LOS ANGELES - Fans and friends are mourning the loss of funny lady and Bronx native Penny Marshall.

Marshall shot to fame as Laverne DeFazio on the hit sitcom "Laverne and Shirley", which was co-created by her brother Garry and ran from 1976 to 1983.

Before that she had a recurring role on "The Odd Couple."

She later moved into directing and hit it "Big" with Tom Hanks in 1988.

The comedy was the first movie directed by a woman to gross more than $100 million.

Marshall's other hits included "A League of Their Own" and "Awakenings," which was nominated for Best Picture.

Marshall's last movie was "Riding in Cars With Boys" in 2001, but she directed some television episodes after that.

Tom Hanks and Marshall's ex-husband, Rob Reiner, were among those who tweeted tributes to Marshall.

 

 

Penny Marshall died in Los Angeles of complications related to diabetes.

She was 75 years old.