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| Garry Marshall |
On July 19, 2016, producer, writer, director, actor extraordinaire Garry Marshall passed away at the age of 81. While his name may not be recognizable today, it's hard to imagine cinema and television's future without him. Over the course of 50 years, he has been involved with some of the most iconic works of fiction including Happy Days and its innumerable spin-offs, as well as helped to launch the careers of Robin Williams, Penny Marshall, Julia Roberts, and Anne Hathaway. He was an enthusiastic kid from the Bronx who grew up to be an example of what a great producer can do: bring people together. Even in his later films where this was most evident, he managed to feature enviable casts in lighthearted comedies. Still, it's hard to summarize the career of a giant in pop culture. That is why I'm choosing to highlight 10 key things that he did to better the landscape.
1. Happy Days (1974-1984)
It would be criminal to remember Garry Marshall and not mention Happy Days: the nostalgic TV series that brought the 50's to life with an ever-expanding cast of characters, including Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler) and Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard). The show, itself a spin-off from Love American Style (which Marshall previously wrote for), would go on to spawn several spin-offs and coin a variety of terms. Still, it was the first sign that Marshall had a knack for casting and working with great people, as almost everyone on the show went on to have decent careers. If nothing else, it helped to make Milwaukee, Wisconsin into a very happening town and solidified 50's nostalgia as a thing to embrace, setting a bar for every period piece sitcom to come.
2. Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)
While Happy Days may be Marshall's career peak, there is likely no career that has benefited more from Marshall than Robin Williams. Having made his rounds on the stand-up comedy circuit, the comedian famously gave an audition so bizarre (he sat upside down) that they were convinced he was the only alien who tried out. To a large extent, his breakout series was a chance for him to do improv comedy within a sitcom world that featured the straight laced Pam Dawber as his titular co-star. It was a bizarre series, but what's more impressive is that Williams' career only improved from there: earning Oscars, dominating the box office, and being one of the greatest performers of his generation.
3. Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
Of Happy Days' many spin-offs, there's few that likely sustain in quality as well as Laverne & Shirley. For starters, it defined the "gal pal" mold that would become its own genre in decades to come. Also taking place in the 50's, the series featured one of TV's greatest theme songs as well as featuring great slapstick comedy from Cindy Williams and Marshall's younger sister Penny. While the latter may be considered a form of nepotism, it is a tough role to imagine anyone else doing as well. The series also featured a breakout role from Michael McKean as Lenny. While the series would dwindle due to on set conflicts, the careers that followed were just as fruitful. Penny Marshall's Big made her the first female director in history to gross over $100 million at the box office. Still, Laverne & Shirley wasn't the last time that the Marshall Siblings worked together. They shared a small yet memorable cameo in Hocus Pocus as a married couple (don't ask).
4. Pretty Woman (1990)
Despite being prolific behind the scenes, Marshall rarely got the respect he deserved as a movie director. With his sixth film, Pretty Woman, he managed to make one of the standards to the romantic comedy genre thanks to lead performances by Richard Gere and newcomer Julia Roberts. Much like how the story goes that Mork & Mindy made Robin Williams, it is quite impossible to imagine Roberts' career without Pretty Woman - which earned Roberts an Oscar nomination. It was a partnership that would continue between Roberts and Marshall for the rest of his life, appearing in films like Runaway Bride, Valentine's Day, and his final film Mother's Day. It's okay. She has remained pretty busy after this film - much like Marshall himself, though it would take awhile for him to have a hit as massive as this one.
5.-6. The Princess Diaries (2001)
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
Even if his later films were mired in lackluster reviews, his last major achievement in the cinematic landscape may be Anne Hathaway's career. While it is easy to see her as a mainstay to pop culture and cinema these days, she was a new face hidden behind curly hair and glasses in 2001 when she became Princess of Genovia to an equally inspired casting of Julie Andrews. The two films focused around these characters are the perfect distillation of light and breezy comedy with a nice, quaint story to back it up. If nothing else, it's two of the most creative princess movies to come out of Disney Studios in the past 15 years (besides Enchanted) that reflect the enthusiasm that Marshall could bring to otherwise innocent-sounding material.
7. Lost in America (1985)
One of the most underrated tools of Marshall was that he was a great character actor, specifically when he played a "big shot." Considering that it's hard to determine where his real life and character differs, it still is a wonder that he brings a comedic confidence to almost every small role. In the case of Albert Brooks' Lost in America, he makes the most of it as a casino owner who is being pitched by Brooks to give customers back their money. It's very much a scene all about corporate greed and business, yet Marshall manages to turn it into comedic gold with his earnest, logical approach. It is one of the many times that he would play a character like this, but few times would be nearly as memorable in under six minutes.
8. The Simpsons - "Eight Misbehavin'" (1999)
There are few spot on parodies of Garry Marshall quite like his one episode of The Simpsons as the gravely named Larry Kidkill. When local shop owner Apu has eight children, he turns to Kidkill to relieve some financial burden. Kidkill runs a zoo where he exploits the children and has the most miserable animals. Oh yeah, and Butch Patrick is there for some reason. Still, for a man who is otherwise kind, gentle, and known for being great to work with, the episode is a nice play on the evilness of corporate types who are only in it for the money. He would return for another episode in 2011's "Homer the Father," but it pales in comparison to the reality show-esque nature of his first and best episode with the series.
9. Louie - "Late Show Part 1" (2012)
"Late Show Part 3" (2012)
Much like his role on The Simpsons, this is a role that plays up Marshall's personality by having him play against type. In the experimental drama/comedy Louie, protagonist Louis C.K. gets offered the role of David Letterman's old show when it's revealed that he's retiring. One of the first people he meets is the dour Lars Tardigan, who isn't offering him the job but merely asking if he's interested. In what is Marshall's darkest and most charismatic performance of his entire career, he manages to paint a dark and unnerving picture of TV executives who are in it only to make certain people miserable. While he returns in the concluding episode of the three episode arc, it's the eight minute scene that caps the first that inevitably puts him over the top. Even in the realm of Louie's experimental greatness, it's one of the best and most surprising roles.
10. Interviews
While one could argue on the quality of his work, it's hard to argue on the integrity of Marshall's character. He was always at his best when giving interviews to anyone - most recently on WTF with Marc Maron. However, the best for me will always be his work for DJ's Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps when they were hosting KLOS' morning show The Mark and Brian Show (of whom he featured in The Princess Diaries). He was game for segments as well as comically recalling his own fascinating career with scathing jokes to make him seem humbler. He was passionate and always fun to listen to. More than his work, Marshall's presence as a speaker will be greatly missed.
BONUS
Paul F. Tompkins
If imitation is the best form of flattery, then Paul F. Tompkins owes a lot to Marshall. The comedian is best known for doing a wide variety of impersonations including Cake Boss and Andrew Lloyd Webber. However, his work as Marshall has appeared over several podcasts, and even on TV on Comedy Bang! Bang!, and plays up the producer's enthusiastic love of life. If you want a laugh from a respectful homage, track down Tompkins' work. It may not be accurate all the time, but it's always very funny.
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