Garry Marshall
Garry Marshall is one of Hollywood's most respected writers, producers, and directors of television, film, and theater. His illustrious career, spanning more than fifty years, includes the creation of iconic television series, such as Happy Days, The Odd Couple, and Laverne & Shirley. Marshall also directed the instant classics Pretty Woman and Valentine's Day. Read Full BiographyAbout Garry Marshall
Garry Marshall is a groundbreaking creative force in Hollywood for more than fifty years. He has excelled as a writer, producer, director, and actor in his career, earning him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and acclaim from critics and fans alike. One could say he was born to work in Hollywood—his mother was a tap dancer and his father was a producer and director of industrial films. Marshall began his career writing jokes for comedians, soon ascending to write for hit programs like The Tonight Show, The Lucy Show, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. When Marshall ventured into producing with fellow writer Jerry Belson, they struck gold with The Odd Couple in 1970. Marshall’s career skyrocketed with his creation of some of the best-loved television series of all time: Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, and Laverne & Shirley. The wild popularity of Happy Days resulted in two spinoffs, Blansky’s Beauties and Joanie Loves Chachi.
As a film director later in his career, Marshall has given life to star-studded classics like Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, Beaches, The Other Sister, and The Princess Diaries. Throughout his career, he has been praised for his commitment to the advancement of women in Hollywood. In 1996, Marshall was given the Women in Film Lucy Award for his representation of women and his showcase of strong, complex female characters. New Year’s Eve, Marshall’s latest feature film, stars Robert De Niro, Halle Berry, and Sarah Jessica Parker, among numerous others. He has occasionally stepped in front of the camera, acting in both films and television.
Over the course of his career, Marshall has been the recipient of such prestigious awards as the American Comedy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award and the Publicists Guild Motion Picture Showmanship Award for Film and Television. In 1995, he was voted the Valentine Davies Award winner by the Writers Guild of America. In November 1997, Marshall was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. He was honored in 2002 by Washington, D.C.’s National Italian American Foundation.
Garry Marshall has been interviewed on PBS programs numerous times, offering his insight on the film and television industry. In addition to his commercial success, Marshall has also directed and produced numerous independent projects.
His new memoir, My Happy Days in Hollywood, was just published by Crown Archetype. In this reflective memoir, Marshall recounts anecdotes and fond memories of his career, giving readers an exclusive glimpse into the mind of a Hollywood icon.
