Penny Marshall was born Carole Penny Marshall on October 15, 1943, in Manhattan, New York, to Marjorie (Ward),a tap dance teacher, and Anthony "Tony" Marshall, an industrial film director. Her father was of Italian descent, originally surnamed "Masciarelli," and her mother was of German, Scottish, English, and Irish ancestry.
As a child, Penny was known as "the bad one" due to her mischievous behavior, including walking on the ledge of her family's apartment building and sneaking into movies. She attended a private girls' high school in New York and then went to the University of New Mexico for two and a half years, where she became pregnant with her daughter Tracy Reiner.
Penny's early career was marked by her marriage to Michael Henry, with whom she had a daughter, Tracy, and later to Rob Reiner, with whom she had no children. Her breakthrough role came when her brother Garry Marshall cast her in the 1968 film "How Sweet It Is!" alongside Debbie Reynolds and James Garner.
Penny's television career took off with her role as Myrna Turner on "The Odd Couple" and as Paula Kovacks on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." However, it was her iconic role as Laverne DeFazio on the popular sitcom "Laverne & Shirley" that brought her widespread recognition. The show ran for eight seasons and cemented her status as a beloved television personality.
After "Laverne & Shirley" ended, Penny transitioned to directing, helming films such as "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Big," and "A League of Their Own." She was also a devoted friend to actress Carrie Fisher and was godmother to Fisher's daughter, Billie.
Penny Marshall passed away on December 17, 2018, at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy as a talented actress, director, and television icon.
