Director/ writer/ actor Gary Marshall dies at age 81

After impressive writing credits on many of the classic sitcoms of the 1960’s, it was inevitable that the movie studios would tap him to contribute to several screenplays. The first was produced in 1968, a marriage comedy starring James Garner and Debbie Reynolds, HOW SWEET IT IS. A youth-oriented romantic comedy starring Jacqueline Bisset, THE GRASSHOPPER, was released in 1970. TV triumphs quickly followed, so Marshall’s movie career was put on hold for more than a dozen years.

1982 was the year that Marshall began his feature film directing career, with an “AIRPLANE-style” parody of medical dramas, YOUNG DOCTORS IN LOVE. It’s the first of his 18 features, all co-starring Hector Elizondo, who became Marshall’s movie “good luck” charm. The largely autobiographical (yes, he wrote it) THE FLAMINGO KID starring Matt Dillon followed two years later. Marshall went for laughs and family drama in 1986 with Tom Hanks in NOTHING IN COMMON, guiding the last great movie performance of comedy legend Jackie Gleason.

Real life couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell created on-screen sparks in the “rom-com” OVERBOARD, Then Marshall scored his biggest hit with a true “tear-jerker”, a look at the ups and downs of the life-long friendship between Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey in BEACHES. But its box office returns would pale compared to Marshall’s most popular, and enduring film, PRETTY WOMAN, the hit that established Julia Roberts as a major movie star (it gave a jolt to Richard Gere’s career, too).

Those two stars would later re-team with Marshall for RUNAWAY BRIDE. But before that flick there was FRANKIE AND JOHNNY (pairing Al Pacino and Michelle Pfieffer post SCARFACE), EXIT TO EDEN (a crime comedy set in the world of bondage?), THE OTHER SISTER, and DEAR GOD. After BRIDE, Marshall pursued teenage audiences with the two PRINCESS DIARIES flicks starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews. Two family “dramadies” RAISING HELEN and GEORGIA RULE would be mixed in with the DIARIES. In 2010 Marshall began a romantic comedy ensemble trilogy built around holidays with VALENTINE’S DAY. NEW YEAR’S DAY followed the next year. MOTHER’S DAY concluded the trio just this past April, and would be Marshall’s final film.

And let’s not forget Marshall’s scene-stealing work as a superb comic supporting actor. Hey, he started off with a true classic! Supposedly he’s got an uncredited role as a gangster in one of the best (in some circles it’s considered THE best!) Bond thrillers, GOLDFINGER! Over the years, Marshall would have roles in his sister Penny’s films, notably a cop in JUMPIN’ JACK FLASH, and candy kingpin/ baseball team owner Walter Harvey in A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN.

He even acted for his son Scott in the feature film KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS. Of all of his roles, the funniest may be this memorable scene as a Vegas casino exec dealing with Albert Brooks in his 1985 classic LOST IN AMERICA. With this final clip we hope to honor Mr.Gary Marshall by adhering to that old comedian’s motto, “Alway’s leave ’em laughing!”. You made our time in front of the tube and at the multiplex “happy days” indeed, sir!