Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Penny Marshall

Penny Marshall was an American actress, comedian, film director, and producer best known for starring in the television sitcom *Laverne & Shirley* and for directing successful films including *Big* and *A League of Their Own*.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Penny Marshall was an American actress, comedian, film director, and producer who broke barriers as one of the first women to achieve major commercial success directing feature films.

What it is

Marshall is best known for playing Laverne DeFazio on the sitcom *Laverne & Shirley* and for directing hit films like *Big* and *A League of Their Own*. She was a trailblazer in Hollywood, becoming the first woman to direct a film that grossed over $100 million at the U.S. box office.

Key details

Born Carole Penelope Marshall in New York City in 1943, she started as an actress before moving into directing. Her directorial debut was *Jumpin' Jack Flash* (1986), followed by *Big* (1988), which set a box-office milestone. She also directed *Awakenings*, *A League of Their Own*, and other films. She was married to filmmaker Rob Reiner from 1971 to 1981.

Why it matters

Marshall’s success opened doors for women in film directing, proving that female directors could helm blockbuster hits. Her work, including *Laverne & Shirley* and her films, was widely enjoyed in Canada and remains part of North American pop culture.

In short

  • Penny Marshall was a pioneering female director and actress.
  • She starred in *Laverne & Shirley* and directed *Big* and *A League of Their Own*.
  • *Big* was the first film directed by a woman to earn over $100 million in the U.S.
  • She died in 2018 at age 75 in Los Angeles.
Canadian angle

Penny Marshall’s work was widely distributed in Canada, and *Laverne & Shirley* and her feature films were part of North American television and cinema culture familiar to Canadian audiences.

Quick questions

Who was Penny Marshall?
She was an American actress, comedian, film director, and producer best known for *Laverne & Shirley* and for directing hit films such as *Big* and *A League of Their Own*.
What was Penny Marshall’s biggest directing milestone?
*Big* became the first film directed by a woman to earn more than $100 million at the U.S. box office.
When did Penny Marshall die?
She died on December 17, 2018, in Los Angeles at age 75.

Sources

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Penny-Marshall
    Supports: Birth and death details; occupations; significance as an early commercially successful female film director.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Marshall
    Supports: Birth name; directorial debut; filmography; milestone for *Big*; death date.
  3. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/actors/penny-marshall
    Supports: Early life; *Laverne & Shirley*; move into directing; major films.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/features/penny-marshall-1943-2018
    Supports: First American woman to direct a film that grossed over $100 million; career overview; voice role note.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001508/bio/
    Supports: Birth and death places/dates; death from complications related to diabetes.
  6. People — https://people.com/who-was-rob-reiner-first-wife-penny-marshall-11868962
    Supports: Marriage to Rob Reiner and year range.