A cause of death has not yet been released, but a police spokesperson told Variety a “medical emergency” saw Garry taken to an L.A. hospital on Thursday night, where he died.
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Shandling’s influences on comedy stylings and sitcom structure continue to resonate in both subtle and overt ways, but those early shows also played a direct role in helping shepherd the careers of some of today’s most important talents including actors, writers, and producers. And in 1986, Shandling created “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” for Showtime which ran until 1990 and garnered four Emmy nominations.
The Larry Sanders Show, which aired 89 episodes from 1992 to 1998, was one of HBO’s earliest breakouts. The show centered on a late-night talk show, and the goings on, drama and egos behind the scenes.
Pioneering and innovative Chicago-born comedian Garry Shandling has died of “a massive heart attack”. He also notably guest-hosted “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and was in consideration to become Carson’s replacement. Shandling often broke the “fourth wall” by talking into the camera.
Garry Shandling’s death comes just two months after what just might be his last appearance on a series: An episode of Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Sanders sparked a wave of insider-y, knowing showbiz satires on TV and film, including NBC’s 30 Rock and HBO’s Entourage, and the buzz surrounding it led Time Warner chief Jeff Bewkes, who then ran HBO, to pursue more projects including Sex and the City and The Sopranos.
Fellow comedian Kathy Griffin, who had posted a photo of herself with Shandling and actor Bob Odenkirk just a few days ago on social media, said on Twitter: “Sunday, my longtime friend Garry Shandling was here, making every1 laugh”.
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“The direction I’m going in is eventually you won’t know if it’s a joke or not”, he said.
