---
name: "Penny Marshall"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/penny-marshall"
fi1m_id: "penny-marshall"
imdb_id: "nm0001508"
tmdb_id: 14911
wikidata_id: "Q237659"
roles: ["Director","Producer"]
born: "15 October 1943"
died: "17 December 2018"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "director"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-23T04:09:09.027895+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Penny Marshall

## Identity

Penny Marshall

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/penny-marshall
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** penny-marshall
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001508
- **TMDB ID:** 14911
- **Wikidata ID:** Q237659
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Marshall, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237659, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001508/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14911

Director and producer. Born 15 October 1943 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. Died 17 December 2018.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Producer
- **Born:** 15 October 1943, The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
- **Died:** 17 December 2018
- **Active:** 1988–2005
- **Also known as:** Carole Penny Marshall
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 3 directing, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [John Heard](https://film.one/person/john-heard.md), [Robert Greenhut](https://film.one/person/robert-greenhut.md), [Tom Hanks](https://film.one/person/tom-hanks.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as director, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 81 (1), 1990s 78 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 66 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 2, Fantasy 1, Sport 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $336m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Marshall, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q237659, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001508/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14911

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Big*](https://film.one/film/big.md) (81)
- **Netflix:** [*A League of Their Own*](https://film.one/film/a-league-of-their-own.md) (80)
- **Tubi:** [*Awakenings*](https://film.one/film/awakenings.md) (73)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Penny Marshall

> Penny Marshall gives actors time to make their characters worth caring about. We value her patience and warmth, though her films can press for a reassuring lesson when the performances have already done enough.

In *Awakenings* (1990), Robin Williams’s Sayer looks uncertain, and Penny Marshall lets that uncertainty hold our attention. She is a director we value most when she leaves the actors room to suggest what their characters cannot quite explain. Miroslav Ondříček’s cinematography makes small changes in their faces count, while Anton Furst’s production design gives the medical work a credible setting. Neither contribution distracts from the people. That restraint matters in a film whose screenplay is so keen to make its emotional lessons clear.

Her feature debut, *Jumpin' Jack Flash* (1986), was followed by *Big* (1988), starring Tom Hanks. With *Awakenings*, her attention to character served a medical drama. Then *A League of Their Own* (1992) took her to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Across her work, she returns to people hoping to find more fulfilling lives. Her habit of allowing melancholy into comedy, and playfulness into drama, helps keep that hope from becoming too solemn.

Robert De Niro’s Leonard Lowe gives the clearest evidence of what Marshall can get from an actor. His considerable physical effort sometimes makes us watch the technique, but he keeps Leonard’s individuality clear. We were moved by *Awakenings* because De Niro makes us want to know this man beyond his medical condition. Alongside Williams’s hesitant Sayer, he makes the relationship worth following even when the film is pressing too hard.

The reservation is what Marshall sometimes lets the script do to those people. Steven Zaillian makes the medical subject in *Awakenings* accessible without excessive explanation, but gives its emotional questions answers that are too tidy. Marshall does not entirely escape the habit of treating patients as problems for a gifted doctor to solve. We can forgive a fair amount of prompting when the actors are this persuasive, though we would rather not have to. See *Awakenings* for De Niro and Williams, with fair warning that the script will keep telling us how to feel.

## Biography

Penny Marshall was an American actress, producer and director. Born Carole Penny Marshall in the Bronx, New York, she began her career with small television roles before being cast as Laverne DeFazio in the sitcom *Laverne & Shirley*, which ran from 1976 to 1983. She received three Golden Globe nominations for the role.

Marshall moved into directing with films including *Big* (1988), the first directed by a woman to gross more than $100 million at the US box office. She directed *Awakenings* (1990), nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and *A League of Their Own* (1992). She also appeared in supporting and voice roles in films and series such as *The Simpsons*, *Hocus Pocus* and *Frasier*.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, vox.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

### Directed (3) — the average rests on these

- *A League of Their Own* (1992), Fi1m 80, Executive Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/a-league-of-their-own.md)
- *Awakenings* (1990), Fi1m 73, Director, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/film/awakenings.md)
- *Big* (1988), Fi1m 81, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/big.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Get Shorty* (1995), Fi1m 82, as Penny Marshall (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/get-shorty.md)

## Complete filmography (78)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Mother's Day* (2016), as Opening Mom Narrator (voice)
- *Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery* (2015), as The Elder (voice)
- *Staten Island Summer* (2015), as Dolores
- *The Odd Couple* (2015), series, as Patty
- *Mulaney* (2014), series, as Tutti
- *Sam & Cat* (2013), series, as Sylvia Burke
- *New Year's Eve* (2011), as Penny Marshall
- *Portlandia* (2011), series, as Barbara
- *Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored* (2011), as Laverne (archive footage)
- *United States of Tara* (2009), series, Director
- *Blonde Ambition* (2007), as Bolo Executive
- *Alice Upside Down* (2007), as Mrs. Plotkin
- *Everybody Wants to Be Italian* (2007), as Teresa the Florist
- *Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World* (2006), as Penny Marshall
- *Bones* (2005), series, as Penny Marshall — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/bones.md)
- *Bewitched* (2005), Producer
- *Cinderella Man* (2005), Producer
- *Entourage* (2004), series, as Penny Marshall — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *Stateside* (2004), as Lt. Chevetone
- *I'm with Her* (2003), series, as Penny Marshall
- *Riding in Cars with Boys* (2001), Director
- *According to Jim* (2001), series, Director
- *Saturday Night Live: Christmas* (1999), as Theresa DeCastiglione (archive footage)
- *Jackie's Back!* (1999), as Penny Marshall
- *With Friends Like These* (1998), Producer
- *The Preacher's Wife* (1996), Director
- *Getting Away with Murder* (1996), Producer
- *Nash Bridges* (1996), series, as Iris Heller
- *Get Shorty* (1995), as Penny Marshall (uncredited) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/get-shorty.md)
- *Renaissance Man* (1994), Director, Executive Producer
- *The Odd Couple: Together Again* (1993), as Myrna
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Celeste (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *Hocus Pocus* (1993), as The Master's Wife (uncredited)
- *A League of Their Own* (1992), Director, Executive Producer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/a-league-of-their-own.md)
- *The Hard Way* (1991), as Angie
- *Awakenings* (1990), Director, Executive Producer — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/awakenings.md)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Lucille Botzcowski (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Big* (1988), Director — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/big.md)
- *She's Having a Baby* (1988), as Penny Marshall (uncredited)
- *Jumpin' Jack Flash* (1986), Director
- *Movers & Shakers* (1985), as Reva
- *Challenge of a Lifetime* (1985), as Nora Schoonover
- *Love Thy Neighbor* (1984), as Linda Wilson
- *The Mork & Mindy / Laverne & Shirley / Fonz Hour* (1982), series, as Laverne DeFazio (voice)
- *Lily for President?* (1982), as Laverne DeFazio
- *Laverne & Shirley in the Army* (1981), series, as Laverne DeFazio
- *Bosom Buddies* (1980), series, Actor
- *1941* (1979), as Miss Fitzroy (uncredited)
- *Working Stiffs* (1979), series, Director
- *More Than Friends* (1978), as Maddy Perlman
- *Mork & Mindy* (1978), series, as Laverne Defazio
- *Taxi* (1978), series, as Penny Marshall — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/taxi.md)
- *The Barry Manilow Special* (1977), as Waitress
- *Good Heavens* (1976), series, Actor
- *Laverne & Shirley* (1976), series, as Laverne DeFazio · Director
- *Let's Switch!* (1975), as Alice Wright
- *How Come Nobody's on Our Side?* (1974), as Theresa
- *Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers* (1974), series, as Janice Dreyfuss
- *Chico and the Man* (1974), series, Actor
- *Happy Days* (1974), series, as Laverne DeFazio
- *The Couple Takes a Wife* (1972), as Paula
- *The Crooked Hearts* (1972), as Waitress
- *Albert Brooks' Famous School for Comedians* (1972), as Secretary
- *The Bob Newhart Show* (1972), series, as Stewardess
- *Banacek* (1972), series, as Receptionist
- *Evil Roy Slade* (1972), as Bank Teller (uncredited)
- *Getting Together* (1971), series, Actor
- *The Feminist and the Fuzz* (1971), as Liberation Lady
- *The Wacky Zoo of Morgan City* (1970), as Mayor's Secretary
- *The Odd Couple* (1970), series, as Myrna
- *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), series, as Toni, Paula Kovacs — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md)
- *The Grasshopper* (1970), as Plaster Caster Groupie
- *Love, American Style* (1969), series, as Mary
- *Then Came Bronson* (1969), series, as Claire
- *How Sweet It Is!* (1968), as Tour Girl
- *The Savage Seven* (1968), as Tina
- *That Girl* (1966), series, Actor
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Mayor's Secretary

## Gallery

- ![Penny Marshall](https://film.one/media/person/77701/gallery-dae047daf219.png) Penny Marshall — ABC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Penny_Marshall_1976_%28cropped%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Cindy Williams as Shirley and Penny Marshall as Laverne from the television program Laverne and Shirley. (1976)](https://film.one/media/person/77701/gallery-8e8550f1ef1f.jpg) Photo of Cindy Williams as Shirley and Penny Marshall as Laverne from the television program Laverne and Shirley. (1976) — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/1976_Laverne_and_Shirley.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo from the "Falter at the Altar" episode of Laverne and Shirley. Pictured are Al Molinaro (Father Flanagan), Paul Sylvan (Sal Malina, Laverne's intended), P](https://film.one/media/person/77701/gallery-283fc763ff3a.jpg) Photo from the "Falter at the Altar" episode of Laverne and Shirley. Pictured are Al Molinaro (Father Flanagan), Paul Sylvan (Sal Malina, Laverne's intended), P — ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Cindy_Williams_Penny_Marshall_Laverne_and_Shirley_1976.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ed Begley Jr. and Penny Marshall on the red carpet at the 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 8/28/88 (1988)](https://film.one/media/person/77701/gallery-547f6096166d.jpg) Ed Begley Jr. and Penny Marshall on the red carpet at the 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, 8/28/88 (1988) — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Ed_Begley.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Penny Marshall](https://film.one/media/person/77701/gallery-13117a4c96b9.jpg) Penny Marshall — Image via TMDB
- ![Penny Marshall](https://film.one/media/person/77701/gallery-d5487c69a5ea.jpg) Penny Marshall — Image via TMDB
- ![Penny Marshall](https://film.one/media/person/77701/gallery-f37edb56a962.jpg) Penny Marshall — Image via TMDB
- ![1988 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan](https://film.one/media/person/77701/gallery-147958e6c313.jpg) 1988 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Ed_Begley_Jr%2C_Penny_Marshall_%282091608667%29.jpg/1280px-Ed_Begley_Jr%2C_Penny_Marshall_%282091608667%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Publicity photo of Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall from the television show Laverne and Shirley.](https://film.one/media/person/77701/gallery-a02d775d8a9b.jpg) Publicity photo of Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall from the television show Laverne and Shirley. — American Broadcasting Company (ABC), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Laverne_and_shirley_1976.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Crystal Award 1991: Crystal Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/penny-marshall