Comedian, actress and director Penny Marshall has died at age 75, according to a report on TMZ.
TMZ reports Marshall died Monday night at her home in the Hollywood Hills due to complications from diabetes.
Marshall first gained fame in the 1970s for her role as Laverne DeFazio on ABC’s hit sitcom “Laverne & Shirley.” Among her character’s trademarks was the script “L” on her clothing.
The show ran eight seasons from 1976 to 1983. In its third and fourth seasons, it was the No. 1 watched show on TV.
In the mid 1980s, Marshall made the transition to working behind the camera, directing films such as the 1988 hit “Big” with Tom Hanks, 1990’s “Awakenings,” with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, and “A League of Their Own,” with Geena Davis and Madonna.
TMZ reports Marshall had been treated for brain and lung cancer in 2009.
From 1971 to 1981, she was married to actor/director Rob Reiner. Her brother is actor/director/TV producer Garry Marshall.
She was born Carole Penny Marshall in the Bronx in New York on Oct. 15, 1943.
Chris Pastrick is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at 724-226-4697, cpastrick@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CPastrickTrib.
