Comedy Says Goodbye to Penny Marshall
Tuesday the world said goodbye to another comedy legend. Penny Marshall was 75 when she died of complications from diabetes and she is being remembered as an important voice in comedy. If her only contributions to the genre was her roles in tv’s The Odd Couple and her seven year run as Laverne DiFazio in the hit series Laverne and Shirley, she would still have been a legend but she followed that role up with a long-lasting and continually trailblazing career as a director and producer. And even after she had left her acting career behind, she continued to pop up in great cameos and voice roles in so many comedy series.
Jumpin Jack Flash, Big, A League of Their Own, Renaissance Man and Awakenings were all unforgettable comedies or movies with comedic elements, and she also produced Bewitched and directed for television, and then there were plenty of dramatic films. With Big, she became the first woman to direct a movie that earned over $100 million
Today the comedy world said goodbye to Marshall on social media with heartfelt words of love and admiration. Those who knew her, worked with her or were just inspired with her, paid tribute.
We are saddened to learn that actress, director and producer, Penny Marshall (“Laverne and Shirley”, “A League of Their Own”) has passed away. Marshall was 75 years old. https://t.co/QswbvT0OOk
— NationalComedyCenter (@NtlComedyCenter) 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
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
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 only time I met Penny Marshall was at Monica Johnson's funeral. They were both quirky and hilarious. I wish they'd been in a culture that supported them more. Monica wrote a novel "The Pennysaver" that's brilliant but was never published.
— Nell Scovell (@NellSco) December 19, 2018
Penny Marshall Dead: 'Laverne & Shirley' Star Was 75 | Hollywood Reporter. “God are you taking all my young memories back home ?” Penny, thank you for all that you gave us. You are part of the reason that I do what I do. Have fun with prince ! https://t.co/qt0zoc4Q90
— Sinbad (@sinbadbad) December 18, 2018
Penny Marshall was great to me, personally and professionally. She looked out for me from my first day at SNL. Gave me a movie career, made sure I learned my lines for SNL, let me live at her house. Like my second Mom. Loved her.A warm, wonderful person. God bless her. RIP.
— Jon Lovitz (@realjonlovitz) December 19, 2018
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
Farewell to the lady I imitated as a kid before becoming her neighbor years later, legendary sitcom star and BIG director Penny Marshall. Got to tell Penny that LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN is one of my favorite films when we recorded 4 epic podcasts at my house: https://t.co/2Sdn8Z2XAL… https://t.co/B7qorn7ZAj
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) December 18, 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
NO! Goddamit. I had the good fortune to be directed by her once and she was sharp and smart and hilarious. And A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN still holds up. What an amazing talent. https://t.co/m93JikF3ld
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) 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
I watched Laverne & Shirley every night with Happy Days growing up.
Penny Marshall thx for the laughter, your talents and the inspiration. #ripPenny— Dane Cook (@DaneCook) December 18, 2018
Goodbye, Penny. Man, did we laugh a lot! Wish we still could. Love you. Hanx.
— Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) December 18, 2018
Yes, she did. Thank you Penny for opening up so many doors for women directors. https://t.co/zdUqHZru98
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) December 19, 2018
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
Penny Fucking Marshall. May you party with Carrie Fisher in Bad Bitch Heaven.
— Sara Benincasa (@SaraJBenincasa) December 18, 2018
Pepsi & milk forever ❤️ #RIPPennyMarshall #RIPLaverne
— Eliza Skinner (@elizaskinner) December 18, 2018
R.I.P. Penny Marshall. So talented and funny. A big loss.
— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) December 18, 2018
Goddamn it. ☹️ https://t.co/ZEo2WYLFiF
— Bonnie McFarlane (@bonniemcfarlane) December 18, 2018
She was Big. https://t.co/RUYWeSoHAI
— Bonnie McFarlane (@bonniemcfarlane) December 19, 2018
So sad about the passing of the Penny Marshall. I grew up on Myrna Turner and Laverne DiFazio. I admired her work as the director of Big, A League of Their Own and Awakenings. And I was thrilled when she came to play on Portlandia just a few years ago. A true legend. pic.twitter.com/YqfuV20aak
— Dan Pasternack (@DanPasternack) December 18, 2018
I can’t name a Penny Marshall film I didn’t love. RIP❤️❤️
— Sarah Tollemache (@stollemache) December 18, 2018
i owe much of my essence to the wise-cracking sardonic sidekicks of 70's sitcoms and penny marshall was a Queen among men. that she went on to make fire movies was like icing on the cake.
— shalewa [sha-LAY-wah] sharpe (@silkyjumbo) December 18, 2018
I am so sad that Penny Marshall has passed away. I watched Laverne and Shirley every night as a kid with my brother Louis, who wears a cursive L on his sweaters to this day. Laverne was not super feminine, unlike most tv women at that time, and that was really cool for me to see.
— Samantha Ruddy (@samlymatters) December 18, 2018