You’ve probably seen the headlines pop up by now that Garry Marshall has passed away.

Perhaps you even questioned how you knew his name, or who he was at all.

While the Hollywood director’s name may be less recognizable to some than others, pretty much everyone is familiar with his work. He is responsible for genre-defining films that went on to become classics – the type you watch over and over again (even back in the day when you had to rewind them to do so). In fact, his films may be some of the most re-watched of all time.

I am talking about some of the most beloved films of our childhood, like Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, Overboard and Beaches.

For many of us, they were the first films to tug at our heartstrings (aside from the Disney variety) and our first glimpse at adult romance, apart from that of our parents’ and family members. As we got older and watched them again, we gained a newfound appreciation for the dialogue and scenes that went right over our innocent heads back in the day.

One thing is sure: they offered a dose of nostalgic warmth and familiarity – whether from the comfort of our teenaged bedrooms, university dorm rooms, first apartments and forever homes.

Pretty Woman (1990) has been a staple in the video libraries of many of my girlfriends for over two decades now (the film turned 25 last March), offering a comforting blast from the past on those topknot and sweatpants Sundays when you shamelessly don’t leave the couch all day. Many females still reference “Pretty Woman moments” we have in everyday life on the regular. In a romantic rut or breakup, the unlikely love story (coupled with quality takeout) is always a reliable pick-me-up – and always will be.

Meanwhile, the sentimental drama Beaches (1988) has always been a no-fail go-to when the urge arises for a good cry session or a dose of comforting old tunes (maybe you even owned the Beaches soundtrack, like me). For many of us, Beaches opened a childhood discussion on the meaning of both death and friendship.

Of course, when I hear “Under the Boardwalk,” (Beaches) or “King of Wishful Thinking” and Roxette’s “Must Have Been Love,”(Pretty Woman), I can’t help but visualize their accompanying scenes in the respective films.

For many of us, these romcoms offered our first exposure to onscreen love and romance. We can’t forget the chemistry between Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in 1987’s Overboard (which was mine and my brother’s first exposure to a thong bottom, by the way), or the piano scene in Pretty Woman.

Of course, our parents became familiar with Marshall’s work before we did, when he dominated the 70s and 80s sitcom era with shows like Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, The Odd Couple and Laverne & Shirley.

If you haven’t seen them, they may be worth revisiting.

Marshall – who was 81 when he passed away Tuesday from complications of a stroke – is remembered in a slew of tributes that continue to pour in from Hollywood.

Marshall was not only seen as a genuine friend to work with (which is why some of Hollywood’s biggest stars worked on multiple Marshall-directed films), he was responsible for launching the careers of many of the big screen’s finest.

“He was a mentor and a cheerleader and one of the funniest men who ever lived,” said Richard Gere in a statement Tuesday. “He had a heart of the purest gold and a soul full of mischief. He was Garry.”

Marshall’s other film credits include The Flamingo Kid (1984), starring Matt Dillon, The Princess Diaries (2001), starring Anne Hathaway and 2010’s the star-filled romantic comedy Valentine’s Day.

And now I suddenly want to cancel all plans tonight and download Pretty Woman.

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