He began his entertainment career in the 1960s selling jokes to comedians, then moved to writing sketches for “The Tonight Show” with Jack Paar in NY. In 1970, Marshall adapted his first TV hit, The Odd Couple, from a play with writing partner Jerry Belson. The sitcom starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall aired for five seasons. In 1961, he moved to Hollywood to work in television. His directorial resume includes recognized films such as “Overboard” (1987), “Beaches” (1988), and “The Princess Diaries” (2001).
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Gere and Roberts reunited with Marshall for “Runaway Bride”.
On Twitter celebrities shared their grief at the director’s passing. Besides being the pulse and life force of Pretty Woman, a steady helmsman on a ship that could have easily capsized. He had a heart of purest gold and a soul full of mischief. “We consider it a great personal privilege to have known him and will miss his great talent and wonderful humor”.
Michael Phillips, the Chicago Tribune film critic said: “Gary Marshall could nearly do anything especially in the realm of comedy and in more than one medium”.
His work extended beyond the silver screen, too, penning scripts and overseeing production on both Mork and Mindy and Happy Days.
Sarah Paulson, who starred in Marshall’s 1999 film “The Other Side” as well as his 2011 movie “New Year’s Eve” tweeted, “Garry Marshall, I am forever indebted to you”. He changed our lives. As an actor, he’s perhaps most fondly remembered for his recurring role as TV network president Stan Lansing in “Murphy Brown”.
ASHTON KUTCHER: I lost a friend and mentor. Tell us about it in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. My lovely, handsome Garry.
“I was blessed to have worked with Garry Marshall”.
“Garry Marshall was a wonderful man, hilarious, gifted in the ways of humanity and storytelling”, Tom Hanks wrote about him. Twitter users also express their grief through the hashtag #RIPGarryMarshall. “Thank you for everything”.
“Our beloved Garry Marshall has passed today”.
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Sadly Garry Marshall has left behind his wife Barbara (the couple were together for over 50 years) and three children.
