Garry Marshall, the legendary writer and director who created the wildly popular television programs “Happy Days”, “The Odd Couple”, “Laverne & Shirley” and “Mork & Mindy” has died at the age of 81.
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Starting out as a journalist at the New York Daily News, Mr Marshall went on to become a successful TV scriptwriter and was behind hit U.S. sitcoms Laverne & Shirley and Mork And Mindy starring the late Robin Williams.
The hits kept coming, from 1990’s “Pretty Woman” (which propelled Julia Roberts to stardom), 1999’s “Runaway Bride” and 2001’s “The Princess Diaries” (which made Anne Hathaway a household name).
Henry Winkler, who played The Fonze in Happy Days, said on Twitter: “Thank you for my professional life”. Thank you for your loyalty, friendship and generosity”, while Albert Brooks wrote, “R.I.P. Garry Marshall.
The 1987 film Overboard, in which a working-class handyman (Kurt Russell) tricks an amnesiac wealthy woman (Goldie Hawn) into being his wife, had an even more deranged storyline than Pretty Woman.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, nurse Barbara Sue Marshall, and leaves behind his two sisters, three children, and six grandchildren.
Marshall, who was a former journalist, first found success in 1970 when he and his writing partner turned the Broadway show The Odd Couple into a TV series. Today, we lost someone who not only changed my life, but changed and touched the lives of so many others.
Howard told CNN in a statement that Marshall was “the greatest boss I’ve ever had”.
Andrews’ Diaries co-star, Hector Elizondo, who worked on several projects with Marshall, also spoke to ET about the loss on Tuesday.
He spent the 1980s and 1990s directing films, including the blockbuster “Pretty Woman”, with actors Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, minting $463 million worldwide.
Marshall’s funeral services will be private, though a memorial is being planned for his birthday on November 13.
Marshall directed almost 20 films, including Young Doctors in Love, Beaches, Overboard, The Princess Diaries, The Other Sister, and New Year’s Eve.
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Marshall said in an interview that he began writing as a young man “because I was sick all the time. when you’re sick in bed there’s not much you can do”. Gary (sic) Marshall I love you. In his son Scott Marshall’s 2006 comedy “Keeping Up With the Steins”, Marshall had a small but notable role as the grandfather of the bar mitzvah boy who has adopted Native American customs. Not only was he a wonderful director, but also, he was a gentle, loving, kind man. RIP.
