Sad news this evening as Garry Marshall, film director and creator of iconic '70s TV shows such as
Happy Days,
Laverne & Shirley,
Mork and Mindy, and
The Odd Couple, has died at the age of 81 after a bout with pneumonia. The New York native managed to build off his small-screen success into a successful feature film career. His first major hit was 1990's
Pretty Woman, which introduced much of the world to Julia Roberts. But he was also the director behind 1984's
The Flamingo Kid with Matt Dillon, the memorable drama
Beaches with Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, and
The Princess Diaries with Anne Hathaway.
Marshall would continue his relationship with Roberts through subsequent movies, including pairing her up once more with Richard Gere in
Runaway Bride. Most recently he was the director behind the holiday ensembles
New Year's Eve,
Valentine's Day, and this year's
Mother's Day, which also featured Roberts in a supporting role.
