Is Penny Marshall Still Alive
Penny Marshall is not alive. She died on December 18, 2018, in Los Angeles, California, at age 75. The cause of death was cardiopulmonary failure, complicated by diabetes and other health issues. Her passing was widely reported by major outlets including The New York Times and confirmed by her family. Public records, obituaries, and entertainment databases consistently list her as deceased.
Her death ended a career that shaped American sitcoms and cinema. Marshall was best known for directing blockbuster comedies and producing one of the most-watched TV series in history. She remains one of the most influential female directors in Hollywood history.
Early Life and Career
Birth and Family Background
Penny Marshall was born Caroline Margaret Marshall on October 15, 1943, in New York City. She was the daughter of Marjorie Irene Ward, a tap dancer and teacher, and Anthony Wallace Marshall, a director and producer. Her brother is filmmaker Garry Marshall. She grew up in a show-business family and later studied education at the University of New Mexico.
Breakthrough in Television
Marshall rose to fame playing Laverne DeFazio on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley, which aired from 1976 to 1983. The show was produced by Miller-Boyett Productions and aired on ABC. It consistently ranked in the top 10 Nielsen ratings during its run and became a defining comedy of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Directing Career and Major Films
First Major Directing Success
In 1988, Marshall became the first woman to direct a film that grossed over $100 million at the U.S. box office. The film was Big, starring Tom Hanks. It was produced by James L. Brooks and Robert Greenhut for 20th Century Fox and earned over $151 million worldwide.
Later Films and Legacy
Marshall went on to direct several other major studio films, including A League of Their Own (1992) and The Preacher's Wife (1996). Her work is frequently cited in industry analyses of female directors. According to data compiled by Forbes, Marshall remains one of a small group of women who directed multiple seven-figure-grossing films in the 1990s.
Personal Life and Later Years
Marriages and Relationships
Marshall was married three times. Her first marriage was to Michael Henry, from 1963 to 1965. She then married actor and director Rob Reiner in 1971; they divorced in 1981. Her third marriage was to talent agent Scott Landis, from 1985 to 1991. She had one daughter, Tracy Henry, from her first marriage.