Actress and director Penny Marshall, best known for her role in hit sitcom Laverne & Shirley, has died at the age of 75.
A spokesperson for Marshall's family confirmed her death, saying she died peacefully at her home in the Hollywood Hills on Monday night. Her death is said to have been caused by complications from diabetes.
She is survived by her sister Ronny Marshall, her daughter Tracy Reiner and her three grandchildren. Her brother, actor and director Garry Marshall died in 2016.
Marshall made her breakthrough in Hollywood playing Laverne DeFazio in the hit sitcom, and Happy Days spin-off, Laverne & Shirley. The show ran for eight seasons, premiering in 1976, and her performance earned her three consecutive Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical (1978, 1979 and 1980).
During her time on Laverne & Shirley, Marshall made the move behind camera, directing episodes of the show. After the series concluded in 1983, Marshall went on to direct hit films such as Big (1988), A League of Their Own (1992) and Riding in Cars with Boys (2001).
At the helm of the Tom Hanks-starring Big, Marshall became the first female director of a movie that grossed over $100 million. A League of Their Own also passed the milestone four years later.
Marshall's 1990 film Awakenings, which starred Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
