It’s Garry Shandling’s Death

Comedian Garry Shandling died suddenly and mysteriously in a Los Angeles hospital today, according to reports. Though known for his hilarious TV series and funny stand-up routines (often focusing on his unruly mop of hair), contemporary audiences last saw the 66-year-old on the big screen in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” playing a corrupt U.S. Senator.

He was no stranger to brushes with corruption in real life. In one of the uglier Hollywood feuds of recent memory, Shandling was entangled in the 2008 case of former celebrity private investigator Anthony Pellicano. Testifying in court, Shandling talked about a feud with his former manager Brad Grey. Shandling leveled accusations of threatening late-night phone calls, smear campaigns in the press, forged signatures on contracts, financial hanky-panky over TV shows, phones that were bugged and illegal background checks using government databases.

Brad Grey fired back by releasing a statement: “I am extremely saddened by Garry’s recollection of events dating back more than a decade. His representation is very different than what I remember and what I know to be true. Garry and I had a long personal and professional relationship, which frankly ended when he hired [attorney] David Boies, and sued me and [his Hollywood production company] Brillstein Grey  for $100 million. His actions forced us to hire our own lawyer … and our friendship was overtaken by a legal process that was directed by lawyers and which ended with an equitable settlement. Even though we haven’t spoken since that time, he remains one of the most talented people I have known and I wish him only the best.”

But Shandling never seemed to do things the conventional way. He was working at an advertising agency when he sold a script for the popular 1970s sitcom “Sanford and Son.” He also wrote for “Welcome Back, Kotter.”

After he became established in television, he started doing stand-up. A successful appearance on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson” led to him becoming a regular substitute host when Johnny took vacations, and for a while he considered a favorite to replace the late-night king.

Shandling did typical comedy specials on HBO and Showtime, but hit upon something original when he created “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” for Showtime, which was about a group of characters who knew they were on a TV show. Shandling played a version of himself and often addressed viewers directly.

In a similar vein, “The Larry Sanders Show” skewered talk shows, drawing on his sordid, often-surreal “Tonight Show” experiences. It earned 56 Emmy nominations and became the first cable show ever nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series. Shandling finally won an Emmy for co-writing the series finale.