Cindy Williams passes away after brief illness at 75 years of age

31 Jan 2023
Cindy Williams

Cindy Williams, who portrayed the titular character Shirley Feeney in iconic 1970s sitcom Laverne & Shirley, has died aged 75.

The talented actress - who starred alongside Penny Marshall on all eight seasons of the legendary ABC series - passed away after a brief illness, her family confirmed.

Her children Zak and Emily Hudson released a statement released through family spokeswoman Liza Cranis.

'The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed,' the statement began. 

'Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved,' the statement concluded.

Illness: The actress (above in 2015) - best known for her role as Shirley Feeney on the hit sitcom Laverne & Shirley - passed away at 75 years of age after a brief illness, according to AP 

TV icon: Cindy Williams (right) played Shirley Feeney alongside Penny Marshall (left), as Laverne De Fazio in the hit sitcom Laverne & Shirley. They are seen here in a promotional image from the show circa 1980 

Tributes quickly flooded in for Williams from fellow actors and celebrities.

Laverne and Shirley co-star Michael McKean recounted a touching tale on Twitter from their early years of working together.

'Backstage, Season 1: I'm offstage waiting for a cue. The script's been a tough one, so we're giving it 110% and the audience is having a great time. Cindy scoots by me to make her entrance and with a glorious grin, says: ''Show's cookin'!'',' he wrote.

'Amen. Thank you, Cindy.' 

Acclaimed director Ron Howard said: '#CindyWilliams Her unpretentious intelligence, talent, wit & humanity impacted every character she created & person she worked with.

'We were paired as actors on 6 different projects. #AmericanGraffiti a couple of dramas & then #HappyDays & #laverneandshirley Lucky me. RIP, Cindy.' 

Henry Winkler, who met Williams while playing Fonzie on Happy Days, said in a statement: 'Cindy has been my friend and professional colleague since I met her on the set of Happy Days in 1975. Not once have I ever been in her presence when she wasn't gracious, thoughtful and kind. Cindy's talent was limitless. There was not a genre she could not conquer. I am so glad I knew her.'

And actor Jon Donahue wrote: 'Sad to learn that #CindyWilliams has died. I grew up watching her, alongside the late, great Penny Marshall, on their classic sitcom ''Laverne & Shirley''... & will always love her work in ''The Conversation'' and ''American Graffiti''. May She Rest In Peace.' 

Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1947 and spent her childhood writing and performing at Birmingham High School, where she was classmates with Sally Field and Michael Ovitz.

She got her start acting in the early 1970s with guest-starring spots in TV shows like Barefoot in the Park and Room 222 before he was cast by legendary director George Cukor in 1972's Travels With My Aunt.

She then landed the role of Laurie, the girlfriend of Ron Howard's Steve, in George Lucas' American Graffiti, which earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Lucas had considered Williams for the role of Princess Leia Organa, though it ultimately went to Carrie Fisher. 

Williams then stared in Best Picture nominee The Conversation for director Francis Ford Coppola in 1974.

Double date: She first met Penny Marshall (both seen in a 1979 image from Laverne & Shirley) on a double date before they were both hired by Coppola's American Zoetrope to write a TV spoof for the American Bicentennial

Laverne and Shirley: Marshall's brother Garry Marshall brought her on for an appearance on his hit TV series Happy Days before Williams and Marshall were cast as Shirley Feeney and Laverne DeFazio on the hit series Laverne & Shirley (seen above in 1977)

She first met Penny Marshall on a double date before they were both hired by Coppola's American Zoetrope to write a TV spoof for the American Bicentennial.

Marshall's brother Garry Marshall brought Marshall and Williams on for an appearance on his hit TV series Happy Days, as Shirley Feeney and Laverne DeFazio, two dates for Fonzie (Henry Winkler). 

Their appearance was so popular they created the spin-off series Laverne & Shirley - created by Lowell Ganz, Garry Marshall and Mark Rothman - followed the title characters' misadventures as single ladies throughout the 1950s and 1960s. 

'They were beloved characters,' Williams told The Associated Press in 2002.

DeFazio was quick-tempered and defensive; Feeney was naive and trusting. The actors drew upon their own lives for plot inspiration.

'We'd make up a list at the start of each season of what talents we had,' Marshall told the AP in 2002. 'Cindy could touch her tongue to her nose and we used it in the show. I did tap dance.'

Origins: Marshall's brother Garry Marshall brought Marshall and Williams on for an appearance on his hit TV series Happy Days, as Shirley Feeney and Laverne DeFazio, two dates for Fonzie (Henry Winkler) in a 1975 episode seen above

Popular: Their appearance (seen above circa 1975) was so popular they created the spin-off series Laverne & Shirley - created by Lowell Ganz, Garry Marshall and Mark Rothman - followed the title characters' misadventures as single ladies throughout the 1950s and 1960s

Williams in 2013 said that she and Marshall had 'very different personalities' but tales of the two clashing during the making of the show were 'a bit overblown.'

The series was the rare network hit about working-class characters, with its self-empowering opening song: 'Give us any chance, we'll take it, read us any rule, we'll break it.'

That opening would become as popular as the show itself. Williams' and Marshall's chant of 'schlemiel, schlimazel' as they skipped along together became a cultural phenomenon and oft-invoked piece of nostalgia.

As ratings dropped in the sixth season, the characters moved from Milwaukee to Burbank, California, trading their brewery jobs for work at a department store.

In 1982, Williams became pregnant and wanted her working hours curtailed. When her demands weren't met, she walked off the set, and filed a lawsuit against its production company. 

Shirley and the Fonz: Cindy Williams with Henry Winkler in the 1975 episode of Happy Days that launched the spin-off Laverne & Shirley

Eight seasons: The series ran for eight seasons, though Williams (seen with Marshall at the Emmys in 1979) left the show after just the second episode of the final season after she became pregnant

Reunited: She continued to work regularly throughout the years, even reuniting with Marshall (both seen above at a 2002 Los Angeles Lakers game before Marshall passed in 2018) in a 2013 episode of Sam & Cat and she published her memoir Shirley, I Jest! (co-written with Dave Smitherman) in 2015

The series ran for eight seasons, though Williams left the show after just the second episode of the final season after she became pregnant.

Williams would go on to star in a number of TV movies throughout the 1980s before returning to television in the 1990s with Normal Life and Getting By.

She continued to work regularly throughout the years, even reuniting with Marshall (who passed away in 2018) in a 2013 Laverne & Shirley tribute episode of Sam & Cat and she published her memoir Shirley, I Jest! (co-written with Dave Smitherman) in 2015. 

In the past three decades Williams made guest appearances on dozens of TV series including 7th Heaven, 8 Simple Rules and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.

Last year, Williams appeared in a one-woman stage show full of stories from her career, Me, Myself and Shirley, at a theatre in Palm Springs, California, near her home in Desert Hot Springs.

Williams was married to singer Bill Hudson of musical group the Hudson Brothers from 1982 until 2000, and they shared two children, Zak and Emily Hudson.

He was previously married to Goldie Hawn and is also the father of actor Kate Hudson.

Kids: Williams was married to singer Bill Hudson of musical group the Hudson Brothers from 1982 until 2000, and they shared two children, Zak and Emily Hudson (seen above in 2004)

Cindy Williams and Bill Hudson: He was previously married to Goldie Hawn and is also the father of actor Kate Hudson

Cindy Williams's Laverne & Shirley co-star Michael McKean leads celebrities paying tribute

Cindy Williams  - who portrayed the titular character Shirley Feeney in iconic 1970s sitcom Laverne & Shirley - has died aged 75.

The talented actress - who starred alongside Penny Marshall on all eight seasons of the legendary ABC series - passed away after a brief illness, according to AP.

A number of fellow actors, celebrities and well wishers paid tribute to Williams on social media following the news of her passing.

Passed: Cindy Williams - who portrayed the titular character Shirley Feeney in iconic 1970s sitcom Laverne & Shirley - has died aged 75

One of the tributes came from her Laverne & Shirley co-star Michael McKean, whose career started on the hit series as Lenny Kosnowski, a character he created at Carnegie Mellon with David Lander, who played Andrew 'Squiggy' Squiggman.

'Backstage, Season 1: I'm offstage waiting for a cue. The script's been a tough one, so we're giving it 110% and the audience is having a great time,' McKean began. 

'Cindy scoots by me to make her entrance and with a glorious grin, says: "Show's cookin'!". Amen. Thank you, Cindy,' he concluded.

Tribute: One of the tributes came from her Laverne & Shirley co-star Michael McKean, whose career started on the hit series as Lenny Kosnowski, a character he created at Carnegie Mellon with David Lander, who played Andrew 'Squiggy' Squiggman

Tribute: 'Backstage, Season 1: I'm offstage waiting for a cue. The script's been a tough one, so we're giving it 110% and the audience is having a great time,' McKean began

Actress Yvette Nicole Brown (Community) added, 'I hate this so much. I just hate it. Oh how I loved Cindy Williams.'

'When I was blessed to meet her on the set of @TheOddCoupleCBS she was as lovely as I always imagined she'd be,' she added, with the hashtag #Dammit 

Ming-Na Wen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) added, 'Loved #LavernandShirley! Knew that opening so well. RIP #cindywilliams Condolences to her loved ones.'

YNB: Actress Yvette Nicole Brown (Community) added, 'I hate this so much. I just hate it. Oh how I loved Cindy Williams'

Ming-Na: Ming-Na Wen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) added, 'Loved #LavernandShirley! Knew that opening so well. RIP #cindywilliams Condolences to her loved ones'

Publicist Danny Deraney shared a video of the iconic Laverne & Shirley theme song, adding, 'Sad to hear the passing of Cindy Williams. If there is an afterlife, may you and Penny be pouring a Shotz beer and Milk and Pepsi with Garry, David, Eddie and Phil.'

Rosario Dawson quote-retweeted Deraney's tweet, adding, 'Singing this song with so much gratitude for both you ladies. Absolute gems. United again... Rest in paradise Cindy Williams.'

Actress Joely Fisher shared Wes Reynolds' tweet, adding, 'Oh Shirl' with the hashtags #RIPCindyWilliams and #RIPLegend 

Danny: Publicist Danny Deraney shared a video of the iconic Laverne & Shirley theme song, adding, 'Sad to hear the passing of Cindy Williams. If there is an afterlife, may you and Penny be pouring a Shotz beer and Milk and Pepsi with Garry, David, Eddie and Phil'

Paradise: Rosario Dawson quote-retweeted Deraney's tweet, adding, 'Singing this song with so much gratitude for both you ladies. Absolute gems. United again... Rest in paradise Cindy Williams'

Joely: Actress Joely Fisher shared Wes Reynolds' tweet, adding, 'Oh Shirl' with the hashtags #RIPCindyWilliams

Cindy's American Graffiti co-star Ron Howard also released a statement to Entertainment Tonight about her passing.

'It was a shocker to hear of Cindy’s passing. I remember her life spark and her energy. I saw her last year in Palm Springs at an event and still saw that sparkle in her eyes. It’s so hard to imagine that she’s gone,' he added.

He also took to Twitter on Monday, adding, '#CindyWilliams Her unpretentious intelligence, talent, wit & humanity impacted every character she created & person she worked with. We were paired as actors on 6 different projects. #AmericanGraffiti a couple of dramas & then #HappyDays & #laverneandshirley Lucky me. RIP, Cindy.'

Co-stars: Cindy's American Graffiti co-star Ron Howard also released a statement to Entertainment Tonight about her passing

Twitter: He also took to Twitter on Monday, adding, '#CindyWilliams Her unpretentious intelligence, talent, wit & humanity impacted every character she created & person she worked with. We were paired as actors on 6 different projects. #AmericanGraffiti a couple of dramas & then #HappyDays & #laverneandshirley Lucky me. RIP, Cindy.

Scene: Howard also responded to a scene from American Graffiti that a fan shared, adding, 'Cindy was so nuanced & great in this scene. It was the first one we shot in the film.'

Brad's tribute: Actor Brad Everett Young pays tribute to Cindy Williams with a tweet

SAG-AFTRA: Actors union SAG-AFTRA honored Cindy Williams after her passing on Monday

Afterlife: Danny Deraney shares how he hopes Cindy Williams is greeted in the afterlife by her co-star Penny Marshall

National Comedy Center: The National Comedy Center offers its condolences to Cindy Williams' family and friends

Author: Author John Jackson Miller reveals meeting Cindy Williams over a year ago before her passing on Monday

Chelar: Actress Chelar Vale honors Cindy Williams in a heartfelt tweet

Jackie: Actress Jackie Hoffman honors the late great Cindy Williams

Josh: Actor Josh Gad shared a broken heart emoji in tribute to Cindy Williams

Kerry: Actress Kerry O'Malley revealed she 'just worked' with Cindy Williams and she was 'heartbroken by this news.'

Julie: Julie Brown tweeted, 'I'm just heartbroken, I heard #CindyWilliams passed away. I worked with her on Laverne and Shirley and Stripmall and she was so wonderful and funny and sweet and self-deprecating. I don't know what to say'

Dante: Comedian Dante added, 'This one hurts. I was lucky enough to be in a movie with her and she also signed my diary on an airplane one time and wrote a really funny story in it. Heartbreaking. What a soul. Rest in peace.'

Jason: Actor Jason Alexander tweeted, 'I did not know Cindy Williams but boy did I adore her work, especially the wacky joyful funny pleasure of watching her Laverne and Shirley days. I pray she had a good life and send my sympathy to those who knew and loved her'

Henry: Happy Days star Henry Winkler added, 'What a fine and talented human being! RIP'

Sad: Henry Winkler added in another tweet that he was 'sad' after Williams' passing

Condolences: Henry Winkler also quote-retweeted Michael McKean's tweet, adding, 'My condolences for the loss of your incredible friend.'

Tim: Tim Tyrrell tweeted the lyrics to the Laverne and Shirley theme song in tribute to Cindy Williams

Actress Daphne Zuniga paid her respects in an Instagram post, writing 'Rest in eternal peace beautiful'.

Film producer Larry Karaszewski, 61, shared a photo of him and Cindy writing, 'So sorry to hear that Cindy Williams has passed away. Such a sweet person.'

In another tribute he was seen giving her a kiss on the cheek. 

'So sad': Actress Daphne Zuniga paid her respects in an Instagram post, writing 'Rest in eternal peace beautiful'

'Sweet person': Film producer Larry Karaszewski, 61, shared a photo of him and Cindy writing, 'So sorry to hear that Cindy Williams has passed away. Such a sweet person'

Remembering: In another tribute he was seen giving her a kiss on the cheek 

Singer Michael McDonald, 70, wrote, 'Cindy was one of the first prominent industry people to encourage me at the beginning of my career at the Grondlings Theatre'.

Lydia Cornell, 69, shared a photo of Cindy writing, 'You are loved and our hearts are breaking'.

Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter, 71, wrote: 'She never heard the word impossible'.

'Our hearts are breaking': Lydia Cornell, 69, shared a photo of Cindy writing, 'You are loved and our hearts are breaking'

Encouraging: Singer Michael McDonald, 70, wrote, 'Cindy was one of the first prominent industry people to encourage me at the beginning of my career at the Grondlings Theatre'

Inspiring: Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter, 71, wrote: 'She never heard the word impossible'

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