Beloved Actress and Director Penny Marshall Has Passed Away

Sad news has come today from Hollywood. The beloved actress and director Penny Marshall has passed away at the age of 75 in her Hollywood home due to complications from diabetes.

Penny Laverne on Laverne and Shirley. Then she gained enormous success being the first woman to direct a film that grossed more than $100 million, and the first woman to direct two films to gross as much. She was also only the second female director to see her film be Oscar-nominated for Best Picture.

She first started her directing career on episodes of Laverne and Shirley, and went on to direct some of my favorite movies, such as Big, Awakenings, A League of Their Own, and Riding in Cars With Boys. She had such a fun sense of humor, and a childlike wonder that she brought to the screen. She also produced a number of hits, including Ron Howard’s Cinderella Man.

She is preceded in death by her brother, the one and only Garry Marshall. We will always remember Penny Marshall for the films she gave us and the laughs she delivered. She was one of the greats.