Entertainment Movies Penny Marshall's Life in Photos The actor and director lived what she called a "charmed and lucky life." Here's a look back at her biggest moments By Alexia Fernández Updated on October 13, 2023 02:49PM EDT Close Penny Marshall on 'Mork & Mindy'. Photo: ABC Photo Archives/ABC/Getty “Penny was a girl from the Bronx, who came out West, put a cursive ‘L’ on her sweater and transformed herself into a Hollywood success story," Penny Marshall's family said in a statement when the icon of TV and film died in 2018. "We hope her life continues to inspire others to spend time with family, work hard and make all of their dreams come true.” Marshall, sister of director Garry Marshall and star of Laverne & Shirley, certainly did inspire in her time, becoming the first woman in Hollywood to direct a movie that grossed more than $100 million at the box office in addition to acting her way through a series of hits. Diagnosed with brain and lung cancer in 2009 before going into remission by 2012, she led what she once called "a charmed and lucky life," making a bevy of famous friends and relishing in her role as mother to daughter Tracy and later on, grandmother. Here, on what would have been Penny Marshall's 80th birthday on Oct. 15, 2023, look back on her life in photos. 01 of 08 Penny Marshall's Early Life Penny Marshall in 1994. Bei/REX/Shutterstock Born in The Bronx, New York, in 1943, Penny Marshall made a name for herself thanks to her comedic wit in popular TV sitcoms. The actress and director died on Dec. 18, 2018, at her Hollywood Hills home of complications from diabetes. She was 75. Here, a look back on her life in photos. 02 of 08 Penny Marshall's Big Break Penny Marshall with Farrah Fawcett for Head & Shoulders. Head and Shoulders Marshall's first big break came in the form of a Head & Shoulders commercial in which she starred opposite Farrah Fawcett. 03 of 08 Penny Marshall on 'Laverne & Shirley' Laverne & Shirley. Everett Marshall's brother, Pretty Woman director Garry Marshall, cast her in two TV shows he produced in the 1970s: The Odd Couple and Happy Days, where she launched the character that would make her a TV icon: Laverne DeFazio. ABC greenlit her own TV show Laverne & Shirley alongside Cindy Williams' Shirley Feeney. "I could drag and carry Cindy — I was strong," Marshall told PEOPLE in 2012. "The show was fun." 04 of 08 Penny Marshall and Rob Reiner Penny Marshall and Rob Reiner. Globe Photos/ZUMA Marshall married actor and director Rob Reiner in 1971. The two were married for 10 years and Reiner adopted Marshall's daughter from a previous marriage, Tracy. Upon learning about his ex-wife's death, Reiner tweeted, "So sad about Penny. 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." 05 of 08 Penny Marshall on 'Mork & Mindy' ABC Photo Archives/ABC/Getty Marshall appeared in the pilot episode of Robin Williams' hit show as Laverne DeFazio. In a flashback sequence, Mork (Williams) recalls a previous trip to Earth when Fozie (Henry Winkler) arranged a date for Mork and Laverne. 06 of 08 Penny Marshall and Art Garfunkel Penny Marshall and Art Garfunkel. Sonia Moskowitz/IMAGES/Getty After separating from Reiner in 1981, Marshall began dating Art Garfunkel. He credited her for helping him get through his depression. "Everything changed. Penny is a sweet human being who can bring anybody down to Earth," he told the Daily Mail in 1998. Marshall told PEOPLE in 2012, "Artie's very bright. He'd read Proust, and I'd be reading The Happy Hooker." 07 of 08 Penny Marshall and Carrie Fisher's Friendship Penny Marshall and Carrie Fisher's Friendship. Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock During her time dating Garfunkel, Marshall met Carrie Fisher, who was dating Garfunkel's music partner Paul Simon. The two hit it off and began cohosting star-studded joint birthday parties every October. "The food was a big draw," Marshall wrote in her 2012 memoir My Mother Was Nuts. "Carrie's housekeeper, Gloria, and her mother's longtime housekeeper, Mary, made fried chicken, meatloaf, mac and cheese and other Southern staples. Barbra Streisand wanted to hire them for a party. Carrie wouldn't let her." 08 of 08 Penny Marshall Making 'Big' Penny Marshall and Tom Hanks on the set of Big. 20th Century Fox/Everett In 1988, Marshall became the first woman in Hollywood to direct a movie that grossed more than $100 million at the box office with Big. Of working with Tom Hanks, Marshall told PEOPLE in 2012, "Tom is a doll. We had no idea the movie would be such a success." She would go on to direct the smash A League of Their Own, along with Renaissance Man, The Preacher's Wife and Riding in Cars with Boys, among others. Her final acting gig came on a 2016 episode of The Odd Couple.