Movie Musings: Disney and More

Penny Marshall: “Made All Her Dreams Come True”…her way!

On December 17th, 2018, Penny Marshall passed away due to complications from diabetes. Marshall was a gifted comedic actress, as well as a talented—and groundbreaking director. She was the first female director ever to make movies that grossed over 100 million dollars. Throughout her career, she made audiences laugh in front of the camera and helped actors achieve their best from behind the camera. Initially, she gained fame as Laverne DeFazio on Happy Days (1974-1984) and later Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983), but soon achieved industry-wide respect for directing the films Big (1988) and A League of Their Own (1992) (the $100 million movies). In this blog, I’d like to tell you a little more about her life.

Carole Penny Marshall was born in the Bronx, New York on October 15th, 1943 to Anthony “Tony” and Marjorie Irene Masciarelli. Tony, who was a director of industrial films and later a producer, changed his and his entire family’s last name to Marshall before Penny was born. Marjorie, who was a tap dance teacher with her own school, named her daughter after her favorite actress: Carole Lombard, (“Penny” came from her other daughter, Ronny, who at the time was desperately saving pennies to buy a horse in the Bronx.) Little Carole took up tap dancing at age three in her mother’s school, discovering then wanted to be a performer. 

After graduating Walton High School, Marshall attended the University of New Mexico where she studied Math and Psychology. While there, she met and married Michael Henry, a football player for the university, and they were married for three years. They had one daughter together, Tracy. In the midst of her unfortunate divorce, Penny worked several jobs to support herself, including as a choreographer for the Albuquerque Civic Light Opera Association. (and at one point teaching tap dancing at her mother’s dance school in New York.) At age 24, she was invited by her brother, comedy writer-turned-director, Garry Marshall, to move to Los Angeles and try her luck at performing.

In 1968, Penny made her film debut in The Savage Seven and How Sweet It Is!, the latter of which was written by her brother. In 1971, she tied the knot with television star-turned-director Rob Reiner, and Rob adopted her daughter Tracy. Not long after, Garry became the executive producer of the television series The Odd Couple (1970-1975), based on the hit Broadway play and film of the same name. He asked his sister to play Myrna the Secretary on the show, and soon after her guest spot on “Happy Days,” (also produced by her brother) made her a household name. She was cast as Laverne DeFazio, along with Cindy Williams as Shirley Feeney, two dates for the show’s main characters, Fonzie and Richie. The pair was so well-received, Garry decided to give them their own show, “Laverne & Shirley.” Penny Marshall’s portrayal of Laverne DeFazio on “Laverne & Shirley,” earned her three Golden Globe nominations. 

While playing DeFazio, Penny developed an interest in directing having watched her brother direct episodes of “Odd Couple,” “Happy Days,” and “Laverne & Shirley.” She was fortunate enough to direct four episodes of “Laverne & Shirley,” with her brother as a mentor, and the experience made her eager to try her directing skills in movies. Although her marriage to Rob Reiner sadly ended in 1981, she made her directorial debut in 1986 with Jumpin’ Jack Flash, starring Whoopi Goldberg. (In the film she cast her brother, Garry, and daughter, Tracy). The film was negatively reviewed by critics, but it made a substantial amount of money. 

Soon she was given the script for “Big,” the story of a 12-year-old boy, who magically turns into a 30-year-old man. Co-written by Gary Ross and Steven Spielberg’s younger sister, Anne Spielberg, the script had been rejected by every major A-list Hollywood actor and director at the time. It gained attention when Robert De Niro expressed an interest in the main role of Josh Baskin. Marshall saw the potential of the story, but rejected De Niro’s salary demand (six million dollars for the part). Tom Hanks was then considered, but initially was not available due to scheduling conflicts with the films Dragnet (1987) and Punchline (1988). Hanks became available later, and accepted at a salary of two million dollars. He earned his first Best Actor Oscar Nomination thanks to Penny Marshall’s guidance. “Big,” also featured Jon Lovitz, whom had worked with Penny Marshall on “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and her daughter, Tracy.

The success of “Big,” led to Awakenings (1990) which starred Robert De Niro and Robin Williams. It received three Oscar Nominations including Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor for De Niro, and Best Motion Picture of the Year, but sadly no nominations for Penny Marshall as director. Marshall’s next film was A League of Their Own (1992). Casting for this film proved to be the ultimate task for Penny Marshall because she had to cast actors who not only had exceptional acting skills but could also play baseball. This film reunited her with Tom Hanks, Jon Lovitz, as well as family members Tracy and Garry in small roles It also ignited the film careers of Rosie O’Donnell and Megan Cavanagh, and it even featured her brother Garry in a small role. Although her career was primarily focused on directing at this point, Penny never completely faded away from the spotlight. After making “A League of the Their Own,” she and Garry made a cameo together as a cranky, aging husband and wife couple in Disney’s live-action cult classic, Hocus Pocus (1993).

Marshall’s next two films were Renaissance Man (1994) with Danny DeVito and The Preacher’s Wife (1996) with Denzel Washington—a remake of The Bishop’s Wife (1947) with Cary Grant. She also directed the pilot episode for a short-lived television spin-off of “A League of Their Own.” Her last theatrical film as director was Riding in Cars with Boys (2001) with Drew Barrymore. After that, she returned to television, directing episodes of ABC’s According to Jim (2001-2009), Dreamworks Television’s United States of Tara (2009-2011), and the made-for-television movie Women Without Men (2010). A lung cancer diagnosis was thankfully in remission in 2012. Following that recovery she published her memoir My Mother Was Nuts.

Penny Marshall told stories as a director that made us both laugh and cry, though she will forever be remembered as the wisecracking Laverne DeFazio. She might not have received all the accolades she deserved throughout her wonderful career, but she was a role model both on-screen and off-screen for women in male-dominated society. Everything she did, she did her way.

Merry Christmas!