Penny Marshall, best known for starring as Laverne DeFazio on “Laverne & Shirley,” passed away at the age of 75.
A publicist for the filmmaker confirmed the death to the New York Daily News and said Marshall died “peacefully at her Hollywood Hills home” due to complications from diabetes.
The New York-born Marshall rose to fame with her role on “Laverne & Shirley,” a classic sitcom that ran from 1976 to 1983.
The series was a spinoff from “Happy Days” and followed the characters of DeFazio and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams), two friends who live together and work at a bottle-capping factory in Wisconsin.
Marshall was nominated for three Golden Globes for her work on the show.
Though the show would be enough to define any acting career, Marshall was not satisfied — and eventually turned herself into one of Hollywood’s most praised filmmakers.
Marshall directed such films as 1986’s “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and 1988’s “Big,” which became the first film directed by a woman to earn over $100 million at the box office.
The Tom Hanks-starring comedy remains a beloved film.
Other films that Marshall directed include the hit “A League of Their Own,” released in 1992, and “Awakenings,” a 1990 movie starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams that was nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award.
Marshall also produced such films as the 2005 releases “Cinderella Man,” starring Russell Crowe, and “Bewitched,” starring Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman.
Marshall never put the breaks on in her later years. Her last directing work included two episode of the Showtime series “The United States of Tara” in 2011; and she has a documentary called “Rodman,” about the NBA legend Dennis Rodman, reportedly in post-production.
She is also a producer of two upcoming films, “The Land of No Return” and “Between the Pipes.”
“No Return” is directed by Marshall’s nephew, Scott, who is the son of the late director Garry Marshall.
Penny Marshall also never stopped acting. She appeared on an episode of “The Odd Couple” in 2016 and that same year provided narration for “Mother’s Day,” the last film directed by her late brother, Gary.
Marshall is survived by her daughter, Tracy, and five grandchildren.
Marshall was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010, but it was announced she was in remission in 2012.
She was previously married to director and actor Rob Reiner.
He tweeted this today:
I loved Penny. I grew up with her. She was born with a great gift. She was born with a funnybone and the instinct of how to use it. I was very lucky to have lived with her and her funnybone. I will miss her.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) December 18, 2018
So sad about Penny.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) December 18, 2018
Their marriage ended in 1981, but Reiner adopted Marshall’s daughter, Tracy — who was from her first marriage — and gave her his last name.
Marshall was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010, but it was announced she was in remission in 2012.
Check out this clip of Marshall and Cindy Williams talking about “Laverne & Shirley,” below:
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.