Garry Kent Marshall was born inManhattan[4] on November 13, 1934, the only son and the eldest child ofAnthony Masciarelli (later Anthony Wallace Marshall; 1906–1999), a director ofindustrial films and producer, and Marjorie Irene (née Ward; 1908–1983), the owner and teacher in a tap dance school.[5] He was the brother of actress-directorPenny Marshall andRonny Marshall Hallin, a television producer. His father was of Italian descent, his family having come fromSan Martino sulla Marrucina,Chieti,Abruzzo,[6] and his mother was of German, English, Irish and Scottish ancestry.[7] His father changed his last name from Masciarelli to Marshall before his son Garry was born.[3] Garry Marshall was baptizedPresbyterian and also raisedLutheran for a time.[8]
On March 9, 1963, Marshall married Barbara Sue Wells. They resided in Los Angeles; the couple have three children:Scott; Lori (with whom he co-wrote a book); and Kathleen (who appeared in all of his films).
In 1961, he and Freeman moved to Hollywood, where they broke into writing sitcoms onThe Joey Bishop Show. Freeman, however, found that he did not enjoy sitcom work, and moved back to New York. Marshall collaborated with writing collaboratorJerry Belson, and the two worked together through the 1960s. The pair worked onThe Dick Van Dyke Show,The Joey Bishop Show,The Danny Thomas Show, andThe Lucy Show. Their first television series as creator-producers wasHey, Landlord, which lasted one season (1966–67). Then they adaptedNeil Simon's playThe Odd Couple for television. Moving into the 1970s, Marshall worked on his own or with others, and createdHappy Days,Laverne & Shirley (starring his sisterPenny, who had earlier had a recurring role onThe Odd Couple), andMork & Mindy, which were produced by his associatesThomas L. Miller,Robert L. Boyett, andEdward K. Milkis.[15] He was also a co-creator ofMakin' It,[16] which the three men also produced.
In the early 1980s, he metHéctor Elizondo while playing basketball, and they became great friends. Elizondo appeared in every film that Marshall directed, beginning with his first feature filmYoung Doctors in Love. Elizondo once noted that he is written into all of Marshall's contracts whether he wanted to do the film or not.[17] In the opening credits ofExit to Eden, their eighth film together, Elizondo is credited "As Usual ... Hector Elizondo". In 1984, Marshall had a film hit as the writer and director ofThe Flamingo Kid.[18] Of all Marshall's films, Elizondo had his biggest role inThe Flamingo Kid as main characterMatt Dillon's father.
Marshall had several responsibilities during this period of his career: most of his hit television series were created and executive produced by him. His first producing assignment came withHey, Landlord in 1966. He stepped up the next year, producingThe Lucy Show.[19] Then came successes in producingThe Odd Couple,Laverne & Shirley,Blansky's Beauties,Mork & Mindy,Angie, andHappy Days.
His theater credits includedWrong Turn at Lungfish, which he wrote in collaboration withLowell Ganz,[21]The Roast withJerry Belson,[22]Shelves andHappy Days: A New Musical withPaul Williams,[23] which had its premiere at the Falcon Theater inBurbank, California, February 24, 2006.[24] He portrayed the role of "director" onBurbank's "Lights... camera... action!" float in the 2014Rose Parade. In 2014, Marshall appeared in a guest star role in a February episode in season 11 ofTwo and a Half Men.
Henry Winkler paid tribute to him onBarry in 2019,[28] andSAG-AFTRA made a Memoriam Tribute to Marshall on theSAG Awards in 2019.[29]Julia Roberts paid tribute to him inPretty Woman: The Musical in 2018.[30] She also paid tribute to him in an interview: "To know Garry Marshall was to love him. And I was luckier than most to have loved him for my entire adult life and luckier still to have been loved by him because his love was unconditional, inexhaustible and magical."[31]
ABC aired the specialThe Happy Days of Garry Marshall on May 12, 2020.[32]
In 1996, Marshall was awarded theWomen in FilmLucy Award in recognition of excellence and innovation in creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.[33] He was inducted into theTelevision Hall of Fame for his contributions to the field of television in 1997.[34]
