Think of Garry Marshall as the auteur of odd couples, whether they be a proper queen and her clumsy granddaughter (The Princess Diaries), a coldly efficient businessman and his endearing escort (Pretty Woman) and the original TV Odd Couple, neat freak Felix and a sloppy Oscar, divorced men sharing a New York apartment.
Marshall, a successful producer, director and writer who died Tuesday at the age of 81, had a comedic common touch that proved popular with TV and film audiences for more than 50 years. At a time when many of his contemporaries had long since retired, Marshall was still busy behind the camera, most recently directing the star-studded Mother's Day, which premiered in April.
Despite a long entertainment career, the folksy Marshall hardly seemed like a slick Hollywood type, from his New York accent to his ability to connect with the public with upbeat, heartfelt comedy.
Marshall, who wrote for actor and producer Danny Thomas' Make Room for Daddy in the 1960s, established himself as a TV power in the 1970s with a string of dominant hit comedies, including The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley (starring his sister, Penny Marshall) and Mork & Mindy. While Norman Lear was blazing a trail of edgy comedies rooted in the grit of reality, Marshall's programs took viewers to a comforting spot, often somewhere in the past, where they could get a breather from life's challenges for a half hour or so.
He helped make iconic characters and stars along the way, from Happy Days' Fonzie (Henry Winkler) to Mork's Mork (Robin Williams). Oscar-winning director and former child star Ron Howard discovered more about his craft while starring in Happy Days and Penny Marshall also learned on the job, becoming an acclaimed film director.
After mastering TV, Marshall made the jump to the big screen, a larger career leap than it is today, when he directed 1984's The Flamingo Kid. He proved a hitmaker in film, too, helping make Julia Roberts a star with 1990's Pretty Woman and continuing their success as a directing-acting team with 1999's Runaway Bride.
Although Marshall's more recent films, including the holiday-anchored Valentine's Day (2010), New Year's Eve (2011) and Mother's Day, have not been critical hits, they show how actors felt a strong bond with the director. Oscar-winning superstar Roberts appeared in Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, and Marshall had a long working relationship with acclaimed actor Hector Elizondo, who had roles in 18 Marshall films.
Such longstanding loyalty stands out in Hollywood — or pretty much anywhere.
