Penny Marshall: Still Doing It Her Way
October 2012
It's kind of funny when you think about it. The iconic comedienne known for her monotone, mumbled speech is invited to publicly share her life stories to a theater packed with fans intent on indulging in every syllable.
One thing is clear the second she opens her mouth and the quick wit flies past. Penny Marshall's not just kind of funny, she's got the definition in her DNA.
With a mission to "bring great speakers to Los Angeles," Live Talks Los Angeles certainly succeeded with their Oct. 3rd program to promote Marshall's New York Times best-selling memoir, My Mother Was Nuts. An inspired choice was having elder brother and equally heralded show biz legend, Garry Marshall, lead the conversation.
Garry Marshall. Penny Marshall. Tawking. In person. I like to imagine the rest of Hollywood was figuratively biting their palms for missing out on a night like this.
One thing is clear the second she opens her mouth and the quick wit flies past. Penny Marshall's not just kind of funny, she's got the definition in her DNA.
With a mission to "bring great speakers to Los Angeles," Live Talks Los Angeles certainly succeeded with their Oct. 3rd program to promote Marshall's New York Times best-selling memoir, My Mother Was Nuts. An inspired choice was having elder brother and equally heralded show biz legend, Garry Marshall, lead the conversation.
Garry Marshall. Penny Marshall. Tawking. In person. I like to imagine the rest of Hollywood was figuratively biting their palms for missing out on a night like this.
Garry Marshall
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As witnessed on stage, the siblings share an evident complementary and loving relationship. Garry began the evening saying, "Two of my most exciting words in show business - Penny Marshall," as he proudly introduced the woman of the hour.
"I wouldn't have a career if I didn't have a brother like him," Penny said matter-of-factly, as it was Garry who developed the role of "Laverne DeFazio" for Penny on "Happy Days" alongside Cindy Williams' "Shirley Feeney." The characters transitioned from being "the girls who put out," as Penny described, to "virgins" when they spun-off into "Laverne & Shirley," which aired from 1976-1983. "We used to say they were as pure as snow, but they drifted," Garry quipped, adding that the show debuted at #1 in the ratings and was the only program at the time to feature women in blue-collar lifestyles. "Cindy taught me how to laugh [in a scene]....you breathe out," Penny said, which instantly brings to mind Williams' own signature "Shirley" quirks. |
To the audiences' delight, Penny shared an anecdote about the origin of one of "Laverne & Shirley"'s most popular catchphrases. "We couldn't say, 'Did you do it?' We couldn't say 'it,'" she said of the censorship restrictions on sexual references during "family hour" programming. Hence, "Vo-de-o-do-do" came to exist, and the rest is euphemism history.
The conversation moved through Penny's upbringing, early career, and romantic life, which included her marriage to Rob Reiner and relationship with Art Garfunkel. "My mother said, 'Don't marry dull,'" and Penny followed her advice.
She described Garfunkel as "terrific," "eccentric," and the man who taught her how to travel, as they toured the world together along with Paul Simon and his significant other at the time, Carrie Fisher, whom introduced Penny and Art.
The conversation moved through Penny's upbringing, early career, and romantic life, which included her marriage to Rob Reiner and relationship with Art Garfunkel. "My mother said, 'Don't marry dull,'" and Penny followed her advice.
She described Garfunkel as "terrific," "eccentric," and the man who taught her how to travel, as they toured the world together along with Paul Simon and his significant other at the time, Carrie Fisher, whom introduced Penny and Art.
Garry and Penny Marshall in conversation
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"One of the most thrilling nights in my life was when [Simon & Garfunkel] sang in the apartment," Penny said of their time together.
Acting successes led to feature directing, beginning with 1986's Jumpin' Jack Flash. Seeking advice on finding her place in the industry, Penny recalled her brother's charming remark, "It's a strange business. They pay you to learn." A serendipitous feat if there ever was one, Marshall continued her education and hit it big with Big, becoming the first female director to gross over $100 million at the box office. What may seem like a shocking fact, considering this was only 24 years ago in 1988, Penny modestly conceded, "There were women directors before me," and by today's standards, that number isn't so astounding to see anymore. |
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Penny, nevertheless, changed the game, and A League of Their Own proved she had the power to keep hitting 'em out of the park. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the beloved film about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL), a subject Penny stated was "worth knowing about."
Garry shifted the discussion to bring attention to Penny's 2009 simultaneous diagnoses of a brain tumor and lung cancer, battles which motivated writing the memoir in order to share the truth and dispel any incorrect gossip. Fortunately, she's recovered and spends much of her time devoted to post-9/11 charitable efforts and working with BIANYS, the Brain Injury Association of New York State. "To stay alive, you gotta keep functioning....whatever it is you want to do," the 68-year-old said. Regarding future projects, Penny has a piqued interest in some scripts but finds herself a little out of place among the current popular movie trends of vampires and superheroes. "I tell a story," she said, and I, for one, find a Penny Marshall story worth the wait. As for the mother she calls "nuts," Marshall served up the tale of when sister Ronny, who was in attendance, intended to move to Los Angeles and join her siblings. In response to Ronny, their mother gave simple warning: "Don't go see Penny. She knows Charles Manson." |
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Penny signing copies of her memoir
A Penny for Her Thoughts:
*On being born:
"I was not a plan."
*On speaking more directly into her lapel microphone:
"Oh, I gotta talk into this breast!"
*On her schooling and answering a typical college exam question:
"[They'd ask] 'Why did the Roman Empire fall?' I don't know, 'Carelessness?'"
*On pet peeves:
"I didn't like anyone who was stupid or inept....Stupid, you can't fix."
*On why she's no Sally Field:
"I'm not a perky person."
*On casting A League of Their Own:
"I wouldn't read ya if you couldn't play [baseball]."
*Garry on Penny's hidden talents:
"Penny is a whiz at puzzles and games."
*On portraying "Laverne" on multiple series:
"They always said, 'Play yourself!' Like I had a range!"
*On longevity:
"Be in the right place at the right time. Know the right people."
Links: Live Talks Los Angeles | Facebook | Twitter
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