Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Penny Marshall: Actor and director died from heart failure, coroner reveals

Marshall died on 19 December of heart failure, cardiovascular disease and complications from diabetes, her death certificate indicates

Clémence Michallon
New York
Monday 31 December 2018 19:51 GMT
Comments
Penny Marshall on directing with Robert De Niro and Robbin Williams

Penny Marshall’s cause of death has officially been determined.

The pioneering director died of heart failure, cardiovascular disease, and complications from diabetes, TMZ reported on Monday, citing Marshall’s death certificate.

Marshall died on 17 December at the age of 75 at her home in the Hollywood Hills.

Cardiopulmonary failure is listed on the document as the primary cause of death, with cardiovascular disease and type one diabetes as underlying causes.

Marshall became the first woman to direct a film that made more than $100m at the US box office with Big, the fantasy comedy starring Tom Hanks.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

With A League of Their Own, a sports comedy-drama also starring Hanks, Marshall became the first woman to direct two films topping $100m at the US box office.

The Bronx native initially rose to fame in the Seventies as Laverne DeFazio in the sitcom Laverne & Shirley.

She is survived by her daughter Tracy Reiner, an actor, as well as her older sister and three grandchildren.

Agencies contributed to this report.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in