Garry Shandling Image by Getty Images

Garry Shandling’s cause of death has been revealed. A Los Angeles County coroner’s report obtained by Variety Tuesday states that the comedian died from pulmonary thrombosis — a blood clot in his heart.

The fatal clot developed from blood clots in his lower extremities.

Shandling had complained about leg pain and shortness of breath on March 23, 2016. A friend recommended he go see a doctor and he said he would the following day. He called 911 on March 24, 2016 because he couldn’t breathe and collapsed while on the phone. He was transported to St. John’s Hospital emergency room where he was declared dead. Shandling was 66 years old.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The toxicology report found some therapeutic amounts of Xanax and opiates (prescribed after recent dental work) in his system, as well as some standard cold medications.

The coroner’s report listed his death as an “accident” and “natural.”

In 1986, he created his own sitcom “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” an early original series effort for Showtime. From 1992-98, he appeared on “The Larry Sanders Show,” one of the early pillars of HBO’s original series strategy. Judd Apatow was among the staff writers on the show who went on to become a major player in the industry.

Shandling’s death in March came as a great shock to the comedy and television community.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount