The death of well-known actress, producer, and director Penny Marshall has been confirmed by publicist Michelle Bega.
75-year-old Marshall died peacefully in her Hollywood Hills home on Monday due to diabetes complications.
One of her most-notable roles was her character Laverne on the popular American television sitcom Laverne & Shirley in the late 70s and early 80s. It was a Happy Days spin-off that was known for its use of physical comedy.
Marshall directed Tom Hanks in the movie Big, becoming the first woman in history to have her film gross more than $100 million. She was able to duplicate the same success with her direction of A League of Their Own, featuring an all-star cast including Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell and Lori Petty.
In a statement released by Bega on behalf of the Marshall family:
“Penny was a girl from the Bronx, who came out West, put a cursive “L” on her sweater and transformed herself into a Hollywood success story. We hope her life continues to inspire others to spend time with family, work hard and make all of their dreams come true.A celebration of her life will be held at a later date to be announced. Penny is survived by her older sister Ronny, daughter Tracy Reiner, and three grandchildren Spencer, Bella and Viva.”
The actress most recently was in the 2016 movie Mother’s Day and played Patty Dombrowski in an episode of the TV show The Odd Couple in 2016.
