"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.

Penny Marshall as Laverne DeFazio

Penny's 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"