Happy Days. Overboard. Beaches. Pretty Woman. Garry Marshall had a hand in all of these, and it’s with a heavy heart that I report the legendary filmmaker and creator has passed away at the age of 81 due to complications of pneumonia following a stroke. Born in The Bronx in November of 1934, Marshall’s career began as a joke writer for comedians Joey Bishop and Phil Foster, before landing a gig writing for The Tonight Show. This got his foot in the door in the world of television, working on the like of The Joey Bishop Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Lucy Show, before creating his first t.v. show with Jerry Belson, Hey, Landlord, in 1966. His first contribution to popular culture came in 1974 when he created sitcom Happy Days, which led to two more Marshall created sitcoms, Laverne and Shirley and Mork & Mindy.
Having previously had an uncredited role as a hoodlum in Goldfinger, Marshall broke into the world of feature film as a director in 1982 with Young Doctors in Love, which began his collaboration with friend Hector Elizondo, who has appeared in all eighteen of Marshall’s films. Following 1987’s Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn starring Overboard, Marshall began churning out a series of memorable hits including, of course, Beaches and Pretty Woman, but also Frankie and Johnny, The Princess Diaries, and recently his trilogy of holiday themed ensemble pieces, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and Mother’s Day, his last movie. Marshall is also an accomplished actor, and you would have seen his face and heard his unique voice in the likes of Pink & the Brain, The Simpsons, Murphy Brown, Monk, and Bojack Horseman. His extensive back catalogue no doubt became a part of just about every generations life growing up, and for that we thank you Sir.
The thoughts of everyone here at The Movie Bit are with his family and friends during this trying time.
Having previously had an uncredited role as a hoodlum in Goldfinger, Marshall broke into the world of feature film as a director in 1982 with Young Doctors in Love, which began his collaboration with friend Hector Elizondo, who has appeared in all eighteen of Marshall’s films. Following 1987’s Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn starring Overboard, Marshall began churning out a series of memorable hits including, of course, Beaches and Pretty Woman, but also Frankie and Johnny, The Princess Diaries, and recently his trilogy of holiday themed ensemble pieces, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and Mother’s Day, his last movie. Marshall is also an accomplished actor, and you would have seen his face and heard his unique voice in the likes of Pink & the Brain, The Simpsons, Murphy Brown, Monk, and Bojack Horseman. His extensive back catalogue no doubt became a part of just about every generations life growing up, and for that we thank you Sir.
The thoughts of everyone here at The Movie Bit are with his family and friends during this trying time.