# Garry Marshall

Garry Kent Marshall (November 13, 1934 – July 19, 2016) was an American screenwriter, director, producer and actor. Marshall began his career in the 1960s as a writer for The Lucy Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show until he developed the television adaptation of Neil Simon's play The Odd Couple. He rose to fame in the 1970s for creating the ABC sitcom Happy Days (1974–1984).
Marshall went on to direct numerous films including Young Doctors in Love (1982), The Flamingo Kid (1984), Nothing in Common (1986), Overboard (1987), Beaches (1988), Pretty Woman (1990), Frankie and Johnny (1991), Exit to Eden (1994), Dear God (1996), The Other Sister and Runaway Bride (Both in 1999), The Princess Diaries (2001), Raising Helen (2004), Georgia Rule (2007), Valentine's Day (2010), New Year's Eve (2011), and Mother's Day (2016).
As an actor, Marshall appeared in the films Lost in America (1985), Soapdish (1991), A League of Their Own (1992), Hocus Pocus (1993) along with his sister Penny Marshall, With Friends Like These... (1998), Orange County (2002), Keeping Up with the Steins (2006), Race to Witch Mountain (2009), and Life After Beth (2014). He also provided voice acting roles in the animated films The Majestic (2001) and Chicken Little (2005).

## Early life and family

Garry Kent Marshall was born in Manhattan 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, Irish 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.
On March 9, 1963, Marshall married Barbara Sue Wells. They resided in Los Angeles; the couple have three children: Scott; Lori (with whom he co-wrote a book); and Kathleen (who appeared in all of his films).

## Career

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.
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.

## Death and tributes

Marshall died at a hospital in Burbank, California, on the morning of July 19, 2016, due to complications of pneumonia after suffering a stroke. He was 81.
Henry Winkler paid tribute to him on Barry in 2019, and SAG-AFTRA made a Memoriam Tribute to Marshall on the SAG Awards in 2019. Julia Roberts paid tribute to him in Pretty Woman: The Musical in 2018. She also paid tribute to him in an interview: "To know Garry Marshall was to love him. And I was luckier than most to have loved him for my entire adult life and luckier still to have been loved by him because his love was unconditional, inexhaustible and magical."
ABC aired the special The Happy Days of Garry Marshall on May 12, 2020.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer |
| 1968 | How Sweet It Is! | No | Yes | Yes |
| 1970 | The Grasshopper | No | Yes | Yes |
| 1982 | Young Doctors in Love | Yes | No | No |
| 1984 | The Flamingo Kid | Yes | No | Yes |
| 1986 | Nothing in Common | Yes | No | Uncredited |
| 1987 | Overboard | Yes | No | No |
| 1988 | Beaches | Yes | No | No |
| 1989 | The Lottery (Short film) | Yes | No | No |
| 1990 | Pretty Woman | Yes | No | No |
| 1991 | Frankie and Johnny | Yes | Yes | No |
| 1994 | Exit to Eden | Yes | Yes | No |
| 1996 | Dear God | Yes | No | No |
| 1999 | The Other Sister | Yes | No | Yes |
| 1999 | Runaway Bride | Yes | No | No |
| 2001 | The Princess Diaries | Yes | No | No |
| 2004 | Raising Helen | Yes | No | No |
| 2004 | The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement | Yes | No | No |
| 2007 | Georgia Rule | Yes | No | No |
| 2010 | Valentine's Day | Yes | No | No |
| 2011 | New Year's Eve | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2016 | Mother's Day | Yes | No | Story |
Executive producer
* Walkin' Walter (1977)
* The Twilight of the Golds (1996)

#### Acting roles

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1961 | The Phony American | U.S. Recruiting Officer | |
| 1968 | Maryjane | Service Station Attendant | Credited as Garry K. Marshall |
| 1968 | Psych-Out | Plainclothesman | Credited as Garry K. Marshall |
| 1968 | How Sweet It Is! | Man in top bunk | Voice, Uncredited |
| 1977 | Grand Theft Auto | Underworld Boss | Credited as Gary K. Marshall |
| 1985 | Lost in America | Casino Manager | Credited as Gary K. Marshall |
| 1986 | Jumpin' Jack Flash | Police Detective | Credited as Gary K. Marshall |
| 1987 | Overboard | Drummer | Uncredited |
| 1988 | Beaches | Audition Director | Uncredited |
| 1990 | Pretty Woman | Bum Tour Guide | Uncredited |
| 1990 | Secret Agent OO Soul | — | |
| 1991 | Soapdish | Edmund Edwards | |
| 1992 | A League of Their Own | Walter Harvey | |
| 1993 | Hocus Pocus | Devil (Husband) | Uncredited |
| 1994 | Exit to Eden | Priscilla's Client | Voice, Uncredited |
| 1995 | Live Nude Girls | Mobster Don | Uncredited |
| 1995 | Statistically Speaking | — | Short |
| 1996 | Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore | Complaining Customer | |
| 1996 | Dear God | Preston Sweeney, Postmaster | Uncredited |
| 1996 | The Twilight of the Golds | Walter Gold | |
| 1998 | With Friends Like These... | Frank Minetti | |
| 1998 | Hole in the Paper Sky | Warren | Short |
| 1999 | Runaway Bride | First Baseman in Softball | Uncredited |
| 1999 | Kismet | Stepfather | Short |
| 1999 | Never Been Kissed | Rigfort | |
| 1999 | The Space Between Us | Steve Mayland | |
| 1999 | Can't Be Heaven | Pawn Shop Broker | |
| 2000 | It's a Shame About Ray | Mr. Brezhnev | Short |
| 2001 | Tomcats | Uncle Murray | Uncredited |
| 2001 | The Hollywood Sign | Director | |
| 2001 | The Majestic | Studio Executive | Voice |
| 2002 | Orange County | Arthur Gantner | |
| 2002 | Mother Ghost | Arthur | |
| 2003 | The Long Ride Home | Arthur | |
| 2003 | They Call Him Sasquatch | Stu Glassman | |
| 2003 | Devil's Knight | Big Eddie | |
| 2004 | The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement | Drummer | |
| 2005 | Mute | Pastor | Short |
| 2005 | Chicken Little | Buck Cluck, Narrator | Voice |
| 2006 | Keeping Up with the Steins | Irwin Fiedler | |
| 2006 | I-See-You.Com | Himself | |
| 2008 | Chronic Town | The Doctor | |
| 2009 | Finding Bliss | Himself | |
| 2009 | Race to Witch Mountain | Dr. Donald Harlan | |
| 2009 | Grand Drip | Larry Rosenberg | Short |
| 2010 | Valentine's Day | Musician | Uncredited |
| 2014 | Life After Beth | Grandpa | |
| 2015 | Scooby-Doo! And Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery | Manny Goldman | Voice, Direct-to-DVD |

### Television

| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer | Creator | 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 | Episode: "Think Pretty" |
| 1964 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. | No | No | Yes | No | 2 episodes |
| 1964 | Danny Thomas Special | No | No | Yes | No | TV 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 | No | Yes | No | 18 episodes |
| 1966–1967 | Hey, Landlord | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Episode "Czech Your Wife, Sir?" |
| 1967–1968 | The Danny Thomas Hour | No | Yes | Yes | No | Episode: "My Pal Tony" |
| 1968 | Dick Van Dyke | No | Yes | No | No | TV special |
| 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 | No | Director: (6 episodes) Writer: (7 episodes) |
| 1972 | Me and the Chimp | Yes | Executive | Yes | Yes | 13 episodes |
| 1972–1974 | The Brian Keith Show | No | Executive | Yes | Yes | |
| 1974–1984 | Happy Days | Yes | Executive | Yes | Yes | Director: Episode: "Haunted" Writer: (2 episodes) |
| 1976–1983 | Laverne & Shirley | Yes | Executive | Yes | Yes | Director: Episode: "The Society Party" |
| 1977 | Blansky's Beauties | Yes | Executive | Yes | Yes | Director: Episode: "Blansky's Biking Beauty" |
| 1978–1982 | Mork & Mindy | Yes | Executive | Yes | Yes | Director: Episode: "Dueling Skates" |
| 1978–1979 | Who's Watching the Kids? | No | Executive | No | No | 10 episodes |
| 1979–1980 | Angie | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 1981 | Mean Jeans | Yes | Executive | No | No | |
| 1982 | Young Doctors in Love | Yes | Executive | No | No | |
| 1982–1983 | The New Odd Couple | No | Executive | Yes | No | Also developer |
| 1982–1983 | Joanie Loves Chachi | No | Executive | Yes | Yes | 3 episodes |
| 1983 | Laverne & Shirley | Yes | No | No | No | Episode: "The Monastery Show" |
| 1987 | Nothing In Common | No | Yes | No | Yes | Based on his 1986 film |
| 2014 | See Dad Run | No | No | Yes | No | Episode: "See Dad See Joe Sleepwalk" |
Executive consultant
* The Odd Couple (2015–2016)
* Grandfathered (2015–2016)
TV movies
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer |
| 1967 | Sheriff Who | No | Yes | No |
| 1970 | The Murdocks and the McClays | No | Yes | Yes |
| 1972 | Evil Roy Slade | No | No | Yes |
| 1972 | Wednesday Night Out | No | No | Yes |
| 1974 | Dominic's Dream | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1975 | Wives | No | Executive | Yes |
| 1979 | Beane's of Boston | No | Executive | No |
| 1983 | Herndon | Yes | Executive | No |
| 1986 | Four Stars | No | Executive | No |
| 1989 | Let's Get Mom | Yes | No | No |

#### Acting roles

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1965–1966 | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Referee, Bartender | Episodes "Body and Sol" and "The Gunslinger" |
| 1966–1967 | Hey, Landlord | Big Leonard | Episode: "A Legend Dies" |
| 1967 | Good Morning World | Man | Episode: "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, Maybe" |
| 1970–1975 | The Odd Couple | Man #2 / Werner Turner / Drummer / Man #1 | 4 episodes |
| 1974–1984 | Happy Days | Prom Drummer/Drummer | 2 episodes |
| 1976–1983 | Laverne & Shirley | Drummer | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | Vega$ | Dr. Middleton | Episode: "Lost Monday" |
| 1981 | The Way We Were | Himself | TV special |
| 1987–1988 | The New Hollywood Squares | Himself (Panelist) | Recurring role (5 episodes) |
| 1992 | Street Scenes: New York on Film | Himself | Documentary film |
| 1993 | A League of Their Own | Walter Harvey | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | The Last Shot | Mark Tullis, Sr. | TV short |
| 1994–1997 | Murphy Brown | Mr. Stan Lansing | Recurring role (24 episodes) |
| 1995 | Night Stand | Garry Marshall | Episode: "Arctic Heat" |
| 1995 | Wheel of Fortune | Himself (Celebrity Contestant) | Episode: "Celebrity Award Winners (Game 3)" |
| 1995 | The Laverne & Shirley Reunion | Himself | TV special |
| 1997 | Pinky and the Brain | Mr. Itch – The Devil | Voice, Episode: "A Pinky and the Brain Halloween" |
| 1997 | The Naked Truth | Garry Marshall | Episode: "Brideface Revisited" |
| 1997 | City Guys | Mr. Giordano | Episode: "Bye Mom" |
| 1998 | CHiPs '99 | Tour Bus Driver | TV movie |
| 1999 | Norm | Big Nick | Episode: "Norm vs. Norm" |
| 1999 | The Simpsons | Mr Larry Kidkill | Voice, Episode: "Eight Misbehavin" |
| 1999 | Jeopardy! | Himself (Celebrity Contestant) | Episode: "A Celebrity Jeopardy! (Game 5)" |
| 2000 | MADtv | Himself | Episode: "#5.23" |
| 2001 | Hollywood Squares | Himself (Panelist) | Recurring role (5 episodes) |
| 2001–2002 | Three Sisters | Vince | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Monk | Warren Beach | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Airplane" |
| 2002 | Rugrats | Fred | Voice, Episode: "Club Fred" |
| 2002 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Mickey Brentwood | Episode: "Bada-Ping!" |
| 2004 | Listen Up | Max Kleinman | Episode: "The Gift of the Ton-I" |
| 2004 | Father of the Pride | Bernie | Voice, recurring role (5 episodes) |
| 2004–2008 | Biography | Himself (Interviewee) | 5 episodes |
| 2007 | Brothers & Sisters | Major Jack Wiener | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | The Sarah Silverman Program | Sharkcorp President | Episode: "High, It's Sarah" |
| 2009 | ER | Harry Feingold | Episode: "Love Is a Battlefield" |
| 2009 | According to Jim | Doctor | Episode: "Physical Therapy" |
| 2011 | The Simpsons | Sheldon Leavitt | Voice, Episode: "Homer the Father" |
| 2011–2013 | The Looney Tunes Show | Dr. Weisberg | Voice, recurring role (9 episodes) |
| 2012 | Louie | Lars Tardigan | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | See Dad Run | Bernie | Episode: "See Dad Run See Dad Run" |
| 2014 | Two and a Half Men | Garry | Episode: "Bite Me, Supreme Court" |
| 2014 | Liv and Maddie | Vic Defazerelli | Episode: "Space Werewolf-A-Rooney" |
| 2015 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Marvin Miller | Episode: "The Wednesday Incident" |
| 2015 | Hot in Cleveland | Ari | Episode: "All Dolled Up" |
| 2015 | BoJack Horseman | Abe | Voice, Episode: "Yes And" |
| 2015 | Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | Soda Jerk | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Celebrity Family Feud | Himself (Celebrity Contestant) | Episode: "Dr. Phil McGraw vs. Garry & Penny Marshall" |
| 2016 | The Odd Couple | Walter Madison | Episode: "Madison & Son", (final appearance) |

### Video game

| 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 |
| Gold Derby Awards | 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 |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 1971 | Outstanding Comedy Series | The Odd Couple | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 1972 | Outstanding Comedy Series | The Odd Couple | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 1974 | Outstanding Comedy Series | The Odd Couple | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 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 |
| Producers Guild Awards | 1998 | Lifetime Achievement Award in Television | — | Won |
| Publicists Guild of America | 1980 | Showmanship Award – Television | — | Won |
| Publicists Guild of America | 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 |
| Writers Guild of America | 1966 | Episodic Comedy (for "Romance, Roses and Rye Bread", "4 1/2") | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Nominated |
| Writers Guild of America | 1995 | Valentine Davies Award | — | Won |
| Writers Guild of America | 2014 | Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement | — | Won |