Penny Marshall - 1943-2018

Penny Marshall; actress, director, and film producer, has passed away at 75. 

Widely known for her role as Laverne DeFazio in the TV sitcom LAVERNE & SHIRLEY, Marshall made the move behind the camera at the encouragement of her brother. She directed episodes of LAVERNE & SHIRLEY and several episodes of the short-lives sitcom WORKING STIFFS, which starred Michael Keaton and  John Belushi. 

In 1986 she entered the cinema world as a director and helmed JUMPIN’ JACK FLASH with Whoopi Goldberg to the big screen. It was a modest hit, and she followed that up with BIG in 1988 with rising star Tom Hanks, which became the first film directed by a woman to gross over $100 million. In 1990 she would direct the critical darling AWAKENINGS with Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro, which would earn three Oscar nominations...including Best Picture. She would follow that up with her most well-known film, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN in 1992. 

Her other directing credits included RENAISSANCE MAN (1994), THE PREACHER’S WIFE (1996), and RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS (2001). 

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There is a lot of talk these days about women behind the camera; how few of them there are and how fewer get the recognition of their male counterparts. Through all the talk the fact is often forgotten that Penny Marshall made quality films that earned box office dollars, were well liked, and have survived the test of time. She had a touch that brought out the human side in her characters, and that spoke to everyone. Penny Marshall’s career is a fine example for the industry of what women can do behind the lens.