“Penny” Marshall - Childhood nickname given to actress/director Penny Marshall because she once saved pennies to buy a horse. Penny Marshall is best known for her role in the sitcom LAVERNE & SHIRLEY/ABC/1976-83. Her real last name was Masciarelli. It was changed by her father to anglicize the family name. Her character Laverne suffered from claustrophobia, loved to mix milk and Pepsi for a drink and enjoyed sandwiches made of peanut butter and sauerkraut on raisin bread. In high school Laverne's nickname was "Dufus' DeFazio." See also - "Muffin"