Garry Marshall Biography

Garry Kent Marshall, born on November 13, 1934, was a versatile figure in the entertainment industry, known for his roles as an actor, writer, producer, and director.

Garry Marshall Height, Weight, Age, Biography & More

He gained widespread acclaim for directing the iconic film “Pretty Woman” in 1990 and for his work on the beloved TV series “Happy Days,” which aired from 1974 to 1984.

Early Life

Garry Marshall grew up in a family immersed in the entertainment industry. During his college years at Northwestern University, he honed his writing skills while rubbing shoulders with notable peers like comic book artist Steve Ditko. Marshall began his career as a joke writer for comedians Joey Bishop and Phil Foster, laying the groundwork for his future success in Hollywood. With a passion for sports and a keen eye for storytelling, Marshall embarked on a journey that would cement his legacy as a revered filmmaker and writer.

Education

Garry Marshall hailed from New York, U.S., attending DeWitt Clinton High School before graduating from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, U.S.

Physical Stats

Garry Marshall stood at 178 cm (5′ 10″) tall and weighed approximately 82 kg (180 lbs). He had striking grey eyes and his hair color was white.

Wife and Children

Garry Marshall was married to Barbara Marshall, who worked as a nurse, and they had three children: son Scott Marshall, a director, and daughters Lori Marshall and Kathleen Marshall.

Family

Garry Marshall’s parents were Anthony W. Marshall, a producer and actor, and Marjorie Irene, a tap dance teacher who owned a tap dance school. He had two sisters: Ronny Marshall Hallin, a producer, and Penny Marshall, an actress. Raised in a Roman Catholic household, he had Italian heritage from his father and German, English, and Scottish ancestry from his mother.

Garry Marshall with his wife Barbara Marshall

Garry Marshall with his Son Scott Marshall

Garry Marshall with his Daughter Lori Marshall

Garry Marshall with his Daughter Kathleen Marshall

Death and Tributes

Garry Marshall passed away at a Burbank hospital in Los Angeles on the morning of July 19, 2016, due to complications of pneumonia following a stroke. He was 81 years old. In subsequent years, tributes poured in from colleagues and admirers, with Henry Winkler honoring him on “Barry” in 2019, and SAG-AFTRA paying tribute at the SAG Awards the same year. Julia Roberts also honored him in “Pretty Woman: The Musical” in 2018. ABC aired a special titled “The Happy Days of Garry Marshall” on May 12, 2020.

Career

Marshall’s career kicked off as a joke writer for comedians like Joey Bishop and Phil Foster, eventually landing a writing gig for The Tonight Show with Jack Paar. Partnering with writer Fred Freeman, they ventured into Hollywood in 1961, writing sitcoms for The Joey Bishop Show. After Freeman’s departure, Marshall teamed up with Jerry Belson, crafting hits like The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Lucy Show.

Marshall’s fruitful collaboration extended to creating iconic TV series like Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, featuring his sister Penny Marshall. In the early 1980s, Marshall forged a lasting friendship with actor Héctor Elizondo, casting him in all his directorial ventures, from Young Doctors in Love to The Flamingo Kid.

Filmography

Film List

Television

Net Worth

Garry Marshall’s net worth amounted to US$50 million.

Some Lesser Known Facts About Garry Marshall

• He started his career as a joke writer for comedians, Joey Bishop and Phil Foster.
• While he was in college, he used to write for his college sports magazine.
• He appeared in all of his movies (mostly in cameo roles).
• He used to cast actor, “Hector Elizondo” in almost all of his movies. He also used to cast actors, Patrick Richwood and Larry Miller in his movies.
• He had a hobby of making a photo album of each of his movies; he used to click photographs with every member of the crew.
• He had a phobia of heights.
• He was known for showing sports-centric scenes in his movies. He was a big fan of Basketball.
• In Northwestern University, he was the classmate of popular comic book artist, Steve Ditko.
• He died because of pneumonia after a stroke.
• He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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