Updated at 10.30pm
COMEDIAN AND ACTOR Garry Shandling has died aged 66.
Los Angeles police told the BBC the star “suffered a medical emergency”.
Born in Chicago, Shandling is best known on this side of the Atlantic for his work on The Larry Sanders Show, a sitcom set in the office and studio of a fictional late night talk show.
Also starring Jeffrey Tambor as side-kick ‘Hank’, Shandling portrayed the eponymous host of the fictional talk show, which featured numerous guest appearances from the likes of Rob Lowe, David Duchovny and other major Hollywood stars.
The comedy, which was produced by HBO, is considered hugely influential. It’s natural successors include the likes of Curb Your Enthusiasm and 30 Rock.
He is also known for his work on the sitcom It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, which ran between 1986 and 1990.
Shandling’s film roles included appearances in the likes of Zoolander and Iron Man 2.
Fellow comedians and actors have been paying tribute to the late comedy star tonight:
In this clip from The Larry Sanders Show, Robin Williams has an awkward between-commercials encounter with Larry and Hank:
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