From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Penny Marshall (born October 15, 1942) is an American actress, director, and producer. Although she has directed several successful Hollywood films since the mid-1980s (among them Big, Awakenings and A League of Their Own), Marshall is perhaps still best known for her role as the wise-cracking brewery worker Laverne DeFazio in the popular television sitcom Laverne and Shirley (1976-1983).
Marshall was born in The Bronx borough of New York City. She was married to actor and director Rob Reiner from 1971 until 1979 - a period that coincided with the heyday of both of their television sitcom careers (Reiner acted in the role of Mike Stivic in the most-watched American sitcom during the first half of the 1970s, All in the Family).
Penny Marshall is the brother of producer, director, and writer Garry Marshall.
