Actress Penny Marshall, who found fame in TV’s “Laverne & Shirley” before going on to direct such beloved films as “Big” and “A League of Their Own,” has died. She was 75.
Marshall died peacefully in her Hollywood Hills home on Monday night due to complications from diabetes, said Michelle Bega, a spokeswoman for the family.
Marshall’s role as outspoken tomboy Laverne DeFazio in the “Happy Days” spin-off “Laverne & Shirley” catapulted the actress to celebrity in the late ’70s. Her gift for physical comedy helped earn her accolades, including three Golden Globe nominations.
The show — co-starring Cindy Williams as Shirley Feeney, Laverne’s co-worker in a 1950s Milwaukee brewery — ran for eight seasons, from 1976 to 1983.
She began her directing career by helming episodes of TV series before landing her first feature-film directing job with the 1986 Whoopi Goldberg action-comedy “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” With her second film, “Big,” starring Tom Hanks, Marshall became the first woman to direct a movie that grossed more than $100 million.
She repeated that success in 1992 with the film “A League of Their Own,” which chronicled a women’s baseball league in the 1940s and featured an all-star cast that included Geena Davis and Madonna.
“I’m not an articulate person, but I have a strange combination of insecurity and fearlessness,” Marshall once told CNN.
She also directed the films “Awakenings” with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams; “Renaissance Man” with Danny DeVito; “Riding in Cars with Boys” with Drew Barrymore; and “The Preacher’s Wife,” a remake of the 1947 film, starring Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston.
Marshall, who rose to fame on TV’s “Laverne & Shirley,” went on to direct films like “Big” and “A League of Their Own.”
In the wake of her death, celebrities took time to share their favorite memories of her and how she affected them.
Rosie O’Donnell
“1996 Kmart TV Commercial with Penny Marshall and Rosie O’Donnell https://youtu.be/bB43HsExO3w via @YouTube – simply heartbroken #ripPENNY.”
Russell Crowe
“Yesterday I held a Golden Gloves award from the 1930’s, given to me by Penny Marshall.
Hadn’t seen it in years. Then today’s news… Penny told me the story of Jim Braddock, which became the movie Cinderella Man. She was kind, she was crazy, so talented and she loved movies. RIP.”
Dan Rather
“Mourning the loss of a funny, poignant, and original American voice. Penny Marshall was a pioneer in television and the big screen who understood humor comes in many forms and some of life’s deeper truths require a laugh. She will be missed. May she RIP.”
Billy Crystal
“Sad to hear of Penny Marshall’s passing. a great comedienne a terrific director and a dear friend.”
Ava DuVernay
“Thank you, Penny Marshall. For the trails you blazed. The laughs you gave. The hearts you warmed. ”
Busy Philipps
“Oh Penny Marshall. Rest In Peace and thank you for everything.”
