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Garry Marshall
Garry Marshall 2013 cropped.jpg
Marshall in 2013
Born
Garry Kent Marshall

(1934-11-13)November 13, 1934
New York City, U.S.
Died July 19, 2016(2016-07-19) (aged 81)
Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills
Alma mater Northwestern University
Occupation
  • Screenwriter
  • film director
  • producer
  • actor
Years active 1959–2016
Known for Creator of Happy Days
Spouse(s)
Barbara Sue Wells
(m. 1963)
Children 3, including Scott Marshall
Parent(s)
  • Anthony W. Marshall (father)
Relatives Penny Marshall (sister)
Tracy Reiner (niece)

Garry Kent Marshall (November 13, 1934 – July 19, 2016) was an American filmmaker and actor. Marshall began his career in the 1960s as a writer for The Lucy Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show before he developed Neil Simon's play The Odd Couple for television in 1970. He rose to fame in the 1970s for creating the ABC sitcom Happy Days. He also directed the films The Flamingo Kid, Overboard, Beaches, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, and The Princess Diaries, as well as the romantic comedy ensemble films Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve, and Mother's Day.

Early life

Garry Kent Marshall was born in the Bronx, New York City, on November 13, 1934, the only son and the eldest child of Anthony "Tony" Masciarelli (later Anthony Wallace Marshall; 1906–1999), a director of industrial films and producer, and Marjorie Irene (née Ward; 1908–1983), the owner and teacher in a tap dance school. He was the brother of actress-director Penny Marshall and Ronny Marshall Hallin, a television producer. His father was of Italian descent, his family having come from San Martino sulla Marrucina, Chieti, Abruzzo, and his mother was of German, English, and Scottish ancestry. His father changed his last name from Masciarelli to Marshall before his son Garry was born. Garry Marshall was baptized Presbyterian and also raised Lutheran for a time.

He attended De Witt Clinton High School and Northwestern University, where he wrote a sports column for The Daily Northwestern, and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Beginning in 1956, Marshall served a stint in the U.S. Army as a writer for Stars and Stripes and Seoul News, and was production chief for Armed Forces Radio Network; serving in Korea.

Career

Garry Marshall at the Producers Guild of America's Golden Laurel Awards
Marshall c. 1995

Marshall began his career as a joke writer for such comedians as Joey Bishop and Phil Foster and became a writer for The Tonight Show with Jack Paar. He originally partnered with writer Fred Freeman.

In 1961, he and Freeman moved to Hollywood, where they broke into writing sitcoms on The Joey Bishop Show. Freeman, however, found that he did not enjoy sitcom work, and moved back to New York. Marshall teamed up with writing partner Jerry Belson, and the two worked together through the 1960s. The pair worked on The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Joey Bishop Show, The Danny Thomas Show, and The Lucy Show. Their first television series as creator-producers was Hey, Landlord, which lasted one season (1966–67). Then they adapted Neil Simon's play The Odd Couple for television. Moving into the 1970s, Marshall worked on his own or with others, and created Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley (starring his sister Penny, who had earlier had a recurring role on The Odd Couple), and Mork & Mindy, which were produced by his associates Thomas L. Miller, Robert L. Boyett, and Edward K. Milkis. He was also a co-creator of Makin' It, which the three men also produced.

In the early 1980s, he met Héctor Elizondo while playing basketball, and they became great friends. Elizondo appeared in every film that Marshall directed, beginning with his first feature film Young Doctors in Love. Elizondo once noted that he is written into all of Marshall's contracts whether he wanted to do the film or not. In the opening credits of Exit to Eden, their eighth film together, Elizondo is credited "As Usual ... Hector Elizondo". In 1984, Marshall had a film hit as the writer and director of The Flamingo Kid. Of all Marshall's films, Elizondo had his biggest role in The Flamingo Kid as main character Matt Dillon's father.

Marshall had several responsibilities during this period of his career: most of his hit television series were created and executive produced by him. His first producing assignment came with Hey, Landlord in 1966. He stepped up the next year, producing The Lucy Show. Then came successes in producing The Odd Couple, Laverne & Shirley, Blansky's Beauties, Mork & Mindy, Angie, and Happy Days.

One such project titled Four Stars was directed by Lynda Goodfriend (who portrayed Lori Beth in Happy Days), and was based on a play Goodfriend had read when she was studying at the Lee Strasberg Center, which had been written by John Schulte and Kevin Mahoney. It starred Julie Paris (the daughter of Jerry Paris) and Bert Kramer. Schulte later co-wrote with TV veteran writer and producer Fred Fox Jr., who penned and produced a number of Marshall's television series, including Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley. Marshall went on to focus on directing feature films, with a series of hits, such as Beaches, Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries, Valentine's Day, and New Year's Eve.

Jonny Blu Garry Marshall Princess Diaries 2
Marshall and Jonny Blu on the set of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement in 2004

Marshall was also an actor, appearing in Murphy Brown and in such films as Soapdish, On the Lot, his sister's A League Of Their Own and Albert Brooks' Lost in America, and provided a guest-starring voice for The Simpsons episodes "Eight Misbehavin'" and "Homer the Father" (one of his first roles as an undercover cop in the counter-culture drama Psych-Out starring Jack Nicholson). He appeared in two episodes of Happy Days as a drummer. He was a drummer in the second last scene of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and he plays a drummer in his film Overboard.

His theater credits included Wrong Turn at Lungfish, which he wrote in collaboration with Lowell Ganz, The Roast with Jerry Belson, Shelves and Happy Days: A New Musical with Paul Williams, which had its premiere at the Falcon Theater in Burbank, California, February 24, 2006. He portrayed the role of "director" on Burbank's "Lights... camera... action!" float in the 2014 Rose Parade. In 2014, Marshall appeared in a guest star role in a February episode in season 11 of Two and a Half Men.

Personal life

Marshall married Barbara Sue Wells on March 9, 1963. They had three children, including Scott Marshall. His daughters are Lori Marshall (who he co-wrote a book with) and Kathleen Marshall (who appeared in all of his films).

Death and tributes

On the morning of July 19, 2016, Marshall, aged 81, died at a hospital in Burbank, California, due to complications of pneumonia after suffering a stroke.

Henry Winkler paid tribute to Marshall on Barry in 2019 and SAG-AFTRA made a Memoriam Tribute to Marshall on the SAG Awards in 2019. Also, Julia Roberts paid tribute to Marshall in Pretty Woman: The Musical, in 2018.

ABC aired the special The Happy Days of Garry Marshall on May 12, 2020.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Producer Writer Actor Role Notes
1961 The Phony American No No No Yes U.S. Recruiting Officer
1968 Maryjane No No No Yes Service Station Attendant Credited as Garry K. Marshall
1968 Psych-Out No No No Yes Plainclothesman Credited as Gary Marshall
1968 How Sweet It Is! No Yes Yes Yes Man in top bunk Voice, Uncredited
Screenplay
1970 The Grasshopper No Yes Yes No Screenplay/story
1977 Walkin' Walter No Yes No No Executive Producer
1977 Grand Theft Auto No No No Yes Underworld Boss Credited as Gary K. Marshall
1982 Young Doctors in Love Yes No No No
1984 The Flamingo Kid Yes No Yes No Screenplay
1985 Lost in America No No No Yes Casino Manager Credited as Garry K. Marshall
1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash No No No Yes Police Detective Credited as Garry K. Marshall
1986 Nothing in Common Yes No Yes No First rewrite — uncredited
1987 Overboard Yes No No Yes Drummer Uncredited
1987 Nothing in Common No Yes No No
1988 Beaches Yes No No Yes Audition Director Uncredited
1989 The Lottery Yes No No No Short film
1990 Pretty Woman Yes No No Yes Bum Tour Guide Uncredited
1990 Secret Agent OO Soul No No No Yes Unknown role
1991 Frankie and Johnny Yes Yes No No
1991 Soapdish No No No Yes Edmund Edwards
1992 A League of Their Own No No No Yes Walter Harvey
1993 Hocus Pocus No No No Yes Devil (Husband) Uncredited
1994 Exit to Eden Yes Yes No Yes Priscilla's Client Voice, Uncredited
1995 Statistically Speaking No No No Yes Unknown role Short
1996 The Twilight of the Golds No Yes No No Executive producer
1996 Dear God Yes No No Yes Preston Sweeney, Postmaster Uncredited
1996 Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore No No No Yes Complaining Customer
1996 The Twilight of the Golds No No No Yes Walter Gold
1998 With Friends Like These... No No No Yes Frank Minetti
1998 Hole in the Paper Sky No No No Yes Warren Short
1999 The Other Sister Yes No Yes No Screenplay/story
1999 Runaway Bride Yes No No Yes First Baseman in Softball Uncredited
1999 Kismet No No No Yes Stepfather Short
1999 Never Been Kissed No No No Yes Rigfort
1999 The Space Between Us No No No Yes Steve Mayland
1999 Can't Be Heaven No No No Yes Pawn Shop Broker
2000 It's a Shame About Ray No No No Yes Mr. Brezhnev Short
2001 The Princess Diaries Yes No No No
2001 Tomcats No No No Yes Uncle Murray Uncredited
2001 The Hollywood Sign No No No Yes Director
2001 The Majestic No No No Yes Studio Executive Voice
2002 Orange County No No No Yes Arthur Gantner
2002 Mother Ghost No No No Yes Arthur
2003 The Long Ride Home No No No Yes Arthur
2003 They Call Him Sasquatch No No No Yes Stu Glassman
2003 Devil's Knight No No No Yes Big Eddie
2004 Raising Helen Yes No No No
2004 The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Yes No No Yes Drummer
2005 Mute No No No Yes Pastor Short
2005 Chicken Little No No No Yes Buck Cluck Voice
2006 Keeping Up with the Steins No No No Yes Irwin Fiedler
2006 I-See-You.Com No No No Yes Himself
2007 Georgia Rule Yes No No No
2008 Chronic Town No No No Yes The Doctor
2009 Finding Bliss No No No Yes Himself
2009 Race to Witch Mountain No No No Yes Dr. Donald Harlan
2009 Grand Drip No No No Yes Larry Rosenberg Short
2010 Valentine's Day Yes No No Yes Musician Uncredited
2011 New Year's Eve Yes Yes No No
2014 Life After Beth No No No Yes Grandpa
2015 Scooby-Doo! And Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery No No No Yes Manny Goldman Voice, Direct-to-DVD
2016 Mother's Day Yes No Yes No Story

Television

Year Title Director Producer Writer Actor Role Notes
1960 The Jack Paar Tonight Show No No Yes No 3 episodes
1962–1965 The Joey Bishop Show No No Yes No 12 episodes
1963–1964 Make Room for Daddy No No Yes No 5 episodes
1964 The Bill Dana Show No No Yes No 2 episodes
1964 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre No No Yes No Teleplay
Episode: "Think Pretty"
1964 Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. No No Yes No 2 episodes
1964 Danny Thomas Special No No Yes No Television Special
1964–1966 The Lucy Show No No Yes No 11 episodes
1965 Hank No No Yes No Episode: "Will the Real Harvey Wheatley Pleas Stand Up?"
1965 I Spy No No Yes No Episode: "No Exchange on Damaged Merchandise"
1965–1966 The Dick Van Dyke Show No Yes No Yes Referee, Bartender Episodes: "Body and Sol", "The Gunslinger"
Producer: (18 episodes)
1966–1967 Hey, Landlord No Yes Yes Yes Big Leonard Episode: "A Legend Dies"
31 episodes
1967 Sheriff Who No Yes No No Television Movie
1967 Good Morning World No No No Yes Man Episode: "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, Maybe"
1967 Sheriff Who No Yes No No Television Movie
1967 The Danny Thomas Hour No Yes No No Episode: "It's Greek to Me"
1968 Dick Van Dyke No Yes No No Television Special
1968 The Danny Thomas Hour No Yes No No Episode: "My Pal Tony"
1970 The Murdocks and the McClays No Yes Yes No Television Movie
1970 Barefoot in the Park No No Yes No Episode: "The Bed"
1970–1971 Love, American Style No No Yes No 19 episodes
1970–1975 The Odd Couple Yes No Yes Yes Man #2 / Werner Turner / Drummer / Man #1 Director: (6 episodes)
Writer: (7 episodes)
Actor: (4 episodes)
1972 Me and the Chimp Yes No Yes No Creator: (13 episodes)
Executive Producer: (13 episodes)
1972 Evil Roy Slade No No Yes No Television Movie
1972 Wednesday Night Out No No Yes No Television Movie
1972–1974 The Brian Keith Show No Yes Yes No Creator: (47 episodes)
Executive Producer: Episode: "Tonsils for Two"
1974 Dominic's Dream Yes Yes Yes No Television Movie
1974–1984 Happy Days Yes Yes Yes Yes Prom Drummer/Drummer Creator (255 episodes)
Director: Episode: "Haunted"
Executive producer: (255 episodes)
Writer: (2 episodes)
Actor: (2 episodes)
1975 Wives No Yes Yes No Television Movie
Executive Producer
1976–1983 Laverne & Shirley Yes Yes Yes Yes Drummer Creator: (178 episodes)
Director: Episode: "The Society Party"
Executive producer: (178 episodes)
Actor (2 episodes)
1977 Blansky's Beauties Yes Yes Yes No Creator: (13 episodes)
Director: Episode: "Blansky's Biking Beauty"
Executive Producer: (2 episodes)
1978–1982 Mork & Mindy No Yes Yes No Creator: (94 episodes)
Director: Episode: "Dueling Skates"
Executive Producer (94 episodes)
1978–1979 Who's Watching the Kids? No Yes No No Executive Producer: (10 episodes)
1979 Beane's of Boston No Yes No No Television Movie
Executive Producer
1979–1980 Angie No Yes Yes No Creator: (36 episodes)
Producer: (36 episodes)
1980 The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang No No Yes No Based on characters created by Garry Marshall
1980 Vega$ No No No Yes Dr. Middleton Episode: "Lost Monday"
1981 The Way We Were No No No Yes Himself Television Special
1981 Mean Jeans Yes Yes No No Executive Producer
1982 Young Doctors in Love Yes Yes No No Executive Producer
1982–1983 The New Odd Couple No Yes Yes No Developed for Television by Garry Marshall (18 episodes)
Executive Producer: (4 episodes)
1982–1983 Joanie Loves Chachi No Yes Yes No Creator: (17 episodes)
Executive Producer: (3 episodes)
1983 Laverne & Shirley Yes No No No Episode: "The Monastery Show"
1983 Herndon Yes Yes No No Television Movie
Executive Producer
1986 Four Stars No Yes No No Television Movie
Executive Producer
1987–1988 The New Hollywood Squares No No No Yes Himself (Panelist) Recurring role (5 episodes)
1989 Let's Get Mom Yes No No No Television Movie
1992 Street Scenes: New York on Film No No No Yes Himself Television Documentary
1993 A League of Their Own No No No Yes Walter Harvey 2 episodes
1993 The Last Shot No No No Yes Mark Tullis, Sr. Television Short
1994–1997 Murphy Brown No No No Yes Mr. Stan Lansing Recurring role (24 episodes)
1995 Night Stand No No No Yes Garry Marshall Episode: "Arctic Heat"
1995 Wheel of Fortune No No No Yes Himself (Celebrity Contestant) Episode: "Celebrity Award Winners (Game 3)"
1995 The Laverne & Shirley Reunion No No No Yes Himself Television Special
1997 Pinky and the Brain No No No Yes Mr. Itch – The Devil Voice, Episode: "A Pinky and the Brain Halloween"
1997 The Naked Truth No No No Yes Garry Marshall Episode: "Brideface Revisited"
1997 City Guys No No No Yes Mr. Giordano Episode: "Bye Mom"
1998 CHiPs '99 No No No Yes Tour Bus Driver Television Movie
1999 Norm No No No Yes Big Nick Episode: "Norm vs. Norm"
1999 The Simpsons No No No Yes Mr Larry Kidkill Voice, Episode: "Eight Misbehavin"
1999 Jeopardy! No No No Yes Himself (Celebrity Contestant) Episode: "A Celebrity Jeopardy! (Game 5)"
2000 MADtv No No No Yes Himself Episode: "#5.23"
2001 Hollywood Squares No No No Yes Himself (Panelist) Recurring role (5 episodes)
2001–2002 Three Sisters No No No Yes Vince 2 episodes
2002 Monk No No No Yes Warren Beach Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Airplane"
2002 Rugrats No No No Yes Fred Voice, Episode: "Club Fred"
2002 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch No No No Yes Mickey Brentwood Episode: "Bada-Ping!"
2004 Listen Up No No No Yes Max Kleinman Episode: "The Gift of the Ton-I"
2004 Father of the Pride No No No Yes Bernie Voice, recurring role (5 episodes)
2004–2008 Biography No No No Yes Himself (Interviewee) 5 episodes
2007 Brothers & Sisters No No No Yes Major Jack Wiener 2 episodes
2008 The Sarah Silverman Program No No No Yes Sharkcorp President Episode: "High, It's Sarah"
2009 ER No No No Yes Harry Feingold Episode: "Love Is a Battlefield"
2009 According to Jim No No No Yes Doctor Episode: "Physical Therapy"
2011 The Simpsons No No No Yes Sheldon Leavitt Voice, Episode: "Homer the Father"
2011–2013 The Looney Tunes Show No No No Yes Dr. Weisberg Voice, recurring role (9 episodes)
2012 Louie No No No Yes Lars Tardigan 2 episodes
2013 See Dad Run No No No Yes Bernie Episode: "See Dad Run See Dad Run"
2014 See Dad Run No No Yes No Episode: "See Dad See Joe Sleepwalk"
2014 Two and a Half Men No No No Yes Garry Episode: "Bite Me, Supreme Court"
2014 Liv and Maddie No No No Yes Vic Defazerelli Episode: "Space Werewolf-A-Rooney"
2015 Brooklyn Nine-Nine No No No Yes Marvin Miller Episode: "The Wednesday Incident"
2015 Hot in Cleveland No No No Yes Ari Episode: "All Dolled Up"
2015 BoJack Horseman No No No Yes Abe Voice, Episode: "Yes And"
2015 Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero No No No Yes Soda Jerk Voice, 2 episodes
2015 Celebrity Family Feud No No No Yes Himself (Celebrity Contestant) Episode: "Dr. Phil McGraw vs. Garry & Penny Marshall"
2015–2016 The Odd Couple No Yes No No Executive Consultant (16 episodes)
2015–2016 Grandfathered No Yes No No Executive Consultant (5 episodes)
2016 The Odd Couple No No No Yes Walter Madison Episode: "Madison & Son", (final appearance)

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Chicken Little Buck Cluck Voice

Awards and nominations

In 1996, Marshall was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award in recognition of excellence and innovation in creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame for his contributions to the field of television in 1997.

In 2012, he was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters' Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Marshall received the Valentine Davies Award (1995) and Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement (2014) from the Writers Guild of America.

Association Year Category Title Result
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards 2011 Hall of Shame Valentine's Day Nominated
American Cinema Editors 2004 Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award Won
American Comedy Awards 1990 Creative Achievement Award Won
BAFTA Awards 1991 Best Film Pretty Woman Nominated
Casting Society of America 1995 Lifetime Achievement Award Won
Cesar Awards 1991 Best Foreign Film Pretty Woman Nominated
Gold Derby Awards 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award Nominated
2010 Lifetime Achievement Award Nominated
Golden Raspberry Awards 2012 Worst Director New Year's Eve Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards 1971 Outstanding New Series The Odd Couple Nominated
1971 Outstanding Comedy Series The Odd Couple Nominated
1972 Outstanding Comedy Series The Odd Couple Nominated
1974 Outstanding Comedy Series The Odd Couple Nominated
1979 Outstanding Comedy Series Mork & Mindy Nominated
PRISM Awards 2008 Best Feature Film Georgia Rule Won
Producers Guild Awards 1998 Lifetime Achievement Membership Award Won
1998 Lifetime Achievement Award in Television Won
Publicists Guild of America 1980 Showmanship Award – Television Won
1992 Showmanship Award – Motion Picture Won
TV Land Awards 2008 Legend Award Won
Walk of Fame 1983 Star on the Walk of Fame — Television 6838 Hollywood, Blvd. Won
Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards 1996 Lucy Award Won
Writers Guild of America 1965 Episodic Comedy
(for "The Bowling Partners")
Make Room for Daddy Nominated
1966 Episodic Comedy
(for "Romance, Roses and Rye Bread", "4 1/2")
The Dick Van Dyke Show Nominated
1995 Valentine Davies Award Won
2014 Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement Won

See also

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