Garry Kent Marshall
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Garry Marshall was an American writer, producer, and actor who created the TV series Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy. He directed films including Pretty Woman 1990, The Princess Diaries 2001, and Valentine’s Day 2010. He began his career writing for The Lucy Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show in the 1960s, and later executive produced The Odd Couple. He died in 2016 at age 81 from pneumonia.
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Garry Marshall by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Garry Marshall — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
In 1934, Garry Marshall was born in the Bronx to Anthony W. Marshall, of Italian descent, and Marjorie Ward Marshall, a dance instructor. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1952 and attended Northwestern University, where he wrote for the Daily Northwestern sports beat. Before entering show business, he worked as a copy boy for the New York Daily News in 1959 and as a sports statistician in 1960.
He began writing in the 1960s on The Lucy Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show. In 1970, he adapted Neil Simon’s 1965 play The Odd Couple for television, serving as executive producer. He created the TV series Happy Days 1974-1984, Laverne & Shirley 1976-1983, and Mork & Mindy 1978-1982. In the 1980s, he shifted to directing features like Overboard 1987 and Beaches 1988. His 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman earned Julia Roberts an Oscar nomination and grossed over $460 million worldwide. He later directed Runaway Bride 1999, The Princess Diaries 2001, and its 2004 sequel, as well as holiday ensemble films Valentine’s Day 2010, New Year’s Eve 2011, and Mother’s Day 2016.
Marshall married Barbara in 1963, and they remained together until his death. They had three children: Scott, Lori, and Kathleen; Kathleen worked as a theater producer. His sister Penny Marshall was an actress and director. Through her marriage to Rob Reiner, Reiner became his brother-in-law. An avid basketball fan, Marshall often required a basketball court on movie sets per his contracts. He also owned and operated the Falcon Theater in Burbank, California.
Garry Marshall created two enduring works: the television series Happy Days and the film Pretty Woman. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983 and the Disney Legends award. His final directorial effort, Mother’s Day 2016, was released months before his death. At the time, he was planning a third Princess Diaries film with Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews, but the project never materialized. His legacy includes the creation of Happy Days and the direction of Pretty Woman.
Browse the complete filmography of Garry Marshall — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
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Every award, honor, and recognition received by Garry Marshall — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Garry Marshall — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
There Is More to Life Than Show Business.
When in Doubt, You Bring in Relatives. Nepotism Is a Part of My Work.
In the Education of the American People, I Am Recess.
Little-known facts about Garry Marshall — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
In Hocus Pocus 1993, Garry Marshall played the husband of his real-life sister Penny Marshall.
Marshall made photo albums for each of his movies, taking separate pictures of himself with every member of the cast and crew.
He counted Julie Andrews as one of his favorite director/actor working experiences because she could act, sing, and curse with perfect diction.
He directed one Oscar-nominated performance: Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman 1990.
His mother, Marjorie Marshall, appeared as Mrs. Weiss, the piano player, in the sitcom episode Beauty Contest 1976.
Marshall obsessively loved basketball; his contracts often required studios to provide a basketball court on his movie locations.
Through his sister Penny’s marriage to Rob Reiner, he became his brother-in-law.
He owned and operated the Falcon Theater in Burbank, California, managed by his daughter Kathleen Marshall and Rowan Joseph.
Marshall was planning a sequel to The Princess Diaries with Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews shortly before his death.
Sam Wood’s The Pride of the Yankees 1942 is Marshall’s favorite film.
He had two sisters: Penny Marshall and Ronny Hallin.
He began his career as a comedy writer.
He has said that because of his New York City background and accent, and that he Anglicized his last name, he would be erroneously believed or assumed to be Jewish.
His father was of Italian descent; his maternal grandfather had English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry, and his maternal grandmother was of German descent.
Originally, he was the choice to direct Sleepless in Seattle 1993, but it went to Nora Ephron.
He feared heights.
He worked for the New York Daily News as a copy boy in 1959 followed by a stint as a sports statistician in 1960.
His parents were Anthony W. Marshall and Marjorie Marshall, a dance instructor.
He received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6838 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on November 23, 1983.
Following his death, he was cremated at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery; a memorial tribute was held on his eighty-second birthday at California State University, Northridge’s Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts.
The original sitcom The Odd Couple 1970, of which Marshall was Executive Producer, gave November 13 as the date Felix Unger was thrown out, which was also Marshall’s birthday.
His children are Lori Marshall, Kathleen Marshall, and Scott Marshall.
He attended and graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in The Bronx, New York in 1952.
At Northwestern University, a building specializing in radio/television/movie production was named for him and his wife; he advocated for NU to drop out of the Big Ten athletic conference.
He had nieces Tracy Reiner, Penny Lee Hallin, Judy Hallin, and Wendy S. Hallin.
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