Just days after Garry Marshall's death, Scott Baio opened up to ET about the man he credits with changing his life forever.
Marshall turned Baio into a household name with the role of Chachi Arcola on the '70s sitcom Happy Days. The character later got its own spinoff series, Joanie Loves Chachi, in 1982.
"It's not so much that the world lost a talented guy, he was a good human being," Baio told ET. "Garry inspired me to be good and in ways that I could never explain to people."
The late producer plucked Baio from obscurity after seeing his performance in the 1976 movie Bugsy Malone when Baio was just a teenager.
"Garry found me and brought me to Hollywood," said the native New Yorker. "He changed my life completely."
Baio went on to reveal that Marshall's loyalty to him kept him on the show when other producers wanted him gone.
"Some other people wanted to fire me," Baio shared. "Garry said, 'No, give him a chance.' He saved me."
Baio posted a heartfelt tweet following his mentor's passing, referring to him as a second father, but long before that, the 55-year-old actor made sure Marshall knew how much he meant to him.
I'm heartbroken. My mentor and 2nd father has passed. #GarryMarshall pic.twitter.com/Gpn7beNJyu
— Scott Baio (@ScottBaio) July 20, 2016
"Garry, I wanted to tell you for so long that I owe you everything," Baio said on the set of See Dad Run in 2013. "I want to thank you."
Marshall was guest starring on Baio's Nick at Nite sitcom.
"I am so proud of him and all this talent," Marshall said at the time. "He grew up very well and I'm so proud that he did."
Marshall died on Tuesday due to complications from pneumonia. He was 81. For more on Marshall's life and legacy, check out the video below.
