Penny Marshall Net Worth

What was Penny Marshall's net worth and salary?

Penny Marshall was an American actress, television and film producer/director who had a net worth of $45 million at the time of her death in December 2018.

Penny Marshall's career spanned television, film, and popular culture, with a legacy defined by groundbreaking success behind the camera. She first became a household name as a performer, starring as Laverne DeFazio on the hit sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," which ran from 1976 to 1983 and became one of the most-watched television shows of its era. Her comedic timing, physical humor, and relatable everywoman persona made her a defining figure of 1970s television comedy.

Marshall later achieved even greater impact as a film director, becoming one of the most commercially successful directors of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Her directorial debut, "Jumpin' Jack Flash," showcased her ability to blend comedy with character-driven storytelling. She reached a new level of success with "Big," the 1988 fantasy comedy starring Tom Hanks, which became a massive box-office hit and earned Hanks his first Academy Award nomination. With that film, Marshall became the first woman to direct a movie that grossed more than $100 million domestically.

She followed "Big" with a string of successful films, including "Awakenings," starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, and "A League of Their Own," a sports drama that became a cultural touchstone and remains one of the most beloved baseball films ever made. Penny Marshall's work helped normalize women as commercial filmmakers in Hollywood and paved the way for future generations of female directors.

Early Life

Penny Marshall was born on October 15, 1943, in the Bronx, New York City. Her full name was Carole Penny Marshall. Her father was born Anthony Masciarelli, but before the birth of his eldest child, Garry, he changed the family's Italian surname to Marshall, a decision reflective of the era's pressures toward assimilation. He worked as a producer and director of industrial films, while Penny's mother, Marjorie Marshall, was a tap dance teacher who ran the Marjorie Marshall Dance School. Penny grew up alongside her two brothers, Ronny and Garry, in a household deeply immersed in performance and entertainment.

Religion played an unusual and largely practical role in the Marshall family. Ronny was christened Episcopalian, Garry was raised Lutheran, and Penny was confirmed in a Congregational church. Marshall later explained that these choices had less to do with theology than with her mother's ongoing search for venues willing to host dance recitals.

Marshall began tap dancing at the age of three and took classes at her mother's school. She attended Walton High School, a public girls' high school in the Bronx, before enrolling at the University of New Mexico, where she studied mathematics and psychology. While a student, she became pregnant with her daughter, Tracy. She married the child's father, Michael Henry, in 1963, but the marriage ended in divorce three years later.

Acting Career

After her divorce, Marshall moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment. Her first notable job was a Head & Shoulders commercial, in which she was cast as a plain, frizzy-haired contrast to Farrah Fawcett. The role helped establish her everywoman screen persona.

In 1968, Marshall appeared in the film "How Sweet It Is," produced by her brother Garry. She went on to land roles in "The Savage Seven" and the television series "That Girl" before securing a recurring role on "The Odd Couple," where Garry served as an executive producer. During this period, she also appeared in projects such as "Evil Roy Slade," "The Crooked Hearts," and "Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers." Although "Paul Sand" was canceled mid-season, Marshall's performance earned strong reviews and led to a role on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."

"Laverne & Shirley"

In 1975, Marshall appeared on "Happy Days" alongside Cindy Williams, playing brewery workers Laverne DeFazio and Shirley Feeney. Their chemistry and reception were so strong that Garry Marshall developed a spinoff series built around the characters.

"Laverne & Shirley" became a massive hit, running for eight seasons and ranking as the top-rated television show in the United States during its peak years. Marshall's portrayal of Laverne made her one of the most recognizable television stars of the era and cemented her place in pop culture history.

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Directing Career

While still starring on "Laverne & Shirley," Marshall began transitioning into directing, encouraged by her brother. She directed several episodes of the series, as well as episodes of "Working Stiffs." She later moved into feature films, describing her early directing years as intensely stressful due to the steep learning curve.

Her breakthrough came with "Jumpin' Jack Flash," followed by "Big" in 1988. Starring Tom Hanks, "Big" became the first film directed by a woman to gross more than $100 million at the domestic box office. The film also earned Hanks his first Academy Award nomination.

Marshall followed this success with "Awakenings," starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, and "A League of Their Own," featuring Tom Hanks, Madonna, Geena Davis, and Rosie O'Donnell. The latter became one of the most beloved sports films ever made. She later directed "The Preacher's Wife" and continued working into the 2000s, including directing episodes of "United States of Tara" and "According to Jim."

Awards and Recognition

Marshall received numerous honors throughout her career. She earned multiple Golden Globe nominations for her television work, a Saturn Award nomination for "Big," and the Women in Film Crystal Award in 1991. She was later honored with the Lifetime Creative Achievement Award from the American Comedy Awards.

Personal Life and Death

In 1971, Marshall married actor and director Rob Reiner. Reiner adopted her daughter, Tracy, who today still goes by Tracy Reiner. Penny and Rob remained married until 1981. During the mid-1980s, Marshall was briefly involved with Art Garfunkel. In 2010, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer but later made a full recovery. She went on to publish the memoir "My Mother Was Nuts."

Penny Marshall died in December 2018 in Los Angeles from heart failure. She was 75 years old. Tributes poured in from across Hollywood, including from Rob Reiner, Ron Howard, and Cindy Williams. She was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills. Her headstone bears a single letter "L," honoring her iconic role as Laverne DeFazio.

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