Los Angeles: Comedian, actor, writer and producer Garry Shandling best known for the shows “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” and “The Larry Sanders Show,” has died at 66.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to an address reported to be Shandling’s at 10.40 am on “a medical emergency.” The patient was then transported to Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, said The Hollywood Reporter.

Born in Chicago, Shandling was raised in Tucson, Ariz., and started out majoring in electrical engineering before completing a marketing degree at the University of Arizona. After moving to Los Angeles, he sold a script for “Sanford and Son” and also wrote for “Welcome Back, Kotter.” He guest-hosted on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” and created his own sitcom “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” in 1986. The show, also co-created by Alan Zweibel, was nominated for four Emmys, and ran until 1990. Shandling starred and co-created “Larry Sanders Show” for HBO and was nominated for 18 Emmys for it and, along with Peter Tolan, won an Emmy for the series finale. Stars including Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Courteney Cox, David Letterman, Chris Farley, Sharon Stone and David Duchovny appeared on the show as parody versions of themselves. Among his film and voice acting appearances were “Iron Man 2,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Dr Dolittle,” “Zoolander” and “Over the Hedge.” He also served as a popular awards show host, emceeing the Grammys in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994, and the Emmys in 2000 and 2004. Shandling was never married and did not have children. — PTI