Garry Marshall, the writer of some of the 1970s' most legendary sitcoms and the director of hit movies including Pretty Woman, has died.
The 81-year-old died in California of complications from pneumonia following a stroke.
The writer and director had a hand in much-loved TV sitcoms such as Happy Days, The Odd Couple and Mork and Mindy which helped launch the career of Robin Williams.
He directed Pretty Woman, which was a breakthrough role for Julia Roberts and also helmed The Princess Diaries with Anne Hathaway in the lead role.
Happy Days star Henry Winkler thanked Marshal "for my professional life" in a tweet.
In a statement, Richard Gere, who played opposite Roberts in Pretty Woman, called Marshall a "super fine and decent man, husband and father".
"Garry of course was one of those truly important people one is blessed to meet in one's lifetime. Besides being the pulse and life force of Pretty Woman… [he was] a steady helmsman on a ship that could have easily capsized."
Newshub.