This article is all about a famous and influential figure who brought many beloved films to the world. Some of his most well-known works include “The Princess Diaries,” “Pretty Woman,” “Beaches,” “Valentine’s Day,” and “Overboard,” just to name a few. Keep reading on manhattan-trend for more details about the early life, career, personal life, and final years of director, screenwriter, and producer Garry Marshall.
Early Life
Garry Kent Marshall was a renowned American screenwriter, producer, director, and actor. Born on November 13, 1934, in Manhattan, Garry grew up in a creative household. His father, Anthony Wallace Marshall, was an industrial film director and producer, while his mother, Marjorie Irene, owned and taught at a tap dance school. Garry Marshall was baptized Presbyterian and also spent some time being raised in the Lutheran tradition. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx and later went on to Northwestern University (NU) for his higher education. During his studies, he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega (ΑΤΩ) fraternity and wrote a sports column for the student newspaper, “The Daily Northwestern.” Starting in 1956, Garry served in the United States Army as a writer for the American daily military newspapers “Stars and Stripes” and “Seoul News,” and also held the position of production chief for the American Forces Network (AFN).
Career Development: The Beginning
Garry Kent Marshall kicked off his creative career as a screenwriter. Initially, he penned jokes for comedians Phil Foster and Joey Abraham Gottlieb, and later became a staff writer for the renowned American show “Tonight Show.” After moving to Hollywood, he began working on sitcoms such as “The Joey Bishop Show,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “The Danny Thomas Show,” and “The Lucy Show,” among others. In 1966, Garry made his debut as a producer with the sitcom “Hey, Landlord!” and went on to produce other hits like “The Danny Thomas Hour,” “Me and the Chimp,” “The Brian Keith Show,” “Happy Days,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “Blansky’s Beauties,” “Mork & Mindy,” “Who’s Watching the Kids?”, “Angie,” “Young Doctors in Love,” “The New Odd Couple,” “Joanie Loves Chachi,” and “Nothing in Common.”
Later Work
In the 1980s, Garry met actor Hector Elizondo while playing basketball, and the two quickly became close friends. From then on, Hector appeared in all of Marshall’s films. The actor would sometimes joke that he had a lifetime contract with Marshall, whether he wanted to film or not. In 1984, Garry Marshall gained recognition as a screenwriter and director for the film “The Flamingo Kid,” where Hector Elizondo played one of his most memorable roles. Marshall subsequently focused on directing feature films, creating a string of hits such as “New Year’s Eve,” “Valentine’s Day,” “The Princess Diaries,” “Pretty Woman,” and “Beaches.” Beyond directing, Garry Kent Marshall also established himself as an actor, appearing in films like “Murphy Brown,” “Lost in America,” and “A League of Their Own.” Garry also made two guest appearances on “Happy Days,” playing a drummer. He reprised this role in the penultimate scene of “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” and in his film “Overboard.” Garry Kent Marshall was also active in theater, directing and writing numerous productions, including “Wrong Turn at Lungfish,” co-written with Lowell Ganz, “The Roast,” co-written with Jerry Belson, and “Happy Days: A New Musical.”
Personal Life and Final Years
On March 9, 1963, Marshall married Barbara Sue Wells. The couple resided in Los Angeles and later had three children. Garry Kent Marshall passed away on July 19, 2016, at the age of 81, due to complications from pneumonia. After his death, many famous personalities paid tribute to him in their work and statements.
