Garry Marshall Net Worth

What was Garry Marshall's Net Worth?

Garry Marshall was an American actor, director, writer, and producer who had a net worth of $50 million at the time of his death. Garry Marshall died on July 19, 2016, at the age of 81. His sisters are actress/director/producer Penny Marshall and TV producer Ronny Marshall Hallin.

Garry Marshall began his career as a joke writer for comedians such as Joey Bishop and Phil Foster and then became a writer for "The Tonight Show" with Jack Paar. In 1961, he moved to Hollywood, where he teamed up with Jerry Belson as a television writer. The pair worked on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Joey Bishop Show," "The Danny Thomas Show", and "The Lucy Show".

His notable credits include creating "The Odd Couple," "Happy Days," "Laverne and Shirley" (which starred his sister Penny Marshall), and "Mork and Mindy." He wrote and directed "The Flamingo Kid" and directed "Frankie and Johnny," "Runaway Bride,"" Georgia Rule," "Valentine's Day," "New Year's Eve," "Beaches," and "The Princess Diaries."

Early Life

Garry Marshall was born on November 13, 1934, in New York City. He was the eldest child of Anthony Masciarelli, a director of industrial films, and Marjorie Ward, who owned and operated a tap dance school. Prior to Garry's birth, his father changed the family's Italian surname to Marshall, a decision that reflected the era's pressures to assimilate. Raised in a religious household, Marshall was baptized Presbyterian and later brought up in the Lutheran faith.

He attended DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx before enrolling at Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, Marshall gravitated toward writing rather than performance, contributing a sports column to "The Daily Northwestern." He was also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. These early experiences laid the foundation for a career rooted in sharp dialogue, observational humor, and character-driven storytelling.

Military Service and Early Writing Work

In 1956, Marshall entered the U.S. Army, where his writing abilities quickly shaped his role. He served as a writer for military publications including "Stars and Stripes" and "Seoul News," and eventually became the production chief for the Armed Forces Radio Network. Much of his service time was spent stationed in Korea, where he gained valuable experience producing content on tight schedules and for broad audiences.

After completing his military service, Marshall returned to civilian life and began working as a joke writer for stand-up comedians such as Joey Bishop and Phil Foster. He soon joined the writing staff of "The Tonight Show," collaborating with writers Fred Freeman and Jack Paar. This period marked his entry into professional television comedy.

Television Writing Partnerships of the 1960s

In 1961, Marshall and Fred Freeman moved to Hollywood, where they began writing sitcoms together, starting with "The Joey Bishop Show." When Freeman later returned to New York, Marshall formed a long and productive partnership with writer Jerry Belson. Throughout the 1960s, the two worked on several major television series, including "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Danny Thomas Show," "The Lucy Show," and continued work on "The Joey Bishop Show."

This era established Marshall as a dependable and inventive comedy writer, capable of blending broad humor with strong character relationships.

Creator-Producer Breakthrough and "The Odd Couple"

Marshall made the transition from writer to creator-producer with the sitcom "Hey, Landlord," which aired for one season from 1966 to 1967. Though short-lived, the show represented a significant step forward in his career.

Soon after, Marshall and Belson adapted Neil Simon's play "The Odd Couple" for television. The series became a major success, running for five seasons and producing 114 episodes. Its popularity cemented Marshall's status as a leading creative force in television comedy.

1970s Television Empire

During the 1970s, Marshall emerged as one of the most influential television producers in the industry. Working independently and with various collaborators, he created a string of enormously successful sitcoms, including "Happy Days," "Laverne & Shirley," and "Mork & Mindy." Each series became a cultural phenomenon and helped define the tone of American television comedy during the decade.

These shows not only dominated ratings but also launched the careers of numerous actors and spawned multiple spin-offs, solidifying Marshall's reputation as a hitmaker.

Transition to Film Directing and Hector Elizondo

In the early 1980s, Marshall began directing feature films. Around this time, he met actor Hector Elizondo during a pickup basketball game, sparking a lifelong friendship and creative partnership. Elizondo appeared in every film Marshall directed, beginning with "Young Doctors in Love." Their collaboration was later acknowledged with a credit in their eighth film together, titled "As Usual…Hector Elizondo."

One of Marshall's earliest and most acclaimed films as a writer-director was "The Flamingo Kid" in 1984. He went on to direct a series of commercially successful films, including "Beaches," "Pretty Woman," "The Princess Diaries," "Valentine's Day," and several others that became staples of mainstream American cinema.

Acting and Stage Work

In addition to his work behind the camera, Marshall frequently appeared as an actor. He made guest appearances on television shows such as "Murphy Brown" and acted in films including "Soapdish" and "On the Lot." He also appeared in his sister Penny Marshall's film "A League of Their Own" and in Albert Brooks' "Lost in America." Marshall voiced characters in two episodes of "The Simpsons" and made cameo appearances as a drummer in "Happy Days," "Overboard," and "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement." In 2014, he appeared in a guest role on "Two and a Half Men."

Marshall also maintained an active presence in theater. He co-wrote and appeared in "Wrong Turn at Lungfish" with Lowell Ganz and participated in stage productions such as "The Roast," "Shelves," and "Happy Days: A New Musical."

Awards and Honors

Over the course of his career, Marshall received numerous awards and industry honors from organizations including the Writers Guild of America, the Producers Guild, BAFTA, the American Comedy Awards, the PRISM Awards, and TV Land. In 1983, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing his lasting impact on television and film comedy.

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Personal Life and Death

In March 1963, Garry Marshall married Barbara Sue Wells. The couple had three children together, and Marshall remained deeply connected to his family throughout his life despite his demanding career. One of their children, Scott Marshall, later became a film director, continuing the family's creative legacy. Marshall also collaborated with his daughter, Lori Marshall, on the memoir "Wake Me When It's Funny," which offered an intimate and often humorous reflection on his life in entertainment.

Family ties played a significant role in Marshall's professional world as well. His younger sister, Penny Marshall, became one of the most successful female directors in Hollywood history, with films such as "Big" and "A League of Their Own." Through Penny, Garry was closely connected to Rob Reiner, Penny's longtime partner and husband during the height of both of their careers. Reiner, like Marshall, successfully transitioned from television comedy into major feature filmmaking, and the trio were part of a broader creative circle that helped define mainstream American comedy from the 1970s through the 1990s. Garry would later appear in Penny Marshall's "A League of Their Own," further underscoring the family's deep creative overlap.

Garry Marshall died on July 19, 2016, at a hospital in Burbank, California. He was 81 years old. The cause of death was complications from pneumonia following a stroke. His passing prompted widespread tributes across Hollywood. Henry Winkler honored Marshall on the HBO series "Barry" in 2019, and SAG-AFTRA included a memorial tribute during that year's SAG Awards. Julia Roberts, one of Marshall's most frequent collaborators, paid tribute during the 2018 stage production of "Pretty Woman: The Musical." In 2020, ABC aired the retrospective special "The Happy Days of Garry Marshall," celebrating his life, career, and lasting influence on American film and television.

Real Estate

Garry's family continues to own his longtime primary home in the LA suburb of Toluca Lake.

In 1965, actress/singer/mother of Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, built an impressive mansion on a plot of beachfront property on one of Malibu's most exclusive oceanfront areas, known as Carbon Beach. In 1981, Debbie sold this home to Garry Marshall for an undisclosed amount.

In 2018, two years after his passing, Garry's family put the home on the market for $18 million. In June 2019, they accepted $14.25 million. Here's a video tour of the home:

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