Penny Marshall

Marshall in 2005, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Carole Penny Marshall

Date of Birth: October 15, 1943

Place of Birth: The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: December 17, 2018

Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*father – Italian
*maternal grandfather – English, Scottish, Irish
*maternal grandmother – German

Penny Marshall was an American actress, director, and producer. She directed the films Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Big, Awakenings, A League of Their Own, Renaissance Man, The Preacher’s Wife, and Riding in Cars with Boys. Big was the first film directed by a woman to gross in excess of $100 million at the U.S. box office. She starred on the show Laverne & Shirley; and also directed episodes of said show, as well as of According to Jim and United States of Tara.

Penny was the daughter of Marjorie Evelyn (Ward), who ran the Marjorie Marshall Dance School, and Anthony “Tony” Masciarelli/Marshall, a director of industrial films, and producer. Her father’s family was from San Martino sulla Marrucina, Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy; and Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Her mother had English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry on one side, and German ancestry on the other.

She was the sister of actor, director, writer, and producer Garry Marshall and television producer Ronny Marshall Hallin. Penny had a daughter, actress Tracy Reiner, with her former husband, football player Michael Henry; Tracy was adopted by Penny’s former husband, director and actor Rob Reiner.

Penny’s paternal grandfather was Giuseppe “Joseph” Masciarelli (the son of Antonio Masciarelli and Maria Antolino). Antonio was the son of Donato Masciarelli and Rosa Pulcinella.

Penny’s paternal grandmother was Anna DeSantis (the daughter of Pietro DeSantis and Anna Corretto/Pascucci/Pereucci). Penny’s grandmother Anna was born in Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Pietro was born in Mozzagrogna, Abruzzo, the son of Camillo DeSantis and Angela Maria Di Bucchianicio.

Penny’s maternal grandfather was William H. Ward (the son of Albert Ward and Christine O’Connell). William was born in New York. Christine was born in Scotland, the daughter of Francis O’Connell and Agnes Weir.

Penny’s maternal grandmother was Margie Mueller/Muller/Miller (the daughter of Georg/George Mueller/Muller/Miller and Dorothea Sherbenberger). Margie was born in New York, to German parents. Georg was the son of William Mueller/Muller/Miller and Elisabeth.

Sources: Genealogy of Penny Marshall – http://www.geni.com

Penny’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org