Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride director Garry Marshall dead at 81

Hollywood director Garry Marshall, whose hit filmsincludedPretty Woman, Runaway BrideandBeaches, died Tuesday at age 81.

Publicist MichelleBegasaidMarshall died Tuesdayat a hospital in Burbank, Calif., of complications from pneumonia after having a stroke.

Marshall's talents as a writer-producer made him a powerhouse for an entire era of sitcomsin the1970sand 80s, includingHappy Days,Mork&Mindy,The Odd CoupleandLaverne& Shirley, which starred his sister Penny.

Once estimating he'd churned out 1,000 sitcom episodes, Marshall wasn't just responsible for creating hit shows, but launching actors' careers as well.

Think Robin Williams, who was new on the scene in 1978 when he starred asMorkonMork&Mindy. Or Ron Howard, who most people now know as a star director but whose initial claim to fame was playingRichieCunningham onHappy Days.

With that gruff tone andNew York accent, Marshall held his own on screen as well. He appeared on the series Murphy Brown withCandiceBergen, in the 1991 comedySoapdishwith Sally Field and Robert DowneyJr. and alsoprovided a guest-appearance voice forTheSimpsonsas shady zoo owner LarryKidkillduring the show's 11th season.

Despite those brusqueroles, Marshall was considered a sweetheart in real life by almost anyone who worked with him. That might explain why manyA-listers, including Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson and JessicaBiel, starred in multiple Marshall-directed films.

"He's the grandpa everyone wishes they had," JenniferAnistontold the CBC in April atthe red carpet premiere in Los Angeles of Marshall's filmMother's Day.

At the same event, Marshalljoked that his film setsoften felt likereunions with famous actors because "if you pay them, they come!"

"We all get together and do what we love, which is make movies," he told CBC News at the Hollywood premiere. Marshall happily spent time chatting with reporters and had a warm sense of humour.

RichardGere, who starred opposite Roberts inPretty WomanandRunaway Bride,said that"everyone loved Garry."

"He was a mentor and a cheerleader and one of the funniest men who ever lived," Gere saidin a statement Tuesday."He had a heart of the purest gold and a soul full of mischief. He was Garry."

Marshall was born in New York City's The Bronx.Heearned a degree in journalism from Northwestern University and worked at the New York Daily News. But he found he was better at writingpunchlines.

He began his entertainment career in the1960sselling jokes to comedians, then moved to writing sketches forThe Tonight Showwith JackPaarin New York.

Marshall wrote scripts for some of the best comedies that decade, includingTheLucy ShowandThe Dick Van Dyke Show,before eventually creating his own.

Marshall's otherfilm credits includeThe Flamingo Kid(1984), starring MattDillon,Overboard(1987), starring Kurt Russell andGoldieHawn,The Princess Diaries(2001), starring Anne Hathaway and the star-studded 2010 romantic comedyValentine'sDay.

Despite his many successful television shows and severalEmmy nominations, Marshall never won the covetedprimetimeaward.

He got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983 and wasinducted into theAcademy of Television Arts & Science'sHall of Fame in 1997 for his contributions to the industry.

Many people who got their start on Marshall's movies and sitcoms,including HenryWinklerwho playedFonzieonHappy Days, shared their condolences and gratitude, on social media.

"Thank you for my professional life,"Winklerposted on Twitter shortly after the announcement of Marshall's death.

"Thank you for taking a chance on me," Sarah Paulsonposted on Twitter late Tuesday. Paulson starred in Marshall's 1999 film The Other Sister and is most recentlyknown for her roles in12 Years a SlaveandAmerican Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson.

"Marshall hired me at 15 years old,"Parks and RecreationandThe West Wingstar Rob Lowe tweeted. "He gave my wife her start at 18, as a makeup artist. He changed our lives."

Marshall is survived by his wife, Barbara, and the couple's three children, Lori, Kathleen and Scott.

Funeral services will be private but a memorial is being planned for his birthday on Nov. 13, his publicist's statement said.