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Garry Shandling

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Garry Emmanuel Shandling was a versatile American entertainer. He worked as an actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer. His career spanned four decades of significant influence in television and film.

Shandling
Shandling

Shandling's professional journey began with writing for popular sitcoms. He wrote scripts for shows like "Sanford and Son" and "Welcome Back, Kotter." He also attended story meetings for "Three's Company." A specific moment at a meeting inspired his shift to stand-up comedy. After a producer criticized a line of dialogue, Shandling decided to perform the material himself. He debuted his first stand-up routine at The Comedy Store in 1978. His stage persona was characterized as an anxiety-ridden and nervous man.

GarryShandlingApr2011
GarryShandlingApr2011

His success as a comedian grew through television appearances. In 1981, he was booked as a guest on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." He became a frequent guest host for the program. For several years, he was considered a leading contender to replace Carson. He eventually left this role in 1987 to focus on his own television projects. He also released several televised stand-up specials for Showtime and HBO.

Shandling
Shandling

Shandling revolutionized the sitcom format with "It's Garry Shandling's Show." Created with Alan Zweibel, the series aired on Showtime from 1985 to 1990. It ran for 72 episodes and earned four Emmy Award nominations. The show was unique because it used meta-fiction. This means the characters openly acknowledged they were in a television series. They would break the "fourth wall" to speak to the audience. This technique drew inspiration from older shows like "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show."

His second major success was "The Larry Sanders Show." This series aired on HBO from 1992 to 1998 and ran for 89 episodes. The show was a mockumentary about a behind-the-scenes talk show. Shandling based the concept on his own experiences hosting "The Tonight Show." The series was highly decorated, receiving 56 Emmy Award nominations. Shandling won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 1998. This award was for writing the series finale, titled "Flip."

Beyond television, Shandling had a diverse film career. He appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in "Iron Man 2" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." He also provided voice work for animated films. He voiced Verne the turtle in "Over the Hedge" and Ikki in the live-action "The Jungle Book." Throughout his life, he earned 19 Primetime Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations. He also hosted the Grammy Awards four times and the Emmy Awards twice.

GarryShandlingApr2011
GarryShandlingApr2011

Shandling's personal life was shaped by significant events. He was born in Chicago in 1949 and raised in Tucson, Arizona. His family moved to Arizona so his brother, Barry, could receive treatment for cystic fibrosis. Barry passed away from the disease when Garry was ten years old. In 1976, Shandling survived a serious car crash that left him in critical condition. He described a near-death experience during this time that influenced his worldview. He became a Buddhist and practiced meditation alongside physical activities like boxing and basketball.

Shandling
Shandling
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