The Garry Marshall Family Tree Part 1
On Tuesday, July 19th, 2016, we lost the great Garry Marshall, creator of comedic television shows and films that could make us laugh unlike any other comedy ever could. The New York City native was mostly known for his achievements as a writer, producer, director, and even an actor of television and film. From The Odd Couple (1970-1975) and Happy Days (1974-1984) to Pretty Woman (1990) and The Princess Diaries (2001), what sets Marshall’s work apart from other comedy writers is that the heart of all of his work, first and foremost, was family. Throughout his Hollywood career Garry Marshall created a quite remarkable “family tree,” if you will, by helping to mentor (and sometimes launch) the careers of many talented actors. And in his various films, he often accessed that same talent over and over. He was well known for placing family in high priority on the set, and even gave his relatives bit parts in his films.
Julia Roberts rose to international stardom with her performance as Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman (1990), which earned her 2nd Academy Award Nomination, though it was her 1st Nomination for Best Lead Actress. She is the only actress ever to receive an Academy Award Nomination for a performance in a Garry Marshall movie. Roberts was reunited with “Pretty Woman,” co-star Richard Gere for Marshall’s Runaway Bride (1999) and also starred in Valentine’s Day (2010) as well as Garry Marshall’s last film, Mother’s Day (2016). (Her niece, actress Emma Roberts, also appeared in “Valentine’s Day.”)
Garry Marshall directed Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in Overboard in 1987. 17 years later, in 2004, he directed their daughter, Kate Hudson in Raising Helen, and later in “Mother’s Day.” Garry Marshall was kind enough to let Hudson’s son, Ryder Russell Robinson, who was born while “Raising Helen,” was in production, run the movie clapboard and call “Action,” during the filming of “Mother’s Day.”
Joan Cusack starred in “Runaway Bride,” “Raising Helen,” and she and Garry Marshall both lent their voices to Disney’s Chicken Little (2005). In the baseball game scene of “Bride,” you can see Joan Cusack wearing a baseball cap that says “Peaches.” That is ironic, because Garry Marshall’s sister, Penny Marshall, who is another renowned actor/director, directed the film, A League of Their Own (1992), which starred Joan’s eldest sister, Ann Cusack as Left Fielder, Shirley Baker (the woman who initially couldn’t read). Garry played Walter Harvey, the founder of the A.A.G.P.B.L.
Anne Hathaway had her film debut as Mia in The Princess Diaries (2001). She reprised her role for the sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). Marshall auditioned several young women for the role of Mia, and showed the tapes to his granddaughters, Lilly and Charlotte and asked them whom they liked. They picked Anne Hathaway, because they told him they thought she had the best “princess-y,” hair. The girls even make a brief appearance in the film as the too little girls who ask for Mia’s autograph. (Their names, Lilly and Charlotte, are the character names Marshall used for Mia’s best friend and Queen Clarisse’s secretary (which was played by Garry Marshall’s daughter, Kathleen).
Hector Elizondo is the “grand champion” of Marshall films, having acted in 18 of his movies between 1982 and 2016. Most notable was his one and ply Golden Globe Nominated performance in “Pretty Woman.” He also played Joe in “Princess 1 and 2,” and Mickey Massey, the car dealer in “Raising Helen,” rounding out his Marshall-led roles in Valentine’s Day (2010), New Year’s Eve (2011), and “Mother’s Day.”
Garry Marshall has truly left a most enduring legacy in the entertainment industry. His films and television shows did far more than just entertain. They told stories that were very easy for normal people to identify with. More importantly, they made each of our family lives seem a little more humorous. Hats off to Garry Marshall!
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