
LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Comedian and actor Garry Shandling, best known for his work on the parody late-night talk show series “The Larry Sanders Show” and his quirky sitcom “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” died today at age 66. Los Angeles police Officer Tony Im said Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics were called to Shandling’s home, and the comedian was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
TMZ reported that Shandling suffered a heart attack. A Chicago native, Shandling broke into show business writing for shows such as “Welcome Back, Kotter” and “Sanford and Son.” As a stand-up comedian, he became a favorite of Johnny Carson with his appearance on “The Tonight Show,” so much so that he had repeated stints as guest host in Carson’s absence. He gained cult fame with his off-beat Showtime comedy “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” which debuted in the mid-80s and ran for 72 episodes. The show became a hit thanks to the combination of Shandling’s deadpan wit and its tendency for characters to talk to the audience. At the end of the show’s run, Shandling created “The Larry Sanders Show,” a comic behind-the-scenes take on a fictional talk show.




