Garry Shandling Net Worth

What was Garry Shandling's Net Worth and Salary?

Garry Shandling was an American comedian, actor, and writer who had a net worth of $20 million at the time of his death in 2016. Garry Shandling was one of the most influential figures in modern comedy through his sharp wit, self-awareness, and groundbreaking television work. Known for his dry, neurotic humor and innovative approach to storytelling, Shandling blurred the lines between performance and reality in a way that reshaped the sitcom format for generations that followed.

He began his career as a television writer in the 1970s, contributing to shows such as "Sanford and Son" and "Welcome Back, Kotter" before transitioning to stand-up comedy. His routines, often centered on self-deprecation and anxiety, led to numerous appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," where he became one of Carson's favorite guest hosts. That exposure helped Shandling create his first major project, "It's Garry Shandling's Show," which aired on Showtime from 1986 to 1990. The series was revolutionary for its time, breaking the fourth wall, parodying sitcom conventions, and featuring Shandling as a fictionalized version of himself.

In 1992, he created "The Larry Sanders Show" for HBO, a satirical look at the behind-the-scenes world of a late-night talk show. The series, co-starring Jeffrey Tambor and Rip Torn, earned critical acclaim for its realism, intelligence, and emotional depth. It won multiple Emmy Awards and is widely regarded as one of the most influential comedies ever made, paving the way for later series like "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Office," and "30 Rock."

After "Larry Sanders," Shandling largely retreated from television but continued to act, write, and mentor younger comedians. He appeared in films such as "Iron Man 2" and "The Dictator" and was admired for his spiritual depth and introspection. Shandling died in 2016 at age 66, leaving behind a legacy as a comedic innovator who redefined honesty and vulnerability in comedy. In 2018, he was honored in the documentary "The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling," which was directed by Judd Apatow, one of many comedians Shandling mentored.

Early Life

Garry Emmanuel Shandling was born on November 29, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois. He was raised in a Jewish household in Tucson, Arizona, after his parents, Muriel and Irving Shandling, relocated the family to help their older son, Barry, receive treatment for cystic fibrosis. Tragically, Barry died when Garry was just ten years old. His parents never explained what had happened or allowed him to attend the funeral, a loss that deeply affected him and later shaped both his humor and introspective worldview.

Shandling attended Palo Verde High School and went on to study at the University of Arizona. He initially majored in electrical engineering before switching to marketing, eventually earning his degree. He also spent a year studying creative writing, which sparked his interest in storytelling and humor. At 19, a chance encounter changed his life: after attending a George Carlin performance in Phoenix, he showed the comedian some jokes he had written. Carlin's encouragement convinced Shandling to pursue writing more seriously—setting him on the path toward a career in comedy.

Early Career

After college, Shandling moved to Los Angeles in 1973, where he found work in advertising before breaking into television as a writer. His first major success came when he sold a script to "Sanford and Son," eventually writing several episodes of the hit sitcom. Over the next few years, he contributed scripts to "Welcome Back, Kotter" and "The Harvey Korman Show," earning a reputation as a sharp and original writer.

By the late 1970s, Shandling began to feel creatively limited by traditional television and decided to try stand-up comedy. He made his debut at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood in 1978 and quickly developed a cerebral, self-aware style that set him apart from other comics of the era. His routines often revolved around insecurity, social awkwardness, and the absurdities of show business—themes that would later define his television work.

Breakthrough on "The Tonight Show"

Shandling's career took a major leap forward in 1981 when he was invited to perform on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." His appearance was so well-received that he became a regular guest and, eventually, one of Carson's favored guest hosts. His dry wit and understated confidence made him a natural fit for late-night television. Between 1983 and 1987, he hosted "The Tonight Show" multiple times, earning national recognition and proving he had the timing, intelligence, and self-deprecating charm to anchor his own program.

During this period, he also released two acclaimed stand-up specials: Showtime's "Garry Shandling: Alone in Vegas" (1984) and HBO's "Garry Shandling: Stand-Up" (1991). These specials helped solidify his comedic identity—introspective, ironic, and painfully honest about his own neuroses.

"It's Garry Shandling's Show"

In 1985, Shandling partnered with writer Alan Zweibel to create "It's Garry Shandling's Show" for Showtime. Premiering in 1986, the series was groundbreaking for its time, blending sitcom storytelling with a constant breaking of the fourth wall. Shandling played a fictionalized version of himself who knew he was in a TV show, often speaking directly to the audience and manipulating the storylines.

The show ran for four seasons and 72 episodes, earning Emmy nominations and critical acclaim for its originality and meta-humor. "It's Garry Shandling's Show" became a cult classic and is now widely viewed as a precursor to the self-referential comedies that would dominate television decades later.

"The Larry Sanders Show"

After ending his Showtime series, Shandling created and starred in what many critics consider one of the greatest television comedies of all time: "The Larry Sanders Show." Debuting on HBO in 1992, the series offered a behind-the-scenes look at the production of a fictional late-night talk show, with Shandling playing the insecure and perfectionist host, Larry Sanders.

The show's sharp satire and emotional realism broke new ground for television. With a cast that included Jeffrey Tambor and Rip Torn, "The Larry Sanders Show" earned multiple Emmy Awards and Golden Globe nominations, influencing later hits like "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "30 Rock," and "The Office." Shandling wrote and directed several episodes, including the acclaimed 1998 finale "Flip," which explored the anxieties of fame and authenticity with both humor and melancholy.

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Other Work and Later Career

In 1993, Shandling was offered $5 million to replace David Letterman when he moved from NBC to CBS and was later approached to host "The Late Late Show." He turned down both offers to continue focusing on "The Larry Sanders Show," which he felt allowed for greater creative freedom. He also hosted the Grammy Awards four times in the early 1990s and the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2000 and 2004.

Shandling made numerous film and television appearances throughout his career, including roles in "Mixed Nuts" (1994), "Town & Country" (2001), and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" (2014). He voiced characters in "Dr. Dolittle" (1998), "Over the Hedge" (2006), and "The Jungle Book" (2016). His 1999 satirical book, "Confessions of a Late Night Talk Show Host: The Autobiography of Larry Sanders," blurred fiction and reality in typical Shandling fashion.

Personal Life

Garry lived with former fiancée, Linda Doucett, who played Darlene on "The Larry Sanders Show," from 1987 to 1994. After they split up, he fired Doucett from the series, and she sued Shandling and Brillstein Entertainment Partners for wrongful termination and sexual discrimination. In 1997, the lawsuit was settled out of court for $1 million.

Garry was a Buddhist and spent his free time meditating and playing basketball, regularly inviting his comedian friends over to play on Sunday afternoons. Shandling owned the TSB (Tough Strong Bold) 44 boxing gym in Santa Monica, California, and boxed several times per week.

Death and Estate

Garry suffered from a potentially fatal condition called hyperparathyroidism, which can elevate the risk of a heart attack, and he had surgery related to the condition at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. On March 24, 2016, he collapsed at his Brentwood home, and sadly, the beloved comedian passed away after paramedics rushed him to Providence Saint John's Health Center. Shandling's autopsy revealed that he died of pulmonary thrombosis after a blood clot traveled to his lungs from his leg. Shortly after his death, it was reported that Garry had planned a Buddhist funeral in which he would "be ordained as a Buddhist monk by having his head symbolically shaven by another monk." The weekend after his death, more than 30 of Shandling's friends, including Judd Apatow, Sarah Silverman, Jeffrey Tambor, and Kevin Nealon, gathered at his home for "one last Sunday game at Garry's," and a month later, hundreds attended his memorial service at L.A.'s Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

A small portion of Shandling's estate, approximately $668,000, went to his best friend/lawyer, Bill Isaacson. The bulk of his wealth was kept in a private trust. In February 2019, the estate gave $15.2 million to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA to establish the Garry Shandling Endocrine Surgery Research Fund, the Garry Shandling Pancreatic Diseases Fund, the Garry Shandling Infectious Diseases Innovation Fund, and the Garry Shandling Medical Research Fund. UCLA named a 6,400 square foot space in Geffen Hall the Garry Shandling Learning Studio.

Awards and Nominations

Garry was nominated for 19 Primetime Emmys, winning Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for "The Larry Sanders Show" in 1998. He received 28 CableACE Award nominations, taking home the prize 12 times (once for the "1995 Young Comedians Special," twice for "It's Garry Shandling's Show," and nine times for "The Larry Sanders Show"), and he earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical for "The Larry Sanders Show" in 1995 and 1996. Shandling won a BAFTA Award for Best International (Programme or Series) for "The Larry Sanders Show" in 1999, and he was posthumously inducted into the Online Film & Television Association TV Hall of Fame in 2019. Garry earned three American Comedy Awards for Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication, winning for "It's Garry Shandling's Show" in 1988 and "The Larry Sanders Show" in 1998 and 1999. He also received nominations from the American Television Awards (Best Actor in a Situation Comedy for "The Larry Sanders Show"), Behind the Voice Actors Awards (Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film for "The Jungle Book"), Satellite Awards (Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical for "The Larry Sanders Show"), and Writers Guild of America (Episodic Comedy for "The Larry Sanders Show").

Real Estate

In 1990, Shandling bought a 6,100-square-foot home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. He put the 5-bedroom, 8-bathroom house on the market for $13.5 million the day before his sudden death, and it sold for $10.65 million five months later.

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