Garry Marshall has died at the age of 81, his publicist says. He is the creator of hit US TV series Happy Days and the director of box-office hit Pretty Woman.

His representative said in a statement that, Marshall suffered from "complications of pneumonia following a stroke at a hospital in Burbank, Calif."

The prolific director, producer and writer also wrote sitcoms The Odd Couple and Mork and Mindy.

The funeral services will be private and a memorial is being planned for his birthday on November 13.

"The family requests no flowers. Donations in the name of Garry Marshall can be made to The Saban Community Clinic, formerly known as the Los Angeles Free Clinic, The Intensive Care Unit at Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, and Northwestern University Undergraduate Scholarship Fund," the statement added.

Henry Winkler tweeted, "Rest In Peace. Thank you for my professional life. Thank you for your loyalty, friendship and generosity."

Marshall was born in New York. He studied journalism at university and began his entertainment career writing jokes for other actors.

Marshall went on to turn out scripts for some of the most popular TV comedies of the 1960s including The Lucy Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show.

Marshall created Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley in the 1970s. These starred his sister Penny Marshall and Mork and Mindy which starred then newcomer Robin Williams.

Marshall switched to the Hollywood in the 1980s and directed blockbusters such as Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride.

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Nandini