Is Penny Marshall, ‘Laverne & Shirley’ Star Turned Director Dead?

By Manju Pal On Feb 1, 2023

Penny Marshall, who rose to prominence in the late 1970s with the sitcom Laverne & Shirley before achieving tremendous success as a director, passes away at the age of 75.

In 1988, with Big, she became the first woman in Hollywood history to direct a film that grossed more than $100 million. Two years later, her play Awakenings was nominated for Best Picture. Again surpassing $100 million in 1992 with A League of Their Own.

Who is Penny Marshall?

Carole Penny Marshall was an American actress, director, and producer who was born on October 15, 1943 and died on December 17, 2018.

She is best known for playing Laverne DeFazio on the TV show Laverne & Shirley from 1976 to 1983. For this role, she was nominated three times for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Series.

Marshall’s first movie as a director was Jumpin’ Jack Flash, which came out in 1986. Her next movie, Big, which came out in 1988, was the first movie directed by a woman to make more than $100 million at the U.S. box office. After Awakenings, she directed A League of Their Own, Renaissance Man, The Preacher’s Wife, and Riding in Cars with Boys, all of which were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture (2001). She also produced and directed episodes of the TV shows According to Jim and the United States of Tara.

Is Penny Marshall Dead?

Penny Marshall, who was from the Bronx and had a nasal voice and a good sense of humor have died. She was the star of the hit ABC show Laverne & Shirley and broke records as Hollywood’s highest-paid female director. She turned 75.

Marshall was the younger sister of the late writer, director, and producer Garry Marshall and the first wife of actor and director Rob Reiner. She died in her home in the Hollywood Hills on Monday night from complications from diabetes, her publicist Michelle Bega told The Hollywood Reporter. In 2009, she was told she had brain and lung cancer.

Marshall got a lot of attention for playing the funny Laverne DeFazio on the Happy Days spinoff that her brother made, but she didn’t even get nominated for an Emmy. Laverne & Shirley ran for eight seasons, from 1976 to 1983. It was about two Milwaukee brewery workers who had trouble finding love. Cindy Williams played Marshall Feeney’s idealistic roommate, Shirley Feeney.

Personal Life of Marshall

Marshall met football player Michael Henry while in college and left school at age 20 to marry him in 1963. In 1964, they had one daughter named Tracy (now Tracy Reiner). This union lasted for three years.

Marshall married actor and director Rob Reiner on April 10, 1971; Reiner later adopted Tracy. Her marriage to Reiner ended in 1981. The pair was grandparents to five grandchildren.

In the mid-1980s, Marshall had a brief relationship with singer Art Garfunkel, and he credits her with helping him overcome his depression. Marshall was reportedly diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread to her brain in 2010, but two years later she was “well now.” After her recuperation, she released a memoir entitled My Mother Was Crazy.

Frequently Asked Questions…

What Caused Penny Marshall’s Death?

Marshall passed away on December 17, 2018, in Los Angeles at the age of 75. The causes of death listed on her death certificate were cardiopulmonary failure, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. Marshall is buried in Hollywood Hills’ Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

How Old Was Penny Marshall at the Time of Her Death?

Penny Marshall was 75 years old.

Who Was Penny Marshall’s Husband?

Penny Marshall’s husband was Michael Henry.

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