NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Garry Shandling, comic, ‘Larry Sanders Show’ creator, dies

LOS ANGELES

Garry Shandling, who as an actor and comedian masterminded a brand of self-inflicted phony docudrama with “The Larry Sanders Show,” has died of an apparent heart attack.

Shandling’s publicist Alan Nierob said doctors at a hospital where the comedian was pronounced dead said it appeared he died of a heart attack. Nierob said Shandling had no history of heart trouble.

Shandling was taken to a hospital after paramedics were dispatched to his Brentwood home about 10:40 a.m. Thursday, police and fire officials said.

His death stunned the comedy community, who praised Shandling’s humor, kindness and efforts to support and promote them and their craft.

Born Nov. 29, 1949, in Chicago, Shandling was raised in Tucson, Ariz. On arriving in Los Angeles as a young adult, it was a short hop from a brief stint in the advertising business to comedy writing and stand-up.

Then in the 1980s, he began to experiment with TV comedy, and to toy with the sitcom form, with his first series, “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” a Showtime project that made no bones about its inherently artificial nature: The actors in this otherwise standard domestic comedy routinely broke the fourth wall to comment on what they were up to.

Then, in August 1992, Shandling created “The Larry Sanders Show,” which starred him as an egomaniacal late-night TV host with an angst-ridden show-biz life behind the scenes.

The news of Shandling’s death brought an outpouring of reactions from performers who spoke of his impact.

“Garry was a guiding voice of comedy,” said actor-comedian Bob Odenkirk. “He set the standard and we’re all still trying to meet it.”

David Smyrl, Mr. Handford on ‘Sesame Street,’ dies at 80

PHILADELPHIA

David Smyrl, the Emmy-winning actor best-known for his role as Mr. Handford, the retired firefighter who ran Hooper’s Store on “Sesame Street,” has died. He was 80.

Smyrl was diagnosed with lung cancer in January, said his wife, Cheryl. He died Tuesday at Lankenau Medical Center outside Philadelphia.

A north Philadelphia native, Smyrl’s television career began in New York in the 1970s, on the show “Express Yourself.”

Smyrl moved to California to work on the sitcom “Benson” in the 1970s, for which he earned a People’s Choice Award. He also worked as a writer and actor on “The Cosby Show.”

From 1990 to 1998, Smyrl played the smiling, singing store owner on “Sesame Street.”

Associated Press