Watch CBS News

Penny Marshall, 'Laverne & Shirley' Star And 'Big' Filmmaker, Dead At 75

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Actress Penny Marshall, best known for TV's "Laverne & Shirley" and director of box office hits like "Big" and "A League Of Their Own", has died. She was 75.

Marshall died Monday night at her home in Hollywood Hills due to complications from diabetes, Marshall's publicist confirmed to CBSLA.

She first rose to fame playing Laverne DeFazio alongside Cindy Williams in the hit ABC comedy "Laverne & Shirley," which aired from 1976 to 1983.

Later Marshall became the first woman in history to direct a film that grossed more than $100 million with the 1988 Tom Hanks comedy "Big". She also topped the $100 million mark with the 1992 film "A League of Her Own", another Hanks collaboration.

Penny Marshall
Undated photo of actress Penny Marshall. (Photo by Newsmakers via Getty Images)

Her family released a statement which read in part: "Penny was a girl from the Bronx, who came out West, put a cursive "L" on her sweater and transformed herself into a Hollywood success story. We hope her life continues to inspire others to spend time with family, work hard and make all of their dreams come true."

GALLERY: Celebrities We Lost In 2018

Marshall was married for about 10 years to actor/director Rob Reiner in the 1970s.

"I loved Penny," Reiner wrote on Twitter. "I grew up with her. She was born with a great gift. She was born with a funnybone and the instinct of how to use it. I was very lucky to have lived with her and her funnybone. I will miss her."

Several other celebrities took to social media to mourn Marshall's passing.

Marshall is survived by her older sister Ronny, daughter Tracy Reiner, and three grandchildren Spencer, Bella and Viva.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date to be announced, according to Marshall's family.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.