Penny Marshall Battling Obesity, Almost Unrecognizable

#1 Everybody Loved Laverne DeFazio

Funny lady and outspoken activist Penny Marshall first gained fame as the lovable Laverne in the 70s classic "Laverne and Shirley" and then segued into a successful career behind the camera, directing blockbuster films like "Big" and "A League of their Own."

#2 Her Brother Is Garry Marshall

Her brother is television and film producer, writer, and director Garry Marhall who is best known for his movies, "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein," and his many hit TV series including "Happy Days," "The Odd Couple," and "Laverne & Shirley".

#3 She Appeared On The Odd Couple In Grand Fashion

Garry Marshall is also responsible for bringing us "The Odd Couple" and CBS recently paid tribute to the original creator with a special episode of their reboot of the show which stars Matthew Perry. In the tribute, they had cast members from all of Marshalls past shows in cameo appearances. That included members from "Mork & Mindy," "Happy Days,"and of course, "Laverne & Shirley". That included Garry's sister Penny looking shockingly overweight!

#4 Her Weight Gain Shocked Fans

Shocked fans didn't find it very funny and rushed to social media to exclaim that Penny was barely recognizable. Other actors making guest appearances, like her former costar Cindy Williams, and Marion Ross from "Happy Days", looked happy and healthy. Penny, however, looked like she was in crisis mode.

#5 Her Weight Has Been Rising For At Least 3 Years

Penny has been gaining weight steadily since 2014 when she tipped the scales at a crushing 270 pounds. Seen at a 2015 Los Angeles event, bigger than ever, she was said to be "sporting double chins and a bulging body," and was even still smoking cigarettes after her battle with lung cancer.

#6 She Was Diagnosed With A Tumor

In 2009, at the age of 66, she was diagnosed with a tumor on her liver and secretly underwent surgery to have it removed. Penny received the shocking diagnosis after suddenly falling ill following a recent plane flight, at the time when her weight was also beginning to increase. Doctors told her then to start losing and exercise, but she didn't listen.

#7 Illnesses Made Her Become Inactive

A Bronx native and lifelong Yankees fan, Penny had flown from Los Angeles to New York to see her favorite team in the playoffs and hopefully in the World Series.

"After the flight, Penny felt so sick that she needed to see a doctor," a friend reported. She thought she had the flu but was shocked to learn she had a tumor on both her liver and her brain. She said that her health made her lazy and unable to get out of bed for long periods of time.

#8 She Initially Blamed Chemotherapy For Weight Gain

Later that year she discovered that she had lung cancer had gone into remission by 2011 after undergoing chemo and radiation. She made several appearances, including a TVLand reunion with Cindy Williams. She was declared cancer-free by her doctors in 2013, but claimed the chemo caused her to pack on over 70 pounds.

#9 Doctors Told Her To Plan Her Own Funeral

Doctors recently told her to either lose the weight fast or start planning for her own funeral. She has been diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes because of her weight. But now fans are worried that the star has a real death wish. "She's only 73 years old," warned one troubled viewer. "Garry was 81 when he died from complications of a stroke, and he was in great shape!" One fan wrote on Twitter after the Odd Couple show, "Oh, my God! She's as big as a house. Penny really needs to take this seriously, because her heart isn't going to be able to take this much longer."

#10 Schlemeel, Schlemazel, Penny Marshall Is A Lesbian

Sources claim her weight gain is due to stress. The comedian and director has been through a lot in the last five years with several severe illnesses, family deaths, financial troubles, and then being outed by The Enquirer in 2014 after being romantically linked to actress Carrie Fisher, though both claim they are only close friends. Fisher has been at Pennys side through all of her recent issues and both of the aging ladies are overweight.