me feel so much better knowing that people who do jobs like this or have done jobs like this have all felt the same way at any given time”. The Larry Sanders Show was, and still is my favorite American TV show.
On TBS’s “Conan”, O’Brien scrapped his entire monologue as he talked about his close friendship with Shandling, who was an inspiration for his comedy.
He was also a formidable host, hosting the Grammys in 1990, 1993 and 1994, and the Emmys in 2000 and 2004.
Shandling had a successful career for more 40 years.
While Shandling never married, his most public romance was with “Sanders” co-star and fiancee Linda Doucett, who played Hank’s comely assistant in the series’ early seasons.
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“Garry redesigned the wheel of comedy and he was the kindest and funniest of Geniuses”, Tambor said in a statement.
