Penny Marshall.

Carole Penny Marshall

Born 15 Oct 1943 Manhattan, United States

Died 17 Dec 2018 Los Angeles, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 82 yr If Living

14 min read

Reading time

2,632

Words

Jul 10, 2026

Published

Film credits

Awards

TL;DR

Penny Marshall played Laverne DeFazio on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley 1976 and later broke barriers as a film director. She became the first woman to direct a movie grossing over $100 million in the US with Big 1988 and repeated the feat with A League of Their Own 1992. Marshall directed actors Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro to Oscar nominations. She died in 2018 at age 75.

Identity & family.

KIN · 6

Names, aliases, and relatives of Penny Marshall — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Native Name Carole Penny Marshall

Parents: Anthony W. Marshall
Spouses: Rob Reiner Michael Myron Henry
Children: Tracy Reiner
Siblings: Garry Marshall Ronny Hallin

At a glance.

STATS

Penny Marshall by the numbers — life, work, and family.

75 Years lived

86 Film credits

2 Awards

2 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Penny Marshall?

BIOGRAPHY

Penny Marshall — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Born Carole Penny Marshall on October 15, 1943 in Manhattan, she grew up as the younger sister of filmmaker Garry Marshall. Her father Anthony W. Marshall directed industrial films and her mother Marjorie Ward taught tap dance. Known in her family as the wild child, she once walked on the ledge of their apartment building. Marshall attended Walton High School and later the University of New Mexico, where she became pregnant with daughter Tracy Reiner. She married Michael Henry in 1961; they divorced two years later.

Career

Marshall landed her breakthrough role as Laverne DeFazio on Laverne & Shirley in 1976, a spin-off from Happy Days. The show ran for eight seasons. After the series ended, she turned to directing. She replaced Howard Zieff to direct Jumpin’ Jack Flash 1986 with few credits. Her next film, Big 1988, made history as the first movie directed by a woman to gross over $100 million in the US and earned Tom Hanks an Oscar nomination. She followed with Awakenings 1990, which earned Robert De Niro a Best Actor nomination and was nominated for Best Picture. In 1992, she directed A League of Their Own, another $100 million hit, making her the first female director with two such films. The movie was later added to the National Film Registry.

Personal life

Marshall married Michael Henry on November 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. They honeymooned in a motel watching the funeral on television; the marriage ended in divorce in 1963. She then married Rob Reiner on April 10, 1971; they divorced in 1980. She had one daughter, Tracy Reiner, from her first marriage. Marshall was best friends with Carrie Fisher and was godmother to Fisher’s daughter Billie. She lived in Hollywood Hills and enjoyed collecting sports memorabilia, needlepoint, and jigsaw puzzles. In 2009 she was diagnosed with a brain tumor caused by lung cancer; she underwent treatment and announced remission in 2012. She regretted smoking. She died on December 17, 2018 at age 75 from complications of diabetes.

Legacy

Penny Marshall became the first woman to direct a film grossing over $100 million in the US with Big 1988 and the first to achieve that milestone twice with A League of Their Own 1992. She directed Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro to Oscar nominations. A League of Their Own was added to the National Film Registry in 2012. She received the Crystal Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004. Marshall is most remembered for her role as Laverne DeFazio on Laverne & Shirley and for opening doors for women in film direction.

Filmography.

FILMS · 86

The complete filmography of Penny Marshall — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Simpsons

1989
TV

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962
TV

Frasier

1993
TV

Saturday Night Live

1975
TV

The Mike Douglas Show

1961
TV

Golden Globe Awards

1944
TV

Entourage

2004
TV

Love, American Style

1969
TV

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

2003
TV

Happy Days

1974
TV

Nash Bridges

1996
TV

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

1970
TV

The Bob Newhart Show

1972
TV

Taxi

1978

Showing 14 of 86 View all 86 films

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 2

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Penny Marshall — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Crystal Award
star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 40

A wall of memorable lines from Penny Marshall — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

I Have a Strange Combination of Fearlessness and Massive Insecurity.
You Had to Learn at a Certain Age What Sarcasm Is, You Know?
If You’re Not Having a Good Time, Find Something Else That Gives You Some Joy in Life.
My Brother and Sister Were Much Older. They Were Planned. I Was Not Planned For. I Was Called the Mistake, Amongst Other Things.
I Don’t Mind If Somebody Texts Me but I’m Not a Big Texter, the Things Are Too Small. I Don’t Mind If They Text, ‘7 O’clock’, That’s Fine, That’s Logistics But, ‘What’s Up?’ Get Real! Pick up a Phone!
I Do Feel It’s Important to Entertain People. I Try To.
I Don’t Know One Lens from Another. That’s Not My Job. It’s the Cinematographer’s Job. but I Can Talk to People.
I Don’t Startle Easily.
I Have Season Tickets to the Lakers and the Clippers.
I Tell Stories so Only the Independents Do That and They Don’t Pay You That Much. I’d Rather Do Television or an HBO Movie.
I’ve Directed Seven Movies and Know a Thing or Two About Dealing with Unexpected Crises.
My Family Is Well, and That’s What’s Important.
In My Opinion, Life Is More Important Than Show Business.
Movie Stars Are Insecure Like Everyone Else. That’s Why They Go into Acting!
I’m Very Happy to Watch a Video at Home with a Friend Rather Than Do Dinner.
I Want You to Laugh and Cry. That’s What I Do.
I Wish I Could Sing Better.
I Would Much Rather Feel Comfortable and Feel Beautiful, Than to Feel Uncomfortable, but Look Fantastic.
I’ll Try Anything. What Are They Gonna Do, Kick Me Out of Show Business?
I’m Not a Hockey Fan. I’m Not a Golf Fan.
I Live in L.A., so I Go to Basketball Games. but I Love Baseball.
I Think Everyone’s Mother Is Slightly Nuts.
I’m Not the Most Positive Person.
We All Used to Collect Baseball Cards That Came with Bubble Gum. You Could Never Get the Smell of Gum off Your Cards, but You Kept Your Yankees Cards Pristine.
I Do Talk Like a Truck Driver Sometimes, or I Curse. What Can I Say?
I Wasn’t Like a Girly Girl. I Was a Tomboy.
I Have a Grandson Who Is 20. He’s a Computer Guy. I’m Worried That He Can’t Communicate Without His Machine. They Have No Personal Contact with People. That’s the Bad Part of Technology.
Yankee Stadium Was the Only Thing We Had in the Bronx. It Was an Institution.
I Have a Good Support System of Friends and Family.
I Like Arts and Crafts.
Once I Commit to Something, I Complete It. If I Say ‘No’, I Mean ‘No’. I Just Have to Learn How to Say ‘No’ More.
The Truth Is That I Am Not a Frump… I Just Enjoy Being Laid Back.
My Mother Was Pretty Nuts, but She Was Also a Character.
People Who Text a Lot Are Not My Favorite Thing.
When I’m Working, I’m Obsessively Working.
It’s Better for Me to Go up Against Someone’s Passion with My Passion and Then Clarifying Something That He Wrote. Then I Know How to Work Around Certain Things.
I Was Born and Raised in the Bronx and My Grandfather and My Brother Garry Were Huge Yankees Fans. One of My First Memories Is of Them Listening to a Game on the Radio and Screaming at the Radio. My Brother Would Cry When They Lost, and When I Was Really Little, I Didn’t Know Why He Was Crying.
Look at YouTube, How Many Talented People There Are. It’s a Whole New World of How to Express Yourself. I Don’t Know How to Work That World, but Take Advantage of It.
I’m Not Someone Who Has Had to Deal with Much Personal Drama Outside of the Usual: Growing up with Parents Who Hated Each Other, Two Marriages and Divorces of My Own. There Was the Cancer Thing, Too.
You Need to See What the Actor Needs. This One Wants to Be Talked to Privately. That One Doesn’t Mind If You Block It for Them. Just Tell Me the Truth and I’ll Adapt to It.

Did you know?

FACTS · 25

Little-known facts about Penny Marshall — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Marshall directed Tom Hanks to a Best Actor nomination for Big 1988 and Robert De Niro to a Best Actor nomination for Awakenings 1990.
Marshall became the first woman to direct a film grossing over $100 million in the US with Big 1988, and the first with two such films when A League of Their Own 1992 also crossed that milestone.
Sports memorabilia collection: Marshall owned autographed baseballs, footballs, and basketballs from top athletes.
Marshall’s mother allowed her to attend the University of New Mexico because she mistakenly believed it was near their New York home.
Marshall married Michael Henry on November 22, 1963, the day JFK was assassinated, in a small ceremony in his mother’s backyard. She wore a suit with a fur collar. The couple honeymooned in a motel watching the funeral on TV.
The public knows Marshall best for portraying Laverne DeFazio on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley 1976.
She appeared as the wife of her actual brother Garry Marshall in the film Hocus Pocus 1993.
Marshall counted Carrie Fisher as her best friend and Rosie O’Donnell as a close friend. She was godmother to Fisher’s daughter Billie.
Marshall was a finalist for the role of Gloria Bunker on All in the Family 1971, which would have paired her with her then-boyfriend and future husband Rob Reiner.
Despite directing only a few episodes of Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days, Marshall replaced Howard Zieff to direct Jumpin’ Jack Flash 1986.
Marshall was cremated without a funeral; her ashes were buried next to her brother Garry. Her headstone features an L from her character Laverne DeFazio. No memorial service was held.
One of Marshall’s films, A League of Their Own 1992, was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
In 2009 Marshall was diagnosed with a brain tumor from lung cancer. The tumor was removed and she underwent 12 radiation treatments, causing a 50-pound weight gain. She announced remission in 2012 and later expressed regret about smoking. After her passing in 2018, Suzanne Somers stated she had helped Marshall choose cutting-edge therapies for her cancer. Marshall died of heart failure caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and diabetes at age 75.
Marshall was the younger sister of filmmaker Garry Marshall and Ronny Hallin.
At the Hollywood Collectors Show in North Hollywood, Marshall made a rare public appearance alongside Laverne & Shirley co-stars Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka, signing autographs and taking photos with fans.
Marshall lived for years in Outpost Estates in the Hollywood Hills. Actors Joe Pesci and Jim Belushi were among those who lived with her at various times.
Despite some assumptions, Marshall’s family was not Jewish; she was confirmed in a Congregationalist church.
Marshall received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 12, 2004 in a dual ceremony with co-star Cindy Williams at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard.
Marshall’s father was of Italian descent, originally surnamed Masciarelli. Her maternal lineage included English, Scottish, Irish, and German ancestry.
Through her marriage to Rob Reiner, Marshall was the former daughter-in-law of Carl Reiner and Estelle Reiner.
Marshall was the daughter of Anthony W. Marshall and Marjorie Ward Marshall.
Marshall was the mother of Tracy Reiner and aunt of Penny Lee Hallin, Judy Hallin, Wendy S. Hallin, Lori Marshall, Kathleen Marshall, and Scott Marshall.
Marshall directed Awakenings 1990, which received a Best Picture Oscar nomination.
Marshall was sister-in-law to Barbara Marshall.
After her divorce from Rob Reiner, Marshall became former sister-in-law to Lucas Reiner and Maud Winchester.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 33

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Penny Marshall.

When was Penny Marshall born?

Penny Marshall was born on October 15, 1943 in Manhattan, New York City. Her birth name was Carole Penny Marshall.
Where was Penny Marshall born?

Penny Marshall was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She was born on October 15, 1943.
When did Penny Marshall die?

Penny Marshall died on December 17, 2018. She was 75 years old at the time of her death.
Where did Penny Marshall die?

Penny Marshall died in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA. She passed away at her home there.
How old was Penny Marshall when she died?

Penny Marshall was 75 years old when she died on December 17, 2018. She was born in 1943.
What was the cause of Penny Marshall's death?

Penny Marshall died from complications of diabetes. She also had atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. She died at age 75 in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles.
What was Penny Marshall's birth name?

Penny Marshall’s birth name was Carole Penny Marshall. She was known professionally as Penny Marshall.
What was Penny Marshall's occupation?

Penny Marshall was primarily an actress, director, and producer. She is best known for acting in Laverne & Shirley and directing films like Big and A League of Their Own.
What was Penny Marshall's nationality?

Penny Marshall was American. She was born in the United States.
What was Penny Marshall's native language?

Penny Marshall’s native language was English. She was born and raised in the United States.
Who were Penny Marshall's parents?

Penny Marshall’s parents were Anthony W. Marshall and Marjorie Ward Marshall. Her father was an industrial film director and her mother was a tap dance teacher.
Who was Penny Marshall married to?

Penny Marshall was married twice. She first married Michael Henry in 1961, and they divorced in 1963. She later married Rob Reiner in 1971, and they divorced in 1980.
Did Penny Marshall have children?

Yes, Penny Marshall had one daughter named Tracy Reiner. Tracy was born from her first marriage to Michael Henry.
Did Penny Marshall have siblings?

Yes, Penny Marshall had two siblings: older brother Garry Marshall, a famous filmmaker, and sister Ronny Hallin.
Where did Penny Marshall attend school?

Penny Marshall attended Walton High School, a private girls’ high school in New York. She later studied at the University of New Mexico for two and a half years.
What awards did Penny Marshall win?

Penny Marshall received the Crystal Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was awarded the Walk of Fame star in 2004 alongside Cindy Williams.
What is Penny Marshall best known for?

Penny Marshall is best known for playing Laverne DeFazio on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley. She also made history as a director, becoming the first woman to direct a $100 million-grossing film with Big.
How tall was Penny Marshall?

Penny Marshall was 5 feet 6 inches tall 1.68 meters.
What was Penny Marshall's first film role?

Penny Marshall’s film debut came in How Sweet It Is! 1968. Her brother Garry Marshall cast her in the movie.
What TV show made Penny Marshall famous?

Penny Marshall became famous for playing Laverne DeFazio on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley, which debuted in 1976. The show was a spin-off of Happy Days.
Which film did Penny Marshall direct that earned Tom Hanks an Oscar nomination?

Penny Marshall directed Tom Hanks in Big 1988. Hanks received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance.
Which film did Penny Marshall direct that was nominated for Best Picture?

Penny Marshall directed Awakenings 1990, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film also earned Robert De Niro a Best Actor nomination.
Was Penny Marshall a smoker?

Yes, Penny Marshall was a smoker. She later regretted smoking and spoke about it in a 2012 interview.
Did Penny Marshall have a brain tumor?

Yes, in 2009 Penny Marshall was diagnosed with a brain tumor that originated from lung cancer. The tumor was successfully removed, and she entered remission by 2012.
Who was Penny Marshall's best friend?

Penny Marshall’s best friend was actress Carrie Fisher. She was also godmother to Fisher’s daughter Billie.
What hobbies did Penny Marshall have?

Penny Marshall enjoyed needlepoint, jigsaw puzzles, and antique shopping. She was also an avid collector of sports memorabilia.
Where is Penny Marshall buried?

Penny Marshall was cremated and her ashes interred at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery in a traditional grave next to her brother Garry. No memorial service was held.
What is on Penny Marshall's headstone?

Penny Marshall’s headstone features an L from her character Laverne DeFazio. It is at her grave in Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills.
Who was Penny Marshall's first husband?

Penny Marshall’s first husband was Michael Myron Henry. They married on November 22, 1963, the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and divorced in 1963.
Who was Penny Marshall's second husband?

Penny Marshall’s second husband was actor and director Rob Reiner. They married on April 10, 1971 and divorced in 1980.
What is Penny Marshall's connection to Hocus Pocus?

Penny Marshall appeared in the film Hocus Pocus 1993 playing the wife of her real-life brother Garry Marshall.
How many siblings did Penny Marshall have?

Penny Marshall had two siblings: an older brother Garry Marshall and a sister Ronny Hallin.
What landmark did Penny Marshall achieve as a director?

Penny Marshall was the first woman to direct a film that grossed over $100 million in the United States with Big 1988. She also became the first female director with two $100 million hits after A League of Their Own 1992.

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Published on July 10, 2026

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Penny Marshall.

TL;DR

Early life

Career

Personal life

Legacy

The Simpsons

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Frasier

Saturday Night Live

The Mike Douglas Show

Golden Globe Awards

Entourage

Love, American Style

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Happy Days

Nash Bridges

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The Bob Newhart Show

Taxi