'Happy Days' Creator And 'Pretty Woman' Director Garry Marshall Has Died At 81

‘Happy Days’ Creator And ‘Pretty Woman’ Director Garry Marshall Has Died At 81

There aren’t too many talents consistently working in Hollywood today who have been around for over 50 years, butGarry Marshallwas one of them. As the creator of classic TV shows likeHappy Daysand director of influential romantic comedies such asPretty Woman, Marshall is an important part of entertainment history. But today, his contributions to film and television have come to an end as Garry Marshall has died at age 81.

We remember Garry Marshall’s long and decorated career below.

The report of Garry Marshall dead first emerged atAccess HollywoodandTMZfollowed up by confirming that he passed away at a Burbank hospital following complications from pneumonia, which emerged after the writer, director, producer and actor had a stroke.

Marshall is just one sibling in a family of show business stars along with his sistersPenny Marshall(star ofLaverne & Shirleyand director ofBig) andRonny Marshall Hallin(producer ofStep by Step), and he’s been working in entertainment since the golden age of television.

With a career that began with writing for variety shows such asThe Tonight Show with Jack PaarandThe Joey Bishop Hour, as well asThe Dick Van Dyke Show, Marshall would go on to develop and create his own television shows such as an adaptation of Neil Simon’s playThe Odd Coupleand the classic showHappy Days.

The latter program would turn Garry Marshall into a TV icon, not just because it became a beloved TV show by itself, but it also spawned three extremely well-known spin-off shows.Laverne & Shirley, Mork & MindyandJoanie Loves Chachiall spawned fromHappy Days, and even though the latter was a short-lived spin-off, they’re all extremely well-known shows from the 70s and 80s.

In addition to developing, creating and producing TV shows, Marshall also took his talents to the big screen as the director of plenty of well-known movies such asThe Flamingo Kid, Beaches, The Other Sister, Raising Helen, Georgia Rule, The Princess Diariesand the holiday romantic comedy trilogy ofValentine’s Day, New Year’s EveandMother’s Day.

But Marshall’s most beloved film is undoubtedlyPretty Woman, the classic romance starring Julia Robert and Richard Gere. The movie has been referenced countless times in pretty much every facet of pop culture, and it’s easily one of the best romantic comedies every made. Marshall would go on to reunite with the stars nearly 10 years later withRunaway Bride.

In addition to all his work behind the camera, Marshall did plenty of guest appearances on camera in both film and television. Marshall was known to cameo in his own movies and TV shows. But he also popped up in shows likeSabrina the Teenage Witch, Louie, The Simpsons, The Looney Tunes Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Hot in Clevelandand many more.

More recently, Garry Marshall had discussed the prospect of getting back to together with Anne Hathaway forThe Princess Diaries 3back in March. However, now that Marshall has passed away, it’s probably best to just leave it alone.