Marshall, Penny (1943-2018), was an American actress and motion-picture director. Marshall first gained recognition on television during the 1970’s. She turned to film directing in the mid-1980’s, directing the hits Big (1988) and A League of Their Own (1992).
Marshall was born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Oct. 15, 1943. Her original name was Carole Penny Marscharelli. Her brother was the television and motion-picture director and producer Garry Marshall . Penny attended the University of New Mexico from 1961 to 1964, dropping out to act and dance. She appeared regularly on television beginning in the late 1960’s and got her first major break playing sportswriter Oscar Madison’s secretary in the comedy series “The Odd Couple” (1970-1975). She appeared in two other TV series before co-starring in the hit comedy series “Laverne & Shirley” (1976-1983) with Cindy Williams. Marshall also directed some episodes in the series.
Marshall appeared in a few motion pictures as an actress, including How Sweet It Is! (1968), 1941 (1979), and The Hard Way (1991). She also directed Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986), Awakenings (1990), Renaissance Man (1994), and The Preacher’s Wife (1996). She wrote a memoir, My Mother Was Nuts (2012). Marshall died on Dec. 17, 2018.
