TV icon Penny Marshall, who went on to become the most commercially successful female director of all time, has died.

Penny Marshall: October 15, 1943—December 17, 2018 (Image via ABC)
ExtraTV.com reports that Marshall, 75, died due to complications from Type 2 diabetes on Monday, December 17. She had been diagnosed with brain and lung cancer in 2009.
Marshall was born into a showbiz family, including a mother who danced, a father who directed and produced and a sister who was a casting director. Most notably, her brother was the ubersuccessful writer/producer/director Garry Marshall (1934-2016), and it was his early success in comedy that provided forum for Marshall to reveal her prodigious talents.
While in college, Marshall became pregnant with a daughter, leading to a two-year marriage to the father. They divorced in 1963 and Marshall began acting, following her brother to L.A. in 1967 and making her credited debut in the film The Savage Seven (1968), a biker curiosity that would not be emblematic of her choices.
More up her alley, she popped up in How Sweet It Is! (1968), produced by her brother, and The Grasshopper (1970), both directed by Jerry Paris (1925-1986).
Around this time, Marshall appeared in a hilarious TV spot with Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009), playing a plain jane to Fawcett's annoyingly perfect girl-next-door. Her trademark deadpan delivery was already locked and loaded:
As her career began taking off, Marshall met and married Rob Reiner (b. 1947), another rising star from an entertainment family. There were wed from 1971-1981, appearing in the 1978 romantic TV movie about their love affair, More Than Friends.
Marshall made many episodic TV appearances on her way to the roles that defined her as an actress, including on That Girl (1968-1969), My Friend Tony (1969), Barefoot in the Park (1970), The Super (1972), The Bob Newhart Show (1972) and Mary Tyler Moore (1974-1976).

As Myrna (Image via ABC)
Her first big impression was made as Myrna, a variation on herself in which she would specialize, on The Odd Couple (1972-1974).
The Garry Marshall Posse. Robin Williams, Ron Howard, Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams, Henry Winkler and Pam Dawber (1979). pic.twitter.com/08YFx49POD
— spacewoman reporter (@SpacewomanR) December 15, 2018
A winning 1975 appearance on Happy Days playing floozy Laverne DeFazio on the episode "A Date with Fonzie" led to the spin-off Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983), retooled with the girls (the other played by Cindy Williams, b. 1947) playing much sweeter.
"What an extraordinary loss. My good friend, Penny Marshall is gone — one in a million. Utterly unique, a truly great talent. And, oh what fun we had! Can't describe how I'll miss her." — Cindy Williams to Today
The on-screen chemistry between the two women was like milk and Pepsi (a favorite Marshall/DeFazio concoction).

There was an innocence to L&S — the world's oldest virgins. Ish. (GIF via GIPHY)
The show became an iconic comedy smash, allowing both to show off slapstick comedy skills.
Bad blood and Williams' leaving to have a baby took the wind out of the show's sails eventually, but Marshall appeared on every episode.
She acted only sporadically after the series ended, popping up in random films (including a cameo in 1993's Hocus Pocus alongside her brother — playing man and wife), with her final filmed performance bringing her full circle as a character on the rebooted The Odd Couple in 2016.
Marshall was pursuing directing and producing instead of seeking to act. She directed five episodes of TV (including four for Laverne & Shirley) ahead of her feature debut, the Whoopi Goldberg (b. 1955) vehicle Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986). As a bonus, she directed the music video for the film's Rolling Stones cover theme, sung by Aretha Franklin (1942-2018).
Behind the Scenes of the making of #ALeagueOfTheirOwn directed by #PennyMarshall starring #Madonna, #TomHanks #RosieODonnell, #GeenaDavis and #LoriPetty (1992) #rippennymarshall ? @madonna @rosie pic.twitter.com/QOyEiHlXEE
— Madonna Scrapbook (@m_scrapbook) December 18, 2018
It was not a hit, but her sophomore film was a $100M smash, the 1988 comedy Big, with Tom Hanks (b. 1956). An A-lister, she followed it in short order with Awakenings (1990), which was Oscar-nominated for Best Picture but not for Best Director, and the $100M smash A League of Their Own (1992), selected for preservation by the U.S. National Film Registry for its cultural importance.
Her hits may have made her the most commercially successful female movie director in history.
Celebs We Have Lost in 2018 — HERE
She went on to direct the less successful Renaissance Man (1994), The Preacher's Wife (1996) and Riding in Cars with Boys (2001), as well as more episodic TV, the TV movie Women Without Men (2010) and a forthcoming documentary on baskeball star Dennis Rodman (b. 1961).
1996 Kmart TV Commercial with Penny Marshall and Rosie O'Donnell https://t.co/XHOgyrCBhs via @YouTube - simply heartbroken #ripPENNY
— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 18, 2018
Outside of acting and directing, Marshall was an effective Kmart pitchwoman with sidekick Rosie O'Donnell (1962) in 1996. The same year, she made a cameo on SNL to support Whitney Houston (1963-2012), her Preacher's Wife star.
In 2012, Marshall published the memoir My Mother Was Nuts, and made a number of public appearances at autograph shows with Cindy Williams and her brother.
Whitney Houston - Sketch / Little Drummer Boy (Saturday Night Live, 1996) https://t.co/DycsRAvHVd via @YouTube ?
— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 18, 2018
The Lakers fan is survived by daughter Tracy Reiner (b. 1964), who appeared in A League of Their Own.
Hollywood remembers:
I loved Penny. 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.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) December 18, 2018
#RIPPennyMarshall She was funny & so smart. She made the transition from sitcom star to A List movie director with ease & had a major impact on both mediums. All that & always relaxed, funny & totally unpretentious. I was lucky to have known & worked with her. https://t.co/pf2kfIkCH4
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) December 18, 2018
I don't know what to say.
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) December 18, 2018
Goodbye, Penny. Man, did we laugh a lot! Wish we still could. Love you. Hanx.
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) December 18, 2018
Penny Marshall &I made Jumping Jack Flash together & the 1st film she directed & the second film i was ever in.We laughed, we yelled & for her i was a little black woman in a big silver box”being dragged thru the streets of LA. My condolences to Tracy &family RIP Penny Marshall
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) December 19, 2018
Penny Marshall was a sweet woman. I was very fortunate to spend time with her. So many laughs. She had a heart of gold. Tough as nails. She could play round ball with the best of them. Always All love, D
— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) December 18, 2018
I grew up wanting to be as funny as Penny Marshall, and had the pleasure of meeting her a few times. Watch some old Laverne and Shirley to see why her brother Garry insisted on casting her. Comedy gold, she was. ♥️ pic.twitter.com/DhP10j7m8s
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) December 18, 2018
Thank you, Penny Marshall. For the trails you blazed. The laughs you gave. The hearts you warmed. pic.twitter.com/7qPKJa6ApH
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 18, 2018
Rest in peace, Penny. Such a wonderful, funny and talented lady. Without her support and encouragement, I would not be where I am today. She will be missed. ? #PennyMarshall pic.twitter.com/F9ksywXYuG
— Mark Wahlberg (@markwahlberg) December 18, 2018
Yesterday I held a Golden Gloves award from the 1930’s, given to me by Penny Marshall.
Hadn’t seen it in years.
Then today’s news...
Penny told me the story of Jim Braddock, which became the movie Cinderella Man. She was kind, she was crazy,so talented and she loved movies. RIP— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) December 18, 2018
RIP Penny Marshall!! Thank you for what you contributed to us girls. Grateful to have worked with you. Rest well you great Broad!!!❤❤❤ pic.twitter.com/4hk6AGjmB1
— Viola Davis (@violadavis) December 18, 2018
Penny Marshall had me audition 6 times for a role and then I didn’t get it. She didn’t know that I would audition for her forever. It was a treat to be in the room. She was glorious. #RIPPennyMarshall
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) December 18, 2018
Sad to hear of Penny Marshall’s passing. a great comedienne a terrific director and a dear friend.
— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) December 18, 2018
So sorry to hear about Penny Marshall. I have great memories of attending many of her birthday parties with Carrie Fisher in the early days... and she came to so many of my concerts. May she rest in peace.
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) December 19, 2018
Today we learned that Penny Marshall passed away. Growing up in the woods of Rhode Island, the TV was my most reliable friend. If I was bullied at school I knew I could watch my favorite… https://t.co/LLSHAeLRFT
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) December 19, 2018
No words can describe the lessons she taught me about being a woman, about courage, about tenacity. And always with an innate believe in the absurdity of this thing we call life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Penny. #rip #pennymarshall #big pic.twitter.com/euj8hTMA3H
— Elizabeth Perkins (@Elizbethperkins) December 19, 2018
I had the pleasure of meeting Penny Marshall at a Sparks game. Our seats were together, so I got to talk with her during the season. Grateful that I was able to thank her for knocking down barriers and tell her how much I loved her and her work. Rest In Peace. #PennyMarshall
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) December 19, 2018
Hard to imagine 2 movies that remind me more of my childhood and that first feeling of wanting to be in entertainment than Big and A League of Their Own. I saw A League of Their Own at the Cineplex Odeon in Fresh Meadows, Queens at a sneak preview. RIP Penny Marshall and thank u.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) December 19, 2018
Rest in peace to my great friend, Penny Marshall. We shared a lot of laughs and good times together.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) December 19, 2018
Penny Marshall will be greatly missed. A true legend and influential spirit in Hollywood. Paving the way for many, including myself. ❤️ #RIPPennyMarshall pic.twitter.com/A6PJfFnh7G
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) December 19, 2018
Two of my favorite movies were “A League of the Their Own” and “Big.” We lost a legend today. Rest In Peace, Penny Marshall.
— Fortune Feimster (@fortunefunny) December 18, 2018
The Marshall family grieves again as the great #PennyMarshall dies at age 75. What an extraordinary family they were and continue to be, and how much love and sympathy my family and I send their way. The end of an era.
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) December 18, 2018