Comedians, celebrities mourn death of Garry Shandling, 66

Comedians and actors remembered Garry Shandling on social media following the actor's death on Thursday afternoon.

Albert Brooks, Amy Schumer, Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Kimmel were among the first to pay their respects.

Brooks tweeted, 'R.I.P. Garry Shandling. I am so saddened to hear this. Brilliantly funny and such a great guy. He will be so missed.”

'Goodbye Gary Shandling thank you for your kindness and your generosity and for making me laugh so damn much,” Schumer tweeted.

'RIP the great Garry Shandling. Surely, one of the most influential comedians of a generation,” Gervais tweeted.

Kimmel added, 'Garry Shandling was as kind and generous as he was funny and that is saying a lot.”

'Today we lost a comedic genius and a very dear friend,” Sony Pictures Television Chairman Steve Mosko said in a statement. 'Garry entertained millions of people and was an inspiration to generations of comedians, actors and writers. He will be greatly missed.”

Bob Saget wrote, 'To the funniest and brilliant Garry Shandling. Rest in peace Garry.”

Seth MacFarlane tweeted, 'Saddened over Garry Shandling. He was a comedy idol of mine. He leaves behind the greatest single-camera comedy of all time. #LarrySanders”

Paul Feig weighed in: 'Absolutely can't process the loss of Garry Shandling. Such a genius, such a wonderful man, such an inspiration. I was so honored to know him.”

Kathy Griffin wrote, 'Sunday, my longtime friend Garry Shandling was here, making every1 laugh. I loved him. I'll miss our talks the most.”

Seth Meyers said, 'Heartbreaking news about Garry Shandling. Just heartbreaking.”

'I'm both shocked & saddened at the passing of Garry Shandling. He'll forever remain a comedic legend. #RIP,” wrote Jackee Harry.

Mark Duplass wrote, 'Garry Shandling, you came to an early promotional screening of CYRUS and hung w/me & @jayduplass afterwards at PF Changs. Thank you.”

David Steinberg said in a statement, 'What a loss. One of the true comic geniuses ever. I can't imagine a world without Garry's take on things. He was a caring and generous person. I will miss him so much.”

'I am heartbroken. What horribly sad news,” Fred Willard tweeted.

Ralph Macchio wrote, 'So upsetting to hear about @GarryShandling RIP - Larry Sanders: one of the greatest ground-breaking 1/2 comedy series of all time!!”

'Nooooo!!! I love Garry Shandling. So sad!! #pioneer,” tweeted Josh Groban.

Marc Maron wrote, 'Dammit. He was the best. So sad. RIP Garry Shandling.”

'Garry Shandling no no no. I love you. I cannot accept that you are gone. Rest in Power my hero. #RIPGarry,” Margaret Cho tweeted.

Pat Sajak said, 'So saddened by the death of Garry Shandling. Brilliantly funny guy. And a sweetheart, too. Did his show twice. RIP.”

Andy Cohen tweeted, 'Not Garry Shandling!!!!!! A treasure!!!!!! How sad.”

'The great Garry Shandling's work is such a touchstone for me that I was actually discussing him moments before I heard the sad news. RIP,” Stephen Merchant said.

Jerry O'Connell tweeted a Shandling quote: '‘Nice guys finish first. If you don't know that, then you don't know where the finish line is.' Garry Shandling.”

'Garry Shandling is one of the great teachers in my life. He taught me about subtext, honesty, compassion, the best kind of comedy. Much love,” Mary Lynn Rajskub tweeted.

Drake Bell tweeted, 'So sad to hear about @GarryShandling he was one of my favorites #ripgarryshandling”

'RIP Garry Shandling, 66. A very, very funny man,” Piers Morgan wrote.

Jemaine Clement tweeted, 'Garry Shandling was one of my absolute favourites and ahead of his time. So sad.”

'Stunned by the sad news of #garryshandling,” John Lithgow wrote.

Kristen Chenoweth tweeted, 'Sad today. My friend @GarryShandling passed. He encouraged me from the very start. A few weeks ago he told me life was short and enjoy it.”

'Man. Garry Shandling. R.I.P.” wrote Kumail Nanjiani.

'Larry Sanders is my favorite TV Show and I am so sad about Garry Shandling,” said Julie Klausner.

George Lopez said, 'Saddened by the news of the passing of Garry Shandling, I met Garry at @TheComedyStore WEST in 1979 #VayaConDios.”

Larry King wrote, 'The King family is shocked & saddened by Garry Shandling's passing. Brilliant, funny & genuinely kind. A very rare combination.”

'OH NO! @GarryShandling passed away. I'm so sad. He was always so warm and encouraging. RIP...,” Debra Messing tweeted.