First published 2012
Penny Marshall opens her story in 1955 on The Jackie Gleason Show stage, then guides readers through her unexpected journey to Hollywood fame. She describes her breakout performance on The Odd Couple and her starring years on Laverne & Shirley alongside Cindy Williams. Marshall shares wild adventures with John Belushi and cross-Europe motorcycle trips with Art Garfunkel. She chronicles two marriages, including her union with Rob Reiner, and her enduring friendship with Carrie Fisher. The memoir follows her transition behind the camera, directing stars like Tom Hanks, Mark Wahlberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert De Niro, and Whitney Houston in films including Big and A League of Their Own. Marshall reveals how her trailblazing directing career happened by chance rather than design. Throughout her rise from Bronx childhood to Hollywood success, she followed four simple principles: try hard, help your friends, don't get too crazy, and have fun. This candid account shows how Marshall navigated show business while staying true to herself.
Genres: autobiography, biography-memoir, comedy
Vibes: candid, emotional, intimate
Tropes: celebrity, memoir, rags-to-riches
Setting: Bronx, Europe, Hollywood
Period: 1955, 20th Century
326 pages · Hardcover · New Harvest