(Newswire.net — July 21, 2016) —Hollywood lost one of its legend – actor, director, producer, writer, voice artist, and comedian, Garry Marshall, passed away on July 19th after he was hospitalized in Burbank, California, due to complications arising from pneumonia after suffering a stroke. The influential filmmaker was 81 years old.
Marshal created some of the cult TV comedies in the 70s, among them Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and Mork and Mindy. He also directed hit movies such as Pretty Woman, which launched Julia Roberts’ career and The Princess Diaries, which made Anne Hathaway famous.
The romantic comedy, Pretty Woman, grossed $463 million worldwide. Roberts was Oscar nominated for best actress, the film was nominated for a Golden Globe for best comedy/musical, and Marshall scored a Cesar nomination as Pretty Woman drew mention in the French awards’ foreign-film category, Variety writes.
His notable credits include Runaway Bride, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, Mother’s Day. Marshall also created the ABC sitcom Angie.
Social networks are flooding with messages from Hollywood stars paying homage to the popular director, and several of them, including actor Henry Winkler, from the series Happy Days, who thanked the director on Twitter for helping his career.
Marshal was considered one of the funniest and most decent people in Hollywood. Richard Gere, who played the lead male role alongside Julia Roberts in the hit movie, Pretty Woman, wrote in a statement that “everyone loved Garry,” adding that he was a mentor and a cheerleader and one of the funniest people he knew.
Henry Winkler wrote on Twitter: “GARRY MARSHALL Rest In Peace .. Thank you for my professional life. Thank you for your loyalty, friendship and generosity .”
Marshall was born as Garry Kent Marshall in New York City on November 13, 1934. His father was of Italian descent, a director of industrial films who would later become a producer on some of his son’s TV show. His mother was the daughter of a dancer.
Marshall had two siblings, actress and director Penny Marshall, and brother Ronny Marshall Hallin, a television producer.
After graduating Northwestern U.’s Medill School of Journalism, he was a joke writer for comedians. In 1961, he moved to Hollywood, where he teamed up with Jerry Belson as a television writer. Marshall also had a long acting career.
He has received many awards for his work, as well as a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
He had been married to Barbara Marshall since 1963, and they have three children together and six grandchildren. Their, son, Scott, is a film director, and daughters – Lori, an actress and casting director, and Kathleen, an actress.