Fluent in Italian, Penny Santon was often relied on to play traditional Italian-American wives and mothers in films and on television. She played Laverne DeFazio's grandmother on two episodes of "Laverne & Shirley" (both in 1978) and Captain Frank Furillo's mother on two episodes of "Hill Street Blues" (1985, 1986). Santon appeared onstage as well, perhaps most notably in the original Broadway production of
Tennessee Williams's comedy-drama "The Rose Tattoo", playing a similar role to those she would later perform on television.
