Garry Marshall was a legend. He touched the lives of Generation X, Y and those of millennials. If you are not well versed in Hollywood legends or the work of Gary Marshall, get ready for your socks to be blown off.
For generations X and Y, he instrumented hits like "The Tonight Show," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Joey Bishop Show" and "The Danny Show." His first solo works include "Happy Days" and "Laverne and Shirley."
Garry Marshall was a director off epic proportions. After attending Northwestern University, Marshall moved to California to begin his life of fame and direct some of the best romantic comedies in the business.
Directors are sometimes not as easily recognized as actors, but these 10 movies are classics you, your mom and your grandma can all love together.
1. "Nothing in Common"
This film stars big actors Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason. While not a hit when it was first released, the film picked up speed with Hanks’ inevitable climb to fame.
2. "Pretty Woman"
This pivotal movie was huge for Richard Gere and Julia Roberts and is still a rom-com classic today (kickin' it as #1 on best romantic comedy on Box Office Mojo for many years). After this movie, everyone wanted to strap on those knee-highs and find a brooding, piano-playing hottie of their own.
3. "Happy Days"
Shout out to Gen X for growing up around one of the most classic sitcoms of the century. While Marshall wasn’t the director, he was Executive Producer and creator of "Happy Days" the 10 whole years it was rocking around the clock.
4. "Beaches"
The 1989 comedy drama confirmed your beliefs that you’re not just stubborn, you’re right.
5. "Runaway Bride"
A revival of the Julia Roberts/Richard Gere romance, these two fall hopelessly (and unexpectedly) in love with each other (again). Nominated as Favorite Actress by Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, MTV movie awards and Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, you’d think Julia Roberts had a lot of practice as a runaway bride (oops, sorry Kiefer).
6. "Princess Diaries"
The classic pauper to princess fairy tale must've been directed by none other than Gary Marshall. From this we learned that “A queen is NEVER late” and that “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Thanks, Joe, the chauffeur everyone wish they had in their life.
7. "Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement"
After watching the first one, it was hard to believe there wasn’t going to be a follow up of the Julie Andrews/Anne Hathaway duo. And you know there's at least that one person you'd love to do this fabulous foot stomp on...
8. "Valentine’s Day"
While received with mediocre feedback, the star-packed movie was still one of those feel-good, eat a bowl of ice cream on a rainy day kind of movies.
9. "New Year’s Eve"
Another jam-packed movie, starring nearly every major actor in 2011, "New Year’s Eve" has been called the unofficial sequel of "Valentine’s Day" and still possessed that same guilty pleasure feeling that the [unofficial] prequel provided. Even Garry couldn't resist that Zac Efron smile.
10. "Mother’s Day"
The unofficial third installment of the holiday themed rom-coms and Garry Marshall’s last film. *tear*
This film icon was known for his romantic comedies that causally addressed falling in love with someone else while simultaneously falling in love with yourself. We ended up falling in love with you, Garry Marshall. Rest easy.
