Bummed to hear this surprising news today out of Hollywood. Comic Garry Shandling died unexpectely today of a massive heart attack. Shandling had apparently shown no signs of poor health or illness and, according to TMZ, was healthy and speaking to people this morning. He was 66.

Most of us Baby Boomers first saw Shandling on his frequent appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in the 80’s. An Illinois native whose family moved to Arizona when he was a child, Shandling moved to Los Angeles in the early 70’s and worked as a writer initially on sitcoms like Sanford and Son and Welcome Back Kotter. He was involved in a serious car wreck in which he said he had an epiphany. After surviving that, he started doing stand up comedy.

His funny appearances as a guest on Carson’s show led him to become a permanent guest host. That experience served him well later in his career when he played the fake late night TV host in The Larry Sanders Show on HBO from 1992-98. He also starred in the Garry Shandling Show from 1986-90 on Showtime. He will be missed.

Doc Watson