GARRY SHANDLING

(29 November 1929 - 24 March 2016)

The American comic writer, producer/director and actor/stand-up comedian mainly worked in television creating his own shows such as It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (1986-90) and its alter ego The Larry Sanders Show (1992-98). He also wrote some episodes of Sanford and Son, the US version of Steptoe and Son, plus series for Harvey Korman and Welcome Back, Kotter. As an actor, apart from his TV work, he appeared in Love Affair with Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Katharine Hepburn, Nora Ephon’s Mixed Nuts with Steve Martin, Hurlyburly with Sean Penn and Kevin Spacey, Mike Nichols’ What Planet Are You From?, with Bening again, Town & Country with Beatty again, Zoolander with Ben Stiller, Trust the Man with David Duchovny and Julianne Moore, Iron Man 2 with Robert Downey Jr and Captain America: The Winter Soldier with Chris Evans in 2014. He also did voiceover work on Dr Dolittle (1998) and Over the Hedge (2006). He was an original and important innovator as a comedian and writer for American television and subsequently the winner of many comedy awards.

MICHAEL DARVELL