Penny Marshall Dead at 75

The actress and comedian died in her Hollywood Hills home on Monday night.

Penny Marshall
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Image via Getty/Andrew H. Walker

Penny Marshall

Actress, comedian, and director Penny Marshall has died, according to a report from TMZ. She was 75.

She passed on Monday night in her Hollywood Hills home, reportedly from complications caused by diabetes. In 2009, Marshall was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer.

Marshall rose to fame during her sitcom Laverne & Shirley in the '70s. She later directed Tom Hanks in Big, and was the first woman in history to direct a film that grossed over $100 million. 

Penny Marshall's comedy 'Big' – her second directorial outing – was the first film directed by a woman to gross more than $100 million (about $198 million in today’s dollars) domestically https://t.co/Vhs1HaEvWd

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) December 18, 2018

She's also known for helming A League of Their Own (also with Hanks) and Awakenings, which starred Robin Williams. With the latter, Marshall became the second woman to direct a Best Picture Oscar nominee. 

R.I.P. Penny Marshall (1943-2018)

📸: On the set of AWAKENINGS with Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. pic.twitter.com/EoD3wDd8Jz

— Film at Lincoln Center (@FilmLinc) December 18, 2018

Fans of the beloved star have already begun posting tributes to Marshall. Check some of them out below. 

RIP Penny Marshall, one of my favorites. pic.twitter.com/NirlmVUbEl

— Emily Nussbaum (@emilynussbaum) December 18, 2018

RIP Penny Marshall: “Legendary sitcom actress who directed Tom Hanks to his best comic performance, Robin Williams to his most interesting performance, and the definitive movie about women in sports” is an unbelievable legacy.

— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) December 18, 2018

Honor #PennyMarshall by becoming the salty queen you wish to see in the world 💛🕯 pic.twitter.com/WupflOgf3X

— Courtney Denelle (@CourtneyDenelle) December 18, 2018

RIP Penny Marshall. You were a light in this world. Your movie A League of Their Own honored the women of the @aagpbl and inspired others to play baseball. You made a difference. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/jOxDBcSmzx

— Justine Siegal PhD (@justinebaseball) December 18, 2018

Penny Marshall was brilliant, hilarious, interesting, and a goddamn trailblazer. I'm so grateful for her incredible legacy, but I'm so sad we have to live in a world without her. pic.twitter.com/ntTnTH56DJ

— anne t donahue (@annetdonahue) December 18, 2018

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