Garry Marshall started his career in show business by writing jokes for Joey Bishop. He soon found a staff position on the Tonight Show with Jack Parr. When Jack passed the hosting job to Johnny Carson, Garry moved out west to Hollywood, teaming up with Jerry Belson to become a writing team. Together, they wrote for such classic programs as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Danny Thomas and The Lucy Show.
A young Garry cavorting with Marlo Thomas
NBC soon rewarded the team with their first sitcom- Hey Landlord! a sitcom about a brownstone filled with eccentric tenants. It lasted just one season, but it led to the pair's first breakout hit- their adaptation of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple for ABC. Starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, the show became an instant classic. Many would consider themselves lucky to be a part of one classic project. For Garry, however, it was just the beginning.
