Actor, Comedian, Writer Garry Shandling Dead at 66

(Featured image courtesy Home Box Office)

News came today of the death of writer, actor, and comedian Garry Shandling at the age of 66. At this time the cause of death has not been released, only that the LAPD responded to a “medical emergency” at his home.

Mr. Shandling got his start in entertainment as a stand-up comedian before branching off into writing. He cut his teeth writing for television with a few scripts for Sanford and Son and Welcome Back, Kotter. In 1986, he created It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, a no-fourth-wall sitcom that played with the conventions of the medium. His follow-up, The Larry Sanders Show, purported to be a peek behind the scenes of the eponymous late-night talk show.

His main contribution to genre work was probably his 2000 film What Planet Are You From? The comedy, which he co-wrote and starred in, deals with an alien from a planet of emotionless clones sent to Earth to impregnate women as part of a plan for conquering the planet. In addition, X-Files fans will remember him as Fox Mulder’s on-screen alter ego in the “Hollywood A.D.” episode, where there was an inside joke to Duchovny’s recurring guest role on The Larry Sanders Show. He also played the straw villain Senator Stern in Iron Man 2 and Captain America: the Winter Soldier. Sadly, the latter film proved to be his final role.

Garry Shandling was highly respected as a writer and a “comedian’s comedian.” He worked behind the scenes with many up-and-coming talents over the years, and amassed a considerable fandom from his decidedly offbeat sense of humor.

Mr. Shandling was unmarried, and is survived by no family.

(Kelly Luck can still remember the lyrics to “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show.” Her other SciFi4Me work can be read here.)