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Penny Marshall has passed away at the age of 75.
E! News has learned that the Laverne & Shirley star died “peacefully” on Monday night, Dec. 17, due to complications from diabetes. “Our family is heartbroken over the passing of Penny Marshall,” a spokesperson for the actress and director’s family told E! News in a statement.
After news of her death broke on Tuesday, many of Marshall’s friends and fans began to mourn her death. Marshall’s ex-husband, actor and director Rob Reiner, took to Twitter to react to the heartbreaking news.
“So sad about Penny,” Reiner, who was married to Marshall for 10 years from 1971 to 1981, tweeted.
“I loved Penny. I grew up with her,” Reiner went on to tell his social media followers. “She was born with a great gift. She was born with a funnybone and the instinct of how to use it. I was very lucky to have lived with her and her funnybone. I will miss her.”
“simply heartbroken #ripPENNY,” Rosie O’Donnell tweeted Tuesday along with a 1996 Kmart TV Commercial she did with her friend.
O’Donnell also tells E! News in a statement, “I am absolutely heartbroken.”
“I was invited by Penny Marshall to her house one afternoon to talk about a film she was doing. She was so kind to me,” actor Vincent D’Onofrio tweeted Tuesday. “She was so smart and funny. I will never forget that afternoon. My heart goes out to her family and friends.”
“Sad to hear of Penny Marshall’s passing,” Billy Crystal tweeted. “a great comedienne a terrific director and a dear friend.”
“Yesterday I held a Golden Gloves award from the 1930’s, given to me by Penny Marshall. Hadn’t seen it in years. Then today’s news…” Russell Crowe tweeted. “Penny told me the story of Jim Braddock, which became the movie Cinderella Man. She was kind, she was crazy,so talented and she loved movies. RIP”
Our thoughts are with Marshall’s family during this difficult time.