Penny Marshall(1943-2018)
- Actress
- Director
- Producer
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 filmmakersGarry MarshallandRonny 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 brotherGarry Marshall,who put her in the movieHow Sweet It Is! (1968)with the talentedDebbie ReynoldsandJames Garner.She also did a dandruff commercial withFarrah 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 marriedRob Reineron April 10, 1971, shortly after getting her big television break as Oscar Madison's secretary, Myrna Turner, onThe Odd Couple (1970).She also played Mary Richards' neighbor, Paula Kovacks, onMary Tyler Moore (1970)for a couple of episodes. However, herLaverne & 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 onHappy Days (1974).Penny had been working on miscellaneous writing projects ( "My Country Tis Of Thee", a bicentennial spoof forFrancis Ford Coppolaand "Paper Hands" about the Salem Witch Trials) with writing partnerCindy Williams.Cindy happened to be a friend and ex-girlfriend ofHenry 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 afterCindy Williamsleft the show due to pregnancy (her first baby, Emily, from now ex-husbandBill Hudson)... they wanted Williams to work the week she was supposed to deliver.
Soon after, Penny began directing such films asJumpin' Jack Flash (1986),Big (1988)andA League of Their Own (1992).Her hobbies included needlepoint, jigsaw puzzles and antique shopping. She was best friends with actressCarrie Fisherand was godmother to Carrie's daughter, Billie.
Penny died at 75 in Los Angeles, California.
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 brotherGarry Marshall,who put her in the movieHow Sweet It Is! (1968)with the talentedDebbie ReynoldsandJames Garner.She also did a dandruff commercial withFarrah 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 marriedRob Reineron April 10, 1971, shortly after getting her big television break as Oscar Madison's secretary, Myrna Turner, onThe Odd Couple (1970).She also played Mary Richards' neighbor, Paula Kovacks, onMary Tyler Moore (1970)for a couple of episodes. However, herLaverne & 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 onHappy Days (1974).Penny had been working on miscellaneous writing projects ( "My Country Tis Of Thee", a bicentennial spoof forFrancis Ford Coppolaand "Paper Hands" about the Salem Witch Trials) with writing partnerCindy Williams.Cindy happened to be a friend and ex-girlfriend ofHenry 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 afterCindy Williamsleft the show due to pregnancy (her first baby, Emily, from now ex-husbandBill Hudson)... they wanted Williams to work the week she was supposed to deliver.
Soon after, Penny began directing such films asJumpin' Jack Flash (1986),Big (1988)andA League of Their Own (1992).Her hobbies included needlepoint, jigsaw puzzles and antique shopping. She was best friends with actressCarrie Fisherand was godmother to Carrie's daughter, Billie.
Penny died at 75 in Los Angeles, California.
Actress
Director
Producer
Funny Women of Television
Funny Women of Television
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