Abigail Breslin and Bette Midler Add More Tributes to Garry Marshall

Abigail Breslin, Bette Midler, and Tom Hanks have added their heartwarming tributes to late director Garry Marshall following his death on Tuesday.

The celebrated filmmaker, TV writer, and actor passed away aged 81, after suffering complications from pneumonia due to a stroke, and the sad loss has prompted an outpouring of messages from celebrities including his Happy Days stars Henry Winkler and Ron Howard, Richard Gere and Hector Elizondo from Pretty Woman, and The Princess Diaries actress Julie Andrews.

The tributes have continued to pour in, and on Wednesday, 20-year-old Breslin expressed her grief at Marshall’s passing, revealing he was like a grandfather to her after working together in 2004’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and 2011 romantic comedy New Year’s Eve.

“My heart hurts,” she begins in an emotional Instagram post. “Garry Marshall was one of the most wonderful people in the world. He was kind and hilarious and giving and so fun. He treated his film sets like they were parties. You never felt like you were going to work. He was like a grandpa to me and I feel so lucky that his sets were such a big part of not only my career, but my childhood.”

My heart hurts. Garry Marshall was one of the most wonderful people in the world. He was kind and hilarious and giving and so fun. He treated his film sets like they were parties. You never felt like you were going to work. He was like a grandpa to me and I feel so lucky that his sets were such a big part of not only my career, but my childhood. Even up til this past year, Garry never forgot to send me a birthday card. They always made me smile. Thank you Garry, you truly were the best. Heaven just got a lot funnier with you up there.

A post shared by Abigail Breslin (@abbienormal9) on Jul 19, 2016 at 10:24pm PDT

She adds, “Even up til this past year, Garry never forgot to send me a birthday card. They always made me smile.”

“Thank you Garry, you truly were the best. Heaven just got a lot funnier with you up there.”

Bette Midler, who was directed by Marshall in her 1988 hit Beaches, honors her “wonderful, hilarious, big-hearted friend,” while the moviemaker’s Nothing In Common star Tom Hanks echoes Midler’s sentiments, tweeting, “Garry Marshall was a wonderful man, hilarious, gifted in the ways of humanity and storytelling. He launched and nurtured more careers than he had shoes. Oh lord, how he will be missed.”

Garry Marshall was a wonderful man, hilarious, gifted in the ways of humanity and storytelling. He launched and nur… https://t.co/N1raCJkzQM

— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) July 20, 2016

My wonderful, hilarious, big-hearted friend Garry Marshall died yesterday. He guided Barbara Hershey and me through #Beaches…

— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) July 20, 2016

His Keeping Up with the Steins co-star Daryl Hannah remembers Marshall as “a huge bright light,” Soapdish actress Whoopi Goldberg describes Marshall as “just extraordinary,” and Goldie Hawn posts, “Our beloved Garry Marshall has passed. Our family will miss him so very much. RIP dear one.”

a huge bright light – Garry Marshall has moved on – see you down the path my friend… peace & love

A post shared by Daryl Hannah (@dhlovelife) on Jul 20, 2016 at 3:39am PDT

Our beloved Garry Marshall has passed. Our family will miss him so very much. RIP dear one. pic.twitter.com/F7y3RkLn1Z

— Goldie Hawn (@goldiehawn) July 20, 2016

Marshall worked with Hawn and her longtime partner Kurt Russell on 1987 film Overboard, and the actress’ daughter, Mother’s Day star Kate Hudson, has also marked the loss online, insisting, “He was more than my director, he was family.”

A hard day for those of us in the Garry camp. In reflection, I share some memories and feelings with you. Garry and I were shooting Mothers Day this past year my children came to visit the set. I was behind a wall about to do a scene waiting for the very words that every working actor is quite used to, "and….ACTION!" Much to my pleasant surprise the voice booming from behind the wall was my son, Ryder. I couldn't help but smile and after we finished the scene both Garry and I shared a moment. We knew in an instant that so many things come full circle. That once upon a time that was me on his lap yelling ACTION for my mother and pa on Overboard in 1987. That in Garry's words in that moment, "The circle of life is an amazing thing isn't it…" In that moment he was more then my director, he was family. That moment meant way more then any success of any film. I looked around the set and saw faces I had known and seen since I was a little girl. In one flash of a moment there was so much recognition of how loyal, wonderful, kind, generous, funny and profound Garry was. He kept his loved ones close, he loved people, he loved making movies, he loved to laugh, he loved loved loved. And those of us who were fortunate to know him like this were so lucky. The messages Garry shared with the world truly represented his character. He wanted peace and the importance of family and connection to be at the forefront of everything he did. I have so much admiration for his purity of such loving messages. He created things that made us feel good because he just wanted people around him to be happy. Once while shooting Raising Helen, I was reaching for a laugh. I didn't feel that a scene was going right and I wasn't hitting the joke and I was incredibly frustrated. He came over to me and gently held my hand and said, "Kate, sometimes we don't need to laugh, sometimes making us smile is even more important." Garry wanted to see the world smile because he knew we all need more of that. To everyone in the Garry Marshall family, I love you all so much. I will miss you Garry ❤️ I love you.

A post shared by Kate Hudson (@katehudson) on Jul 20, 2016 at 6:02am PDT

Meanwhile, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart also reveals her heartbreak at Marshall’s death by sharing a screen shot of the pair on the set of the hit 90s kids’ show.

“I am overwhelmed by the sad news that my friend and mentor Garry Marshall has passed away!” she writes. “He truly was an inspiration, a kind soul and a loving person. Not to mention the epic television he created for us all!! God (rest) this soul and give comfort to his family!”

I am overwhelmed by the sad news that my friend and mentor Garry Marshall has passed away! Introduced by Henry Winkler, we worked together on Sabrina and backs make pals with him and his amazing family. He cast me in Raising Helen ( but the scene was cut from the film), he acted in my directorial debut for the short film Mute and we co-produced a script that almost became a film. He sent me birthday and Christmas cards every year and I treasure each interaction I had with that man. He truly was an inspiration, a kind soul and a loving person. Not to mention the epic television he created for us all!! God rest his soul and give comfort to his family!

A post shared by Melissa Joan Hart (@melissajoanhart) on Jul 20, 2016 at 2:19am PDT

Further tributes also came from Valentine’s Day star Jessica Alba, New Year’s Eve actor Josh Duhamel, and John Stamos, who has long considered Marshall his “showbiz godfather.”

I had the honor to work w the legendary #GarryMarshall -thank u 4 ur comedic genius! #rip?? a true pioneer pic.twitter.com/e90RNT8aV4

— Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) July 20, 2016

Garry Marshall had to be the kindest man in the business. Truly a blessed soul. You will be remembered. You will be missed.

— Josh Duhamel (@joshduhamel) July 20, 2016

Garry Marshall, without you there'd be no me. My heart is aching. #Mentor #Godfather #Dearfriend pic.twitter.com/ndeSiNRXM6

— John Stamos (@JohnStamos) July 20, 2016

“Garry Marshall, without you there’d be no me. My heart is aching,” he mourns.