Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Garry Shandling | ... | Self | |
Judd Apatow | ... | Self | |
Kevin Nealon | ... | Self - Comedian | |
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Mike Shandling | ... | Self - Garry's Cousin |
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Eric Cohen | ... | Self - Producer, Welcome Back Kotter |
Merrill Markoe | ... | Self - Writer | |
Gavin de Becker | ... | Self - Friend / Author (as Gavin DeBecker) | |
Lewis Smith | ... | Self - Friend / Actor | |
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John Markus | ... | Self - Writer, The Larry Sanders Show |
Jim Carrey | ... | Self - Actor | |
Bob Saget | ... | Self - Comedian | |
Dave Coulier | ... | Self - Comedian | |
Jay Leno | ... | Self - Comedian / Talk Show Host | |
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Chuck Schumacher | ... | Self - Garry's Friend |
Bruce Grayson | ... | Self - Friend / Makeup Artist |
Garry Shandling passed away in 2016, leaving behind legions of fans and peers who remember him as a top stand-up comic and star of two of the most groundbreaking sitcoms in TV history. One of those people is director/executive producer Judd Apatow , who pays tribute to his friend and mentor by creating this four-and-a-half hour documentary. Intimately revealing and detailed, "The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling (2018)" includes conversations with more than 40 of Shandling's family members and friends, among them James L. Brooks, Jim Carrey, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jon Favreau, Jay Leno, Kevin Nealon, Conan O'Brien, Jerry Seinfeld and Sarah Silverman. There are also decades' worth of TV appearances, along with personal journals, private letters and candid home audio and video footage that depict Shandling in a fascinating, funny, sad and, above all, completely authentic way. Written by Jwelch5742
My guess is that Garry Shandling would be very appreciative of how well of a job that Judd Apatow did on this wonderful documentary that chronicalized his life and spirituality. I had not had much exposure to Garry's comedy before watching this. After watching it, I have come away with the fact that he very well may have been the best performer of his time due to the way he held his material to such high standards and also because of the countless amount of people who he mentored.
There is more to learn in this documentary than just how effortlessly funny Garry really was (although he worked tirelessly on his material). It shows the journey to enlightenment. How to accept ones place in the universe. How to resist being egotistical in an effort to not take life more seriously than it needs to be taken.
Thank you Judd. Thank you Garry.