- Born
- Died
- Birth nameCarole Penny Marshall
- Height5′ 6″ (1.68 m)
- Penny Marshall was born Carole Penny Marshall on October 15, 1943 in Manhattan. The Libra was 5' 6 1/2", with brown hair and green eyes. She was the daughter of Marjorie (Ward), a tap dance teacher, and Anthony "Tony" Marshall, an industrial film director. She was the younger sister of filmmakers Garry Marshall and Ronny Hallin. Her father was of Italian descent, originally surnamed "Masciarelli," and her mother was of German, Scottish, English, and Irish ancestry.
Penny was known in her family as "the bad one"... because not only did she walk on the ledge of her family's apartment building, but she snuck into the movies as a child and even dated a guy named "Lefty." 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. There, Penny got pregnant with daughter, Tracy Reiner, and soon after married the father, Michael Henry, in 1961. The couple divorced two years later in 1963. She worked as a secretary for awhile. Her film debut came from her brother Garry Marshall, who put her in the movie How Sweet It Is! (1968) with the talented Debbie Reynolds and James Garner. She also did a dandruff commercial with Farrah Fawcett - the casting people, of course, giving Farrah the part of the "beautiful girl" and Penny the part of the "plain girl." This only added to Penny's insecurity with her looks.
She then married Rob Reiner on April 10, 1971, shortly after getting her big television break as Oscar Madison's secretary, Myrna Turner, on The Odd Couple (1970). She also played Mary Richards' neighbor, Paula Kovacks, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) for a couple of episodes. However, her Laverne & Shirley (1976) fame came when her brother needed two women to play "fast girls" who were friends of Arthur Fonzarelli and would date Fonzie and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days (1974). Penny had been working on miscellaneous writing projects ("My Country Tis Of Thee", a bicentennial spoof for Francis Ford Coppola and "Paper Hands" about the Salem Witch Trials) with writing partner Cindy Williams. Cindy happened to be a friend and ex-girlfriend of Henry Winkler's, so Garry asked the two to play the parts of these girls. The audience saw their wonderful chemistry, and loved them so much, a spin-off was created for them.
Penny was well-known as Laverne DeFazio. She and Rob had divorced in 1980. The show ended three years later, half a year after Cindy Williams left the show due to pregnancy (her first baby, Emily, from now ex-husband Bill Hudson)... they wanted Williams to work the week she was supposed to deliver.
Soon after, Penny began directing such films as Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986), Big (1988) and A League of Their Own (1992). Her hobbies included needlepoint, jigsaw puzzles and antique shopping. She was best friends with actress Carrie Fisher and was godmother to Carrie's daughter, Billie.
Penny died at 75 in Los Angeles, California.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ashley Phipps <LavernShrl@aol.com>
- SpousesRob Reiner(April 10, 1971 - 1981) (divorced, 1 child)Michael Myron Henry(November 30, 1963 - January 18, 1967) (divorced, 1 child)
- Children
- Parents
- RelativesRonny Hallin(Sibling)Garry Marshall(Sibling)Kathleen Marshall(Niece or Nephew)
- Bangs
- Her unusual nasal voice
- Has directed two actors to Oscar nominations: Tom Hanks (Best Actor, Big (1988)), and Robert De Niro (Best Actor, Awakenings (1990)).
- Is the first female to direct a movie that grossed over 100 million dollars in the United States, with Big (1988). And the first female director with two movies that grossed over 100 million, with A League of Their Own (1992).
- Is an avid collector of sports memorabilia and has quite an extensive collection of baseballs, footballs and basketballs autographed by top athletes.
- Her mother agreed to send her to University of New Mexico because she thought it was close to her home in New York.
- Best known by the public for her role as Laverne DeFazio on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley (1976).
- 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!
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