What was Garry Shandling’s Net Worth and Salary?

Garry Shandling, a beloved American comedian, actor, and writer, had a net worth of $20 million at the time of his death in 2016.

Shandling was best known for co-creating and starring in “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” and “The Larry Sanders Show,” both of which were critically acclaimed. He began his career in the mid-1970s, writing for “Sanford and Son,” and frequently served as a guest-host on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

His work on “The Larry Sanders Show” earned it a spot on several “best shows of all time” lists, including “TV Guide” and “Entertainment Weekly.” Shandling also appeared in several films, including “Iron Man 2.”

Tragically, Shandling passed away in 2016 at the age of 66, but his legacy lives on through the many comedians he mentored, including Judd Apatow, who directed the documentary “The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling” in 2018.

Early Life and Education

Garry Shandling was born in Chicago in 1949 and grew up in Tucson, Arizona. He was raised in a Jewish household with his parents, Muriel and Irving, and his older brother Barry, who had cystic fibrosis and needed treatment in Tucson. Sadly, Barry passed away when Garry was 10 years old, but his parents did not explain the cause of his brother’s death and did not allow him to attend the funeral.

Shandling attended Palo Verde High School and went on to study at the University of Arizona, where he initially pursued electrical engineering but later earned a degree in marketing. He also spent a year studying creative writing.

At the age of 19, Shandling attended a George Carlin performance and showed Carlin some of his jokes. Carlin encouraged Shandling to continue writing and praised his work.

Garry Shandling’s Career Highlights

Garry Shandling moved to Los Angeles in 1973 and sold a script for “Sanford and Son” and wrote four episodes of the show. He later wrote for “Welcome Back, Kotter” and “The Harvey Korman Show.” In 1981, he made his debut on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and served as a guest-host several times until 1987.

Shandling created “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” with Alan Zweibel in 1985, and the Showtime series aired 72 episodes over four seasons. He launched “The Larry Sanders Show” on HBO in 1992, which ran for 89 episodes over six seasons.

Shandling declined offers to replace David Letterman on NBC and to take over “The Late Late Show” because he wanted to continue “The Larry Sanders Show.” He hosted the Grammy Awards four times and the Primetime Emmy Awards twice.

Shandling made his big screen debut in the 1993 film “The Night We Never Met” and later appeared in several films, including “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” He also guest-starred on several television shows and published the book “Confessions of a Late-Night Talk-show Host: The Autobiography of Larry Sanders” in 1999.

Personal Life of Garry Shandling

Garry Shandling lived with former fiancée Linda Doucett, who played Darlene on “The Larry Sanders Show,” from 1987 to 1994. After their split, he fired Doucett from the series, and she sued Shandling and Brillstein Entertainment Partners for wrongful termination and sexual discrimination. The case was settled out of court for $1 million in 1997.

Shandling was a Buddhist and spent his free time meditating and playing basketball. He regularly invited his comedian friends over to play on Sunday afternoons. Shandling also owned the TSB (Tough Strong Bold) 44 boxing gym in Santa Monica, California, and boxed several times per week.

Garry Shandling’s Legacy Lives on Through Generous Donation to UCLA

Garry Shandling, beloved comedian and actor, passed away in 2016 due to pulmonary thrombosis. Shortly after his death, it was reported that he had planned a Buddhist funeral. More than 30 of Shandling’s friends gathered at his home for “one last Sunday game at Garry’s.” A month later, hundreds attended his memorial service at L.A.’s Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

A small portion of Shandling’s estate, approximately $668,000, went to his best friend/lawyer Bill Isaacson. The bulk of his wealth was kept in a private trust. In February 2019, the estate gave $15.2 million to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA to establish the Garry Shandling Endocrine Surgery Research Fund, the Garry Shandling Pancreatic Diseases Fund, the Garry Shandling Infectious Diseases Innovation Fund, and the Garry Shandling Medical Research Fund. UCLA named a 6,400 square foot space in Geffen Hall the Garry Shandling Learning Studio.

Garry Shandling’s Accolades

Garry Shandling was a highly acclaimed comedian and television writer, earning numerous nominations and awards throughout his career.

He was nominated for 19 Primetime Emmys, winning Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for “The Larry Sanders Show” in 1998. He also received 28 CableACE Award nominations, taking home the prize 12 times, and earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical for “The Larry Sanders Show” in 1995 and 1996.

Shandling won a BAFTA Award for Best International (Programme or Series) for “The Larry Sanders Show” in 1999, and he was posthumously inducted into the Online Film & Television Association TV Hall of Fame in 2019. He also earned three American Comedy Awards for Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication, winning for “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” in 1988 and “The Larry Sanders Show” in 1998 and 1999.

Additionally, Shandling received nominations from the American Television Awards, Behind the Voice Actors Awards, Satellite Awards, and Writers Guild of America.

Garry Shandling’s Brentwood Home

Garry Shandling purchased a 6,100 square foot home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles in 1990. The 5-bedroom, 8-bathroom house was put up for sale for $13.5 million the day before his death. Five months later, the property was sold for $10.65 million.

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