Another industry legend has left us this week as actor / writer / director / producer Garry Marshall has reportedly passed away. The Hollywood icon suffered a stroke at a hospital in Burbank yesterday which led to complications of pneumonia. He had still been working right up until his death with his most recent film, Mother’s Day, having been released this past April. Marshall is best known for directing such box office hits as Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride in addition to creating some of the biggest sitcoms of the ’70s and ’80s including The Odd Couple, Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley. He was 81 years old.

Garry Marshall started his career as a writer on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar in the early ’60s before writing for several sitcoms including The Dick Van Dyke Show and co-creating his own first show Hey, Landlord. He had his first big hit adapting the Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple for TV and after a string of successful shows he moved into directing features in the ’80s with Young Doctors in Love and The Flamingo Kid.

Throughout the ’80s and ’90s he continued to direct some pretty big movies including Beaches, Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride and The Princess Diaries. More recently he had become known for a series of holiday-themed romantic comedies including Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve and Mother’s Day. With a knack for effectively mixing comedy and drama and a genuine and upbeat personality that made him well-liked by everyone he worked with, he will most certainly be missed. What are your favourite Garry Marshall movies and TV shows?