'He was the kindest and funniest of geniuses': Larry Sanders 'sidekick' Jeffrey Tambor leads the tributes to Garry Shandling after he dies of a massive heart attack aged 66 

Garry Shandling's heartbroken co-star on the The Larry Sanders Show wrote a touching tribute for the legendary comedian who died at 66 on Thursday.

Jeffrey Tambor said of the funny man: 'Garry was/ will always be my teacher. He redesigned the wheel of comedy and was the kindest and funniest of geniuses. Will miss him so much.' 

Late night hosts Conan O'Brien and Seth Meyers also both mourned the loss of their dear friend on Thursday night.

Gary Shandling (above in 2011) died at the age of 66 on Thursday after being rushed to an LA hospital that morning

Sad: Jeffrey Tambor who starred with Shandling on The Larry Sanders Show wrote this touching tribute on his Twitter on Thursday. He called the funnyman the 'kindest and funniest of geniuses' 

Conan O'Brien went so far as to say that the comedian 'helped save his life.'

O'Brien said that after losing his short lived hosting job on The Tonight Show in 2009, he was feeling 'shell shocked' and decided to take his family to Hawaii.

He said that Shandling was staying in a room nearby at his and helped to console him.

'He counseled me, he cheered me up, he told me jokes, he talked to me about philosophy,' Conan said.Conan said that both he and Shandling took a long walk and then sprawled out on the beach to enjoy the sunset.

'I turned to Garry and I said, "This is the most romantic moment of my life and it’s with you,”'Conan said wistfully.' 

Conan O'Brien and Seth Meyers both spoke about Garry Shandling's tragic death. Conan went so far as to say that Shandling 'helped save' his life after he lost his hosting job on The Tonight Show 

Seth Meyers said that while he never knew Shandling personally, that The Larry Sanders Show changed the way he thought about comedic television.

'Everybody go back and watch that show,' Meyers added.

'If there’s any good that can come out of it, it would be the rediscovery of what really, truly was a classic.'

Finally, The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah simply shared a clip of Shandling's first Tonight Show comedy set all the way back in 1981 in which Shandling makes a joke about free pens at the bank. 

Shandling, who also created and starred in It's Garry Shandling's Show, died at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica after being rushed in earlier in the day.

Shandling's death was the result of a massive heart attack according to TMZ, and friends who spoke with him Thursday morning said he sounded fine and healthy.  

Flashback: Jeffery Tambor, Rip Torn, and Garry Shandling are pictured on The Larry Sanders show which aired from 1992-1998. Many are struggling to come to grips with Shandling's sudden death 

The 911 call came from Shandling himself but he fell unconscious while on the phone with the dispatcher.

The Los Angeles Fire Department arrived just a little after 10.30am and had to kick down the door when no one was able to answer. 

Judd Apatow, who was a writer on Larry Sanders, told The Wrap; 'Garry would see the ridiculousness of me being asked to sum up his life five minutes after being told of his passing.  

'It is a perfect, ridiculous Larry Sanders moment. I can imagine how Hank would handle it but I just don’t know how to sum up someone I loved so much who taught me everything I know and was always so kind to me. 

'I am just too sad. Maybe tomorrow I will do better.'

Tribute: The marquee of The Comedy Store in Los Angeles read: 'RIP Garry Shandling' on Thursday. Shandling's death was the result of a massive heart attack

The marquee of the Laugh Factory comedy club in Los Angeles reads: 'Garry Shandling, Rest In Peace Make God Laugh.' Shandling pioneered a pretend brand of self-focused docudrama with 'The Larry Sanders Show'

Shandling had been posting on social media earlier in the week, and on Monday retweeted a photo of himself with Kathy Griffin and Bob Odenkirk - who was on The Larry Sanders Show.

Griffin, who tweeted the photo, included the caption; So @GarryShandling & I had to call Saul @mrBobOdenkirk.'

She posted the photo once again shortly after the news of Shandling's death and wrote; 'Sunday, my longtime friend Garry Shandling was here, making every1 laugh. I loved him. I'll miss our talks the most.'

Shandling began his career doing stand-up, which led to writing jobs on shows including Sanford and Son and Welcome Back, Kotter.

Friends: Shandling had been posting on social media earlier in the week, and on Monday retweeted a photo of himself with Kathy Griffin and Bob Odenkirk (above)

Touching: 'I just don’t know how to sum up someone I loved so much who taught me everything I know and was always so kind to me,' said Judd Apatow  (above with back turned looking at Shandling)

Stunned: Friends who spoke to the actor Thursday morning said he sounded healthy (he is pictured above in 1988)

Garry Shandling died at St. John's Hospital complex in Santa Monica, California, pictured above

Soon after he began to guest host for Johnny Carson, and was considered as a possible replacement after Carson left his job on The Tonight Show.

He did not get the job, but in 1986 created It's Garry Shandling's Show, which would run until 1990 and get nominated for four Emmy Awards. 

Young comedian: Garry Shandling is pictured here in a high school yearbook photo 

Two years after that he found success again on television with The Larry Sanders Show, one of the first original programs to ever run on HBO.

It was about the cast and crew of a late-night talk show, and Shandling said he based large parts of the show on his time filling in for Carson on The Tonight Show.

That show was nominated for 18 Emmy Awards, and in its final season in 1998 Shandling won for the first time in the Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series category. 

He was also twice nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical for his work on Larry Sanders. 

That show is said to have paved the way for countless others that followed, most notably 30 Rock, which was created by Tina Fey. 

More recently he found a new audience of younger fans thanks to his role in two big Marvel films - Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Iron Man 2.

It is not known if he was set to appear or had filmed any other Marvel films at the time of his death. 

Shandling also recently appeared in an episode of Jerry Seinfeld's web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee that aired on New Year's Day.

The episode was called It's Great that Gary Shandling is Still Alive.

In that episode he told Seinfeld; 'I had a hyper-parathyroid gland that was undiagnosed because the symptoms mirror the exact same symptoms that an older Jewish man would have.' 

Shandling was also a frequent host at awards shows, having done the Emmy Awards five times from 2000 to 2004 and prior to that the Grammy Awards six times from 1990 to 1995. 

Shandling was never married, but was briefly engaged to Linda Doucett, a former Playboy model who also appeared on The Larry Sanders Show.

Remembering: Stars paid tribute to Shandling, with Amy Schumer writing (above); 'Goodbye Gary Shandling thank you for your kindness and your generosity'

Jimmy Kimmel wrote: Garry Shandling was as kind and generous as he was funny and that is saying a lot. The comedian sadly suffered a massive heart attack 

Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth is 'sad today' and joins her fellow celebs in honoring their dear friend's life 

Actor and comedian Rob Lowe wrote: 'Garry Shandling was one of my comedic heroes' and added that he was both 'shocked and sad' 

Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood also took to social media to comment on Shandling's untimely death 

The two split in 1994 after a seven-year relationship.

Shandling previously had a close call back in 1977 when he was involved in a car crash in Beverly Hills.

The comedian was in critical condition for two days but pulled through.

He wrote about the accident; 'I had a vivid near-death experience that involved a voice asking, "Do you want to continue leading Garry Shandling's life?"

'Without thinking, I said, "Yes." Since then, I've been stuck living in the physical world while knowing, without a doubt, that there's something much more meaningful within it all. 

'That realization is what drives my life and work.'

Winners: Peter Tolan, left, and Gary Shandling pose with their Emmy awards for outstanding writing for a comedy series award for The Larry Sanders Show in 1998

More recently Shandling found a new audience of younger fans thanks to his role in two big Marvel films - Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Iron Man 2 (above with Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle)

Stars took to Twitter to pay tribute to Shandling on Thursday, with Amy Schumer writing; 'Goodbye Gary Shandling thank you for your kindness and your generosity and for making me laugh so damn much.' 

Steve Martin wrote; 'Garry Shandling was a very special comedian with a beautifully unpredictable mind. He even voluntarily offered jokes and ideas for Oscars.'

Jimmy Kimmel wrote; 'Garry Shandling was as kind and generous as he was funny and that is saying a lot.' 

Bette Midler said; 'One of the funniest of all, the beloved and very complicated Gary Shandling has died.'

Sandra Bernhard said; 'If it's true I am heartsick @GarryShandling has died? One in a million brilliant people say it's not so.'

Oldie but a goodie: Shandling, pictured in a vintage snap doing stand-up on TV, has been doing stand-up comedy for over a decade and will be sorely missed 

Seth MacFarlane said; 'Saddened over Garry Shandling. He was a comedy idol of mine. He leaves behind the greatest single-camera comedy of all time.'

Fred Willard wrote; 'I am heartbroken. What horribly sad news.' 

Jemaine Clement, the creator of Flight of the Conchords, wrote; 'Garry Shandling was one of my absolute favourites and ahead of his time. So sad.'

Kristin Chenoweth praised Shandling and said; 'He encouraged me from the very start. A few weeks ago he told me life was short and enjoy it.' 

Seth Meyers wrote; 'Heartbreaking news about Garry Shandling. Just heartbreaking.' 

Ricky Gervais wrote; 'RIP the great Garry Shandling. Surely, one of the most influential comedians of a generation.' 

Seth Meyers wrote; 'Heartbreaking news about Garry Shandling. Just heartbreaking.'

Mandy Moore wrote; 'Had the pleasure of meeting/ hanging with Garry Shandling a few times & he was a gentleman & obviously so deeply funny. RIP.'

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

Matt Lucas wrote; 'Stunned to hear of Garry Shandling's death. A true television pioneer.'