Garry Marshall: Tributes paid to
Happy Days creator and Pretty Woman director
Tributes have been paid to Garry Marshall, creator of hit US TV series
Happy Days, who has died aged 81.
Marshall died at a hospital in Burbank, California, on
Tuesday of complications from pneumonia following a stroke, his publicist
Michelle Bega said.
Henry
Winkler, who played "The Fonz" on Happy Days, wrote on Twitter: "Garry Marshall rest in peace.
Several
other Hollywood figures who have previously worked with Marshall have also
taken to social media to pay tribute, including Steve Carell, Lea Michele and Zach Braff, who said: "God I loved this man."
As well as
creating Happy Days, Marshall directed blockbusters such as Pretty Woman and
Runaway Bride - both starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
In a
statement released on Wednesday, Gere said: "Everyone loved Garry... he
was a super fine and decent man."
Actor Rob Lowe said: "Garry Marshall hired me at 15
years old. He gave my wife her start at 18, as a makeup artist. He changed our
lives and many others."
Ashton Kutcher and Jessica Alba - both of whom worked with Marshall on
the film Valentine's Day - also paid tribute, with Alba calling him "a
true pioneer".
Octavia Spencer said
she "will miss that talented one" and Ghostbusters director Paul Feig described
Marshall as "an amazing person".
As well as
creating Happy Days, Marshall wrote sitcoms such as The Odd Couple and Mork and
Mindy.
Actress Sarah Paulson, who appeared in Marshall's 1999 film The
Other Sister, said: "Garry Marshall, I am forever indebted to you. Thank
you for taking a chance on me."
Mandy Moore, whose
first on-screen film role was in 2001's The Princess Diaries, which Marshall
directed, wrote: "Garry Marshall was one of the greats.
