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Penny Marshall

Penny Marshall was an American actress, comedian, film director, and producer best known for starring in the television sitcom *Laverne & Shirley* and for directing successful films including *Big* and *A League of Their Own*.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Penny Marshall was an American actress, comedian, film director, and producer best known for starring in the television sitcom *Laverne & Shirley* and for directing successful films including *Big* and *A League of Their Own*. She was one of the first women to achieve major commercial success as a feature-film director.

Early life and career

Penny Marshall was born in New York City and worked as an actress before becoming a director. Sources describe her as one of the first women to achieve sustained box-office success as a film director.

Television success

Marshall became widely known for her role as Laverne DeFazio on *Laverne & Shirley*, a popular sitcom that ran in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Film directing career

Her first feature as a director was *Jumpin' Jack Flash* (1986), followed by major successes including *Big* and *A League of Their Own*. *Awakenings* received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Personal life and death

Marshall was married to filmmaker Rob Reiner from 1971 to 1981. She died on December 17, 2018, in Los Angeles.

Key facts

  • Marshall began her career as an actress before moving into directing.
  • She played Laverne DeFazio on the sitcom *Laverne & Shirley*.
  • Her directorial debut was *Jumpin' Jack Flash* (1986).
  • *Big* became the first film directed by a woman to gross more than $100 million in the United States.
  • She died in 2018 in Los Angeles at age 75.
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Canadian context

Penny Marshall’s work was widely distributed in Canada, and *Laverne & Shirley* and her feature films were part of North American television and cinema culture familiar to Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Penny Marshall?
She was an American actress, comedian, film director, and producer best known for *Laverne & Shirley* and for directing hit films such as *Big* and *A League of Their Own*.
What was Penny Marshall’s birth name?
Her birth name was Carole Penelope Marshall.
What was Penny Marshall’s most famous acting role?
Her best-known acting role was Laverne DeFazio on *Laverne & Shirley*.
What film did Penny Marshall direct first?
Her first feature film as director was *Jumpin' Jack Flash* (1986).
What was Penny Marshall’s biggest directing milestone?
*Big* became the first film directed by a woman to earn more than $100 million at the U.S. box office.
When did Penny Marshall die?
She died on December 17, 2018, in Los Angeles at age 75.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Penny-Marshall
    Supports: Birth and death details; occupations; significance as an early commercially successful female film director.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Marshall
    Supports: Birth name; directorial debut; filmography; milestone for *Big*; death date.
  3. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/actors/penny-marshall
    Supports: Early life; *Laverne & Shirley*; move into directing; major films.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/features/penny-marshall-1943-2018
    Supports: First American woman to direct a film that grossed over $100 million; career overview; voice role note.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001508/bio/
    Supports: Birth and death places/dates; death from complications related to diabetes.
  6. People — https://people.com/who-was-rob-reiner-first-wife-penny-marshall-11868962
    Supports: Marriage to Rob Reiner and year range.