Garry Shandling facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Garry Shandling
Shandling in September 1987
Born	(1949-11-29)November 29, 1949 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	March 24, 2016(2016-03-24) (aged 66) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor comedian writer director producer
Years active	1975–2016
Partner(s)	Linda Doucett (1987–1994)

Garry Emmanuel Shandling (born November 29, 1949 – died March 24, 2016) was a talented American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer. He was known for his smart and unique style of comedy.

Garry started his career writing for popular TV shows like Sanford and Son and Welcome Back, Kotter. He became famous for his stand-up comedy, especially after appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He even filled in as a guest host many times.

Later, Garry created his own successful TV shows. These included It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show. Both shows were praised by critics and won many awards. He also acted in movies, including playing Senator Stern in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He also voiced Verne the turtle in the animated movie Over the Hedge.

Garry Shandling was nominated for many awards during his career. He hosted the Grammy Awards four times and the Emmy Awards twice. His work continues to influence comedians and TV shows today.

Early Life and Education

Garry Emmanuel Shandling was born in Chicago on November 29, 1949. His family was Jewish. His father, Irving, owned a print shop, and his mother, Muriel, ran a pet store.

When Garry was young, his family moved to Tucson, Arizona. They moved so his older brother, Barry, could get treatment for a serious illness called cystic fibrosis. Sadly, Barry died from the disease when Garry was only 10 years old.

After finishing Palo Verde High School, Garry went to the University of Arizona. He first studied electrical engineering but later changed his major to marketing. He also spent a year studying creative writing after college.

Garry Shandling's Career Journey

Starting in Comedy

When Garry was 19, he drove to Phoenix to meet the famous comedian George Carlin. He showed Carlin some of his jokes. Carlin told him his jokes were "funny stuff" and encouraged him to keep writing.

In 1973, Garry moved to Los Angeles. He worked at an advertising agency for a while. Then, he started writing scripts for TV sitcoms. He wrote for popular shows like Sanford and Son and Welcome Back, Kotter.

Becoming a Stand-Up Comedian

Garry decided to become a stand-up comedian after a meeting for the TV show Three's Company. He felt that writing for others wasn't quite right for him. He wanted to perform his own ideas.

In 1978, Garry performed his first stand-up show at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles. A year later, he was one of the few comedians who continued to perform there during a boycott. This boycott was organized by comedians who wanted to be paid for their shows.

Garry's stage personality was often a bit nervous and uptight. He became a regular guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson starting in 1981. He often filled in for Johnny Carson as a guest host. He left the show in 1987 to focus on his own TV series.

Garry also had several stand-up specials on TV. These included Garry Shandling: Alone in Vegas (1984) and The Garry Shandling Show: 25th Anniversary Special (1986) for Showtime. He also had Garry Shandling: Stand-Up (1991) on HBO.

Hit TV Shows

It's Garry Shandling's Show

In 1985, Garry Shandling and Alan Zweibel created It's Garry Shandling's Show. It ran for 72 episodes on Showtime until 1990. Garry wrote 15 of these episodes himself.

This show was very unique. The characters knew they were on a TV show! Garry would often talk directly to the audience. This was a clever way to break the "fourth wall" and make the audience feel part of the story.

The series was nominated for four Emmy Awards. Garry won an American Comedy Award for his performance. It also won several CableACE awards for Best Comedy Series.

The Larry Sanders Show

Garry Shandling at the 1994 Emmy Awards rehearsals

In 1992, Garry launched another very successful show called The Larry Sanders Show. This show was a fake "behind-the-scenes" look at a late-night talk show. It ran for 89 episodes on HBO until 1998.

Garry based the show on his own experiences as a guest host on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He was nominated for 18 Emmy Awards for this series. He won an Emmy for writing the final episode, called "Flip."

The Larry Sanders Show was very influential. It inspired many other shows like Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm. These shows also featured guest stars playing themselves. TV Guide named it one of the greatest shows of all time.

Other Projects

Garry Shandling at the 1992 Emmy Awards

Garry Shandling hosted the Grammy Awards four times (in 1990, 1991, 1993, and 1994). He also hosted the Emmy Awards in 2000 and 2004.

He appeared in several films. He had supporting roles in movies like Love Affair and Mixed Nuts. He voiced a pigeon in Dr. Dolittle (1998). He also wrote and starred in the movie What Planet Are You From? (2000).

One of his most famous voice roles was Verne the turtle in Over the Hedge (2006). He also played Senator Stern in the Marvel movies Iron Man 2 (2010) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). His final film role was voicing Ikki in The Jungle Book (2016). This movie was dedicated to his memory.

In 1999, Garry published a book called Confessions of a Late Night Talk Show Host. He wrote it as his character, Larry Sanders. He also appeared on his friend Jerry Seinfeld's show, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, in 2016.

Personal Life

Garry Shandling in April 2011

In 1977, Garry was in a serious car crash in Beverly Hills. He was in critical condition for two days. While in the hospital, he had a "near-death experience." He later said this experience made him realize the importance of his life and work. This accident inspired him to pursue his comedy career even more.

Garry never married and did not have any children. He was a Buddhist and enjoyed meditating. He also loved playing basketball and boxing. He even co-owned a boxing gym in Santa Monica. Garry was also a licensed amateur radio operator, which means he could talk to people using a special radio.

Death

Garry Shandling passed away on March 24, 2016, at the age of 66. He had a serious health condition called hyperparathyroidism. This condition can lead to other health problems if not treated.

He collapsed at his home and was taken to the hospital in Santa Monica, California. The autopsy showed that he died from a pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage in the lung.

Garry left a large part of his wealth to medical research. His gift helped create several funds at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. These funds support research into endocrine surgery, infectious diseases, and pancreatic diseases. UCLA also named a learning studio after him to honor his generosity.

Awards and Recognition

Garry Shandling received many awards and nominations throughout his career. He was nominated for 19 Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.

He also won two British Comedy Awards, twelve CableACE Awards (for his TV shows), and a BAFTA Award. In 2004, he received the Outstanding Television Writer Award from the Austin Film Festival.

Filmography

Television Appearances

As a Writer

Books by Garry Shandling

• Confessions of a Late-Night Talk-show Host: The Autobiography of Larry Sanders (1999) - Written as his character, Larry Sanders, with David Rensin.
• It's Garry Shandling's Book (2019) - A book about Garry Shandling, edited by Judd Apatow.

See also

In Spanish: Garry Shandling para niños