TV legend Garry Marshall died in Burbank, California at the age of 81 yesterday from pneumonia after a stroke.

Marshall was a legend in the TV space creating “Happy Days,” “Odd Couple,” “Laverne and Shirley,” and “Mork and Mindy.” He also took his talents to movies directing “Pretty Woman,” and “The Princess Diaries.”

“Happy Days” star Henry Winkler expressed his sadness as well as his gratefulness for Garry on twitter:

Richard Gere, one of the stars of “Pretty Woman” issued the following statement:

Garry of course was one of those truly important people one is blessed to meet in one’s lifetime. Besides being the pulse and life force of ‘Pretty Woman’… a steady helmsman on a ship that could have easily capsized… he was a super fine and decent man, husband and father who brought real joy and love and infectious good spirits to every thing and everyone he crossed paths with. Everyone loved Garry. He was a mentor and a cheerleader and one of the funniest men who ever lived. He had a heart of the purest gold and a soul full of mischief. He was Garry.

The Director’s Guild of America President Paris Barclay also expressed her sadness:

Garry’s gift for storytelling brought joy, laughter and an enormous, beating heart to every screen, large and small. When describing the type of stories he chose to tell, Garry once said: ‘I try to find scripts of stories that kinda celebrate the human condition… let’s talk about the tough world out there and the human spirit overcoming adversity.’ And that indefatigable optimism came through in everything he touched. As the architect of some of the longest-running situation comedies in television history – from The Lucy Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show, to Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, to Mork & Mindy and The Odd Couple – he’s left an unforgettable mark on the medium, a blueprint that many have tried to replicate throughout the decades. That mark continued at the movies with Pretty Woman, Beaches, The Princess Diaries and New Year’s Day to name just a few of his many, many hits. The winner of too many industry awards to count, his legacy lingers in the echoing laughter in so many living rooms and theaters. “But the vision, joy and camaraderie Garry brought to life didn’t stop behind the camera. He channeled his love for the craft of directing into serving our Guild – dedicating himself to protecting the creative rights of directors, as well as teaching newer generations of directors how hard-fought the DGA’s journey has been, and the importance of carrying it forward. All the while, he kept us all smiling – no mean feat. It was an honor, and a delight, for all of us who had the pleasure of serving alongside of him.

Garry Marshall is survived by his wife, Barbara, son Scott, and daughters Lori and Kathleen. He also has six grandchildren, his sisters Penny Marshall and Ronny Hallin.

A memorial for Garry is being planned on his birthday on November 13th. The family is asking for donations to be made out in Garry’s name to The Saban Community Clinic, The Intensive Care Unit at Providence St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Burbank, and Northwestern University Undergraduate Scholarship Fund.

Share to REMEMBER the Life and Work of Garry Marshall.

H/T: Variety

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