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Bronx-Born Actress, Director Penny Marshall Dead At 75, Publicist Says

LOS ANGELES (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Actress and director Penny Marshall has died at the age of 75, publicist Michelle Bega confirmed on Tuesday.

The Bronx-born filmmaker passed away peacefully at her home in the Hollywood Hills from complications due to diabetes on Monday, Bega said.

PHOTOS: A Look Back On The Life & Legacy Of Penny Marshall

As an actress, Marshall rose to fame with her work opposite Cindy Williams on the 70s and 80s sitcom "Laverne & Shirley." She also found great success behind the camera, becoming the first female to direct a $100 million film with 1988's "Big," and then again with 1992's "A League of Their Own," both starring Tom Hanks.

"Goodbye, Penny," Hanks wrote on Twitter. "Man, did we laugh a lot! Wish we still could."

Major League Baseball tweeted: "We join the baseball community in mourning the passing of Penny Marshall..."

She worked with Hollywood titans including Geena Davis, Robert De Niro, Whoopi Goldberg, Madonna, Denzel Washington, Rosie O'Donnell and the late Whitney Houston and Robin Williams.

Davis said she was "terribly sad to hear the news about Penny passing," in a statement posted to the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media's Twitter handle.

Penny brought so much joy to so many and will be sorely missed," the statement continued.

O'Donnell, who co-starred with Davis in "A League of Their Own" and appeared in an iconic 1990s Kmart commercial with Marshall, tweeted that she was "simply heartbroken."

Actor Danny DeVito called Marshall "a sweet woman" who "had a heart of gold."

William Shatner took to Twitter, calling Marshall "a true treasure."

Actor and comedian Albert Brooks called Marshall's death "a big loss."

Billy Crystal remembered Marshall as "a terrific director and a dear friend."

Marshall, born Carole, is survived by her older sister Ronny, daughter Tracy Reiner, and three grandchildren Spencer, Bella and Viva. She was married to actor-director Rob Reiner from 1971 to 1981.

Rob tweeted he was "So sad about Penny" shortly after the news broke. The pair's daughter, Tracy, is also an actress; one of her first roles was a brief appearance in her mother's "Jumpin' Jack Flash."

Marshall was previously married to Michael Henry for two years in the 1960s.

"Our family is heartbroken over the passing of Penny Marshall," her family said in a statement released by Marshall's publicist.

After moving out west, Marshall became a dedicated Los Angeles Lakers fan and a courtside regular. Her brother Garry Marshall, who died in 2016, was also one of Hollywood's top comedy directors.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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