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

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Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

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.

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.