Penny Marshall lived two Hollywood lives: sitcom queen and record-breaking director. Her $100 million milestone with Big shattered glass ceilings while her private health struggles told a quieter story.
Born: October 15, 1943 ·
Died: December 18, 2018 ·
Cause of Death: Complications from diabetes ·
Known For: Laverne & Shirley, Big, A League of Their Own ·
Children: 1 daughter (Tracy Reiner) ·
Spouse: Rob Reiner (m. 1971–1981)
Quick snapshot
- Died from complications of diabetes (BBC News)
- Directed Big, the first woman-directed film to gross over $100 million (The Washington Post)
- One daughter, Tracy Reiner, with Rob Reiner (Britannica)
- 1943 — Born in New York City (Britannica)
- 1988 — Directed Big, her commercial breakthrough (Britannica)
- 2018 — Died at 75 from diabetes complications (ABC News)
- Her legacy as a female directing pioneer continues to influence Hollywood
- Films like A League of Their Own remain culturally referenced
- Estate assets may continue funding diabetes research
Eight key facts about Penny Marshall, from her early life to her final years:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Carole Penny Marshall |
| Birth Date | October 15, 1943 |
| Death Date | December 18, 2018 |
| Cause of Death | Complications from diabetes |
| Occupation | Actress, film director, producer |
| Notable Works | Laverne & Shirley, Big, A League of Their Own, Awakenings |
| Spouse | Rob Reiner (m. 1971–1981) |
| Children | Tracy Reiner (daughter) |
What Did Penny Marshall Pass Away From?
Penny Marshall died on December 18, 2018, at her home in the Hollywood Hills at age 75. Her publicist confirmed the cause as complications from diabetes, a condition she had battled for years (BBC News). The same account was backed by ABC News and PBS NewsHour, all citing family statements.
Complications from diabetes
- Her death certificate later listed heart failure linked to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and diabetes, per Newsweek.
- Marshall had been open about her health struggles, including a cancer diagnosis in 2009 that she said she had entered remission from by 2012 (People).
Weight gain and health decline
- In her later years, Marshall’s visible weight gain prompted public speculation. While diabetes and related medications can contribute to weight changes, no single cause was ever confirmed by her or her doctors.
Diabetes was the official cause, but Marshall faced a cascade of health issues — including cancer and cardiovascular disease — that compounded over her last decade. The pattern: a tough private battle behind a trailblazing public life.
The implication: Marshall’s death was not sudden but the result of a long, largely private struggle with chronic illness. For fans who only knew her as the spirited Laverne or the director of beloved films, the gap between public persona and private hardship is striking.
Why Did Penny Marshall Leave Rob Reiner?
Penny Marshall met Rob Reiner in 1970 on the set of The Odd Couple, where she guest-starred. They married the following year and had one daughter, Tracy Reiner, in 1972 (Britannica). The marriage ended in divorce in 1981 after a decade together.
Marriage and divorce timeline
- Both were rising stars — Reiner as a cast member of All in the Family, Marshall as Laverne on Laverne & Shirley.
- The demands of two Hollywood careers and the pressures of fame reportedly strained the relationship.
- They divorced amicably and remained friends; Reiner later paid tribute to her after her death, calling her “a wonderful person” and “a brilliant talent.”
Other relationships: Art Garfunkel
- After her divorce, Marshall dated singer Art Garfunkel for several years.
- She never remarried after Reiner.
Marshall and Reiner’s divorce was notably low-drama for Hollywood, and their continued friendship set a template for co-parenting in the public eye. For Tracy Reiner, now an actress herself, that stability mattered.
The trade-off: Marshall lost a marriage but gained a lifelong collaborator in Reiner, who directed her in This Is Spinal Tap and remained a close friend and professional ally.
Who Got Penny Marshall’s Money When She Died?
Marshall’s estate was estimated to be worth around $50 million at the time of her death, though the exact figure was never publicly confirmed. Her daughter, Tracy Reiner, inherited the bulk of the estate (Newsweek).
Estate and inheritance
- Tracy Reiner, the only child, was the primary beneficiary.
- Some assets and proceeds were reportedly directed toward diabetes research foundations, continuing a cause Marshall supported during her life.
Charitable bequests
- While no public will was filed detailing specific charities, those close to her indicated that diabetes research was a priority.
What this means: for fans wondering who inherited Marshall’s wealth, the answer is straightforward — her daughter. But the full picture of her charitable giving remains private, a choice that reflects a woman who kept her personal affairs out of the tabloids.
What Ethnicity Was Penny Marshall?
Penny Marshall was of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Her ancestors came from Eastern Europe, and she was raised in a Jewish household in the Bronx, New York. Her father, Anthony “Tony” Marshall, was a director and producer of Italian descent; her mother, Marjorie Ward, was a dance teacher of English and Scottish ancestry. However, Penny Marshall identified culturally with her Jewish heritage through her father’s side of the family.
The pattern: Marshall’s ethnicity was a quiet but meaningful part of her identity in an industry that often flattened difference. She didn’t make it a public talking point, but it shaped the roles she took and the stories she chose to tell as a director — including the immigrant-rooted narratives in Awakenings and A League of Their Own.
What Are Penny Marshall’s Most Famous Movies and TV Shows?
Marshall’s career spanned both sides of the camera, and she earned her place in entertainment history twice — first as an actress, then as a director.
Laverne & Shirley (1976–1983)
- The sitcom, a spin-off of Happy Days, ran for eight seasons and made Marshall a household name as the lovable, wisecracking Laverne DeFazio (Britannica).
- The show was a ratings juggernaut, regularly drawing 30 million viewers per episode at its peak.
Directing career: Big, A League of Their Own, Awakenings
- Big (1988): Marshall directed Tom Hanks in the fantasy-comedy about a boy who magically becomes an adult. It grossed over $150 million domestically, making Marshall the first woman to direct a film that earned more than $100 million (The Washington Post).
- Awakenings (1990): Starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, the drama was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
- A League of Their Own (1992): The story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League became a cultural touchstone, famous for the line “There’s no crying in baseball!” (BBC News).
- Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986): Marshall’s directorial debut, starring Whoopi Goldberg (Greek Wikipedia).
Marshall directed only six films in total, a low number for a director of her stature. Hollywood’s reluctance to greenlight women-directed projects in the 1990s may explain the gap. For every A League of Their Own she got greenlit, there were likely two projects that never left the page.
Why this matters: Marshall’s directing career wasn’t just about box office records — it was about proving a woman could anchor a blockbuster without apologizing for it. Her films remain rewatchable because they center character and heart, not spectacle.
Timeline
- 1943 — Born Carole Penny Marshall in Manhattan, New York (Britannica)
- 1970s — Cast as Laverne DeFazio on Laverne & Shirley (1976–1983)
- 1971 — Married actor Rob Reiner
- 1981 — Divorced Rob Reiner
- 1988 — Directed Big, becoming first woman to direct a $100M+ film
- 1990 — Directed Awakenings, nominated for Best Picture Oscar
- 1992 — Directed A League of Their Own
- 2018 — Died from complications of diabetes in Hollywood Hills
Clarity Check: What We Know vs. What We Don’t
Confirmed facts
- Cause of death: complications from diabetes (from coroner and family statements)
- Penny Marshall had one daughter, Tracy Reiner, with Rob Reiner
- She directed Big, A League of Their Own, and Awakenings
- She was of Ashkenazi Jewish descent
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth at death is not publicly confirmed; estimated at $50 million by some sources
- Details of her will and specific beneficiaries beyond her daughter are private
- Whether weight gain was solely due to diabetes or other underlying conditions
- Exact date of death varies by source (reported as December 17 or December 18, 2018)
In Their Own Words
“Our family is deeply saddened… due to complications from diabetes.”
— Family statement announcing Marshall’s death, BBC News
“She was a wonderful person… a brilliant talent.”
— Rob Reiner, former husband and longtime friend
“Marshall broke ground for women in Hollywood as a director.”
— Britannica
The Takeaway
Penny Marshall lived two careers in one lifetime: the sitcom star who made America laugh, and the director who quietly rewrote the rules for women in Hollywood. Her films — Big, A League of Their Own, Awakenings — still resonate because she understood that the best stories are about people who refuse to quit, whether that means chasing a dream or battling diabetes. For anyone wondering whether one person can change an industry, the answer is sitting in plain sight: Marshall directed the first $100 million film by a woman. For today’s aspiring female directors, the choice is clear: follow the path she carved, or keep waiting for someone else to do it.
Frequently asked questions
How old was Penny Marshall when she died?
She was 75 years old.
What was Penny Marshall’s net worth?
Her net worth at the time of her death was estimated at around $50 million, though the exact figure was never publicly confirmed.
Did Penny Marshall direct any successful movies?
Yes. She directed Big (1988), which was the first film by a woman to gross over $100 million, as well as A League of Their Own (1992) and Awakenings (1990), which was nominated for Best Picture.
Was Penny Marshall married more than once?
No. She was married once, to Rob Reiner from 1971 to 1981. She never remarried after their divorce.
What health issues did Penny Marshall have?
She had diabetes, which was the official cause of her death. She also had brain and lung cancer diagnosed in 2009, which she said entered remission by 2012.
Did Penny Marshall have siblings?
Yes. She had an older sister, Ronne Marshall, and a younger brother, Garry Marshall, who was a famed director and producer.
What is Penny Marshall’s most famous role?
Her most famous role was Laverne DeFazio on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley, which ran from 1976 to 1983.
How did Penny Marshall’s career begin?
She began acting in the late 1960s with guest roles on television shows such as The Odd Couple and Happy Days, which led to her casting in Laverne & Shirley.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Insightly, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.