Garry Marshall Biography

GARRY MARSHALL

Date of Birth: November 13, 1934

Born in New York, actor/director/producer/writer and brother to famed actress/director Penny, Garry was brought up in the Bronx and graduated from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism before venturing off to the U.S. Army. During his time in the service he played in a jazz group and worked as a reporter for the New York Daily News.

After leaving the army, Marshall moved to Hollywood where he met Jerry Belson, and the two started writing for sitcoms ranging from The Danny Thomas Show to the Dick Van Dyke Show (for which he earned an Emmy Award). In all, they wrote over 100 episodes for the various series.

In 1966 he and Belson created the series Hey Landlord, which only ran for a single season. The two then came out with the highly successful The Odd Couple. Marshall was also successful alone, creating classic television series like Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley (starring his sister, Penny), and Mork and Mindy.

He took on the feature film industry in 1982 with the feature Young Doctors in Love (1982), a silly spoof of daytime soaps. He proved himself a filmmaker with The Flamingo Kid (1984), which gave Matt Dillon one of his best roles as a working-class Brooklyn boy seduced by 1963 country club life. With each film, Marshall became better and gained more success until reaching one of the pinnacles of his career, Pretty Woman (1990). Along with nominations for his cast, Marshall received nominations from the BAFTA and César Awards for Best Director, as well as applause from critics and viewers alike.

Following that success, Marshall focused all his time on the film industry. Although not as popular as Pretty Woman, films like Frankie and Johnny, Dear God, The Other Sister, Runaway Bride and The Princess Diaries were all heartwarming stories enjoyed by audiences worldwide.

Besides film and television, Marshall has also written plays for the stage including Shelves and The Roast—but neither fared well in the theater community. Garry has also spent some time in front of the camera playing roles in films like Soap Dish and his sister's A League of their Own, as well as small roles in some of his own films, plus several television appearances.

Married to Barbara Wells, Marshall has three children. In 2004, he was awarded the American Cinema Editors' Golden Eddie Filmaker of the Year Award. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6838 Hollywood Blvd. In his spare time, Marshall enjoys playing basketball.

Filmography (director):

Dear Eleanor (2011)
Valentine's Day (2010)
Georgia Rule (2007)
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
Raising Helen (2004)
The Princess Diaries (2001)
Runaway Bride (1999)
The Other Sister (1999)
Dear God (1996)
Exit to Eden (1994)
Frankie and Johnny (1991)
Pretty Woman (1990)
The Lottery (1989)
Beaches (1988)
Overboard (1987)
Nothing in Common (1986)
The Flamingo Kid (1984)
Young Doctors in Love (1982)

Filmography (actor):

Keeping Up With the Steins (2006)
Mute (2005)
Chicken Little (2005) (voice)
Lucky 13 (2005)
They Call Him Sasquatch (2003)
The Long Ride Home (2003)
Orange County (2002)
The Hollywood Sign (2001)
It's a Shame About Ray (2000)
This Space Between Us (2000)
Can't Be Heaven (1999)
Runaway Bride (1999) (uncredited)
Never Been Kissed (1999)
With Friends Like These... (1998)
Dear God (1996) (uncredited)
Statistically Speaking (1995)
Hocus Pocus (1993) (uncredited)
A League of Their Own (1992)
Soapdish (1991)
Secret Agent OO Soul (1990)
Pretty Woman (1990) (uncredited)
Overboard (1987) (uncredited)
Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)
Lost in America (1985)
Grand Theft Auto (1977)
Maryjane (1968)
Psych-Out (1968)
Toller Hecht auf krummer Tour (1961)