Garry Marshall, Happy Days Creator And Filmmaker, Dead At 81
Garry Marshall, whose contributions to screens small and big included Happy Days and the original TV adaptation of The Odd Couple, died on Tuesday at age 81.
Access Hollywood was first to report on the legend's passing; per TMZ, he died from complications from pneumonia.
A Bronx native and brother to actress/director Penny Marshall and TV producer Ronny Marshall Hallin, Marshall started out his career as a writer for Jack Paar's Tonight Show, The Joey Bishop Hour and The Dick Van Dyke Show. From there, he went on to develop for TV an adaptation of the Neil Simon play The Odd Couple, before creating Happy Days (which was born of a segment on the Love, American Style anthology series).
The '50s-set Happy Days would launch the multi-hyphenate career of Ron Howard and make Henry Winkler a teen icon, as well as spawn the offshoots Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy and (the short-lived) Joanie Loves Chachi.
His TV creations also includes the Donna Pescow-fronted Angie, Blansky's Beauties, The Brian Keith Show and Hey, Landlord.
As a TV actor, Marshall was featured on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and played Murphy Brown's Stan Lansing. His other credits include Brothers and Sisters, Louie and, most recently, a guest spot on CBS' The Odd Couple reboot.
For the big screen, Marshall directed several seminal films, including The Flamingo Kid, Beaches, Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries.
Marshall also penned the autobiography Wake Me When It's Funny: How to Break into Show Business and Stay There, which I personally cannot recommend enough. Tremendous, compelling (and funny) yarns.
I leave you with Happy Days' original opening credits, plus some remembrances from those Marshall worked with:
Henry Winkler, Happy Days
GARRY MARSHALL Rest In Peace .. Thank you for my professional life. Thank you for your loyalty , friendship and generosity .
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) July 20, 2016
Scott Baio, Happy Days
I'm heartbroken. My mentor and 2nd father has passed. #GarryMarshall pic.twitter.com/Gpn7beNJyu
— Scott Baio (@ScottBaio) July 20, 2016
Thomas Lennon, The Odd Couple
Yvette Nicole Brown, The Odd Couple
Jason Alexander, Pretty Woman
Goldie Hawn, Overboard
Our beloved Garry Marshall has passed. Our family will miss him so very much. RIP dear one. pic.twitter.com/F7y3RkLn1Z
— Goldie Hawn (@goldiehawn) July 20, 2016
Anne Hathaway, The Princess Diaries
Garry Marshall, forever in my heart. pic.twitter.com/H76VjD7SnO
— Kym Buchman (@AHathawayNews) July 20, 2016
Sarah Paulson, The Other Sister
Garry Marshall, I am forever indebted to you. Thank you for taking a chance on me. I love you. On the wings on Angels, rest now.
— Sarah Paulson (@MsSarahPaulson) July 20, 2016