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Garry Shandling

Garry Shandling

Actor, writer and producer · Died March 24, 2016, aged 66 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Primetime Emmy winner · BAFTA Award winner · Golden Globe nominee · 2 other major award bodies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Garry Emmanuel Shandling (born November 29, 1949 – March 24, 2016) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer. He was best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show. Shandling began his career writing for sitcoms such as Sanford and Son and Welcome Back, Kotter. He made a successful stand-up performance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and became a frequent guest-host on the show. Shandling was for a time considered the leading contender to replace Carson (other hopefuls were Joan Rivers, David Letterman and David Brenner). In 1986 he created It's Garry Shandling's Show, for the pay cable channel Showtime. It was nominated for four Emmy Awards (including one for Shandling) and lasted until 1990. His second show, The Larry Sanders Show, which began airing on HBO in 1992, was more successful. Shandling was nominated for 18 Emmy Awards for the show and won in 1998, along with Peter Tolan, for writing the series finale. During his three-decade career, Shandling has been nominated for 19 Primetime Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, along with many other awards and nominations. Description above from the Wikipedia article Vicellous Garry Shandling, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 29, 1949
Died
March 24, 2016 (aged 66)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor, writer and producer
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 38 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 41% in 30 days

What are Garry Shandling's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
36%
Society
27%
Self
18%
Ideas
13%
Power
3%
Survival
3%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeArt5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFame4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 1 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 7 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 8

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 3

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 11 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 4 of 10 analyzed roles.

Trickster
4 of 10
Hero
3 of 10
Ally
2 of 10
Mentor
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
11
Joyful
10
Hopeful
4
Warm
4
Contemplative
3
Other
13

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Garry Shandling's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Disney+ (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Garry Shandling's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

38 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 31 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Jungle Book(2016)

    In Memory Of · as Ikki (voice)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Brothers Grimsby(2016)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier(2014)

    as Senator Stern

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Dictator(2012)

    as Inspector (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Iron Man 2(2010)

    as Senator Stern

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • The Making Of 'The Larry Sanders Show' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Larry Sanders

  • The Best of Carson, Volume 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Hammy's Boomerang Adventure(2006)

    as Verne (voice)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Over the Hedge(2006)

    as Verne (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Ricky Gervais Meets... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Garry Shandling

  • Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Trust the Man(2005)

    as Dr. Beekman

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Tom Goes to the Mayor(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Pat Lewellen (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Garry Shandling

  • Zoolander(2001)

    as Garry Shandling

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Town & Country(2001)

    as Griffin Morris

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • What Planet Are You From?(2000)

    Producer · Screenplay · Story · as Harold Anderson

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Hurlyburly(1998)

    as Artie

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Doctor Dolittle(1998)

    as Male Pigeon (voice)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Additional Writing · as Garry (voice)

  • Mixed Nuts(1994)

    as Stanley

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Love Affair(1994)

    as Kip DeMay

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The X-Files(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Fox Mulder / Garry Shandling

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Night We Never Met(1993)

    as Mr. Vertisey

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Ben Stiller Show(1992)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • The Larry Sanders Show(1992)

    Show 90 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer · as Larry Sanders

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Garry Shandling: Stand-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme(1990)

    as Jack (of Jack and Jill)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Live with Kelly and Mark(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Garry Shandling

  • It's Garry Shandling's Show.(1986)

    Show 72 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · Writer · as Garry Shandling

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • The Garry Shandling Show: 25th Anniversary Special(1986)

    Executive Producer · Writer · as Garry Shandling

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Doctor Duck's Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce(1986)

    Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Garry Shandling: Alone in Vegas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Writer · as Himself

  • Welcome Back, Kotter(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Sanford and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · Writer

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 37 titles from 1972 to 2016; peak year 2005.

Biggest box office

The Jungle Book (2016)

$968M worldwide

Highest rated

The Larry Sanders Show (1992)

Midcredits 93rd

Film career

MilestoneAward win
19722016

Peak 2005 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting33 of 37: 27 only acting, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndWriting7 of 37: 3 only writing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score73rdProducing4 of 37: 0 only producing, 4 with another roleOther crew5 of 37: 1 only other crew, 4 with another role

37 titles, 6 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1970s2 · crew1980s5 · 4 acting · 3 crew1990s12 · 12 acting · 2 crew2000s13 · 13 acting · 1 crew2010s5 · 4 acting · 2 crew

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 8% of 13 roles
9303

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Primetime Emmy and a BAFTA Award from 27 major nominations, 1988–1999.

WinNomination
  1. 1999
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best International (Programme or Series)
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television
  2. 1998
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • +2 other major bodies · 2 nominations
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Episodic Comedy
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television
  3. 1997
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television
  4. 1996
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Writers Guild Award, nominated · Episodic Comedy
  5. 1995
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical
  6. 1994
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Comedy Series
  7. 1993
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated ×2 · Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Comedy Series
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
  8. 1988
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Garry Shandling's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 42nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor, writer

Doctor Duck's Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce (1986)

92nd percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Garry Shandling's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 48 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity5 titles16–49 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 25 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 11 · minimalMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 54 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Garry Shandling work with?

People who share at least 2 of Garry Shandling's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jon Favreau shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles