Cindy Williams

Cindy Williams, the dynamic actor known best for playing the bubbly Shirley Feeney on the beloved sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," has died after a short illness ...

Last year she toured nationally in her one-woman show, "Me, Myself and Shirley," where she shared stories from throughout her career. The hit "Laverne & Shirley" followed, earning six Golden Globe nominations, including two for best comedy series and one for Williams in the best actress in a comedy category. Her career began to take shape when she first appeared as Shirley Feeney on "Happy Days" in 1975.

American actress Cindy Williams has died at the age of 75. Williams was best known for her role as Shirley Feeney, which she portrayed in American sitcoms ...

She died from a brief illness, according to a statement from her children. Fans will best know Williams for her role as Shirley Feeney - a character she played in five episodes of Happy Days and more notably for 159 episodes on Laverne & Shirley. Her first major breakthrough in film came in George Lucas’s 1973 comedy drama American Graffiti. She attended Los Angeles City College with a theatre major. Williams died peacefully in hospital last week after a brief illness, according to a statement from her children Emily and Zak Hudson. Williams was best known for her role as Shirley Feeney, which she portrayed in American sitcoms Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley during the 1970s.

Williams died at age 75 after a brief illness, her children, Zak and Emily Hudson, said in a statement released through family spokeswoman Liza Cranis. "The ...

She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.” Her part in Lucas' American Graffiti would become a defining role. Her family moved to Dallas soon after she was born, but returned to Los Angeles, where she would take up acting while attending Birmingham High School and a major in theater arts at LA City College.

Cindy Williams, the actor best known for her work on Laverne & Shirley, has passed away aged 75.

Cindy Williams, the actress best known for her role on the 1970s slapstick sitcom “Laverne & Shirley,” died on Wednesday in Los Angeles. She was 75.

Ms. Williams and Ms. In 2013, Ms. In reality, the actress had hoped to work with the show to hide and accommodate her pregnancy. Laverne and Shirley’s high jinks were reminiscent of Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” but for this classic comedy duo, Shirley was (usually) the calmer and dreamier of the pair. Williams went on to perform in commercials for deodorant and [sunglasses](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92FMBVKqc7Y), some of which never aired, she said [in an interview](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/cindy-williams?clip=84310#interview-clips) with the Television Academy. “That was the sadness of those characters to me,” Ms. 22, 1947, Cynthia Jane Williams became interested in acting during high school and attended Los Angeles City College, where she majored in theater arts, according to biographies provided by Ms. “I always saw her as having this fear,” she added, noting that while Shirley’s desires were never explicitly played out onscreen, both Laverne and Shirley strove for the comforts of modern life. Williams played Shirley Feeney, an upbeat and demure complement to Ms. Williams debuted in the role that would most define her career, she was cast in the 1973 George Lucas film “American Graffiti.” For her portrayal of Laurie in the film, she earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress from the British Academy Film Awards. [Penny Marshall](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/obituaries/penny-marshall-dead.html?searchResultPosition=6), Ms.

Williams best known for playing Shirley on the popular “Happy Days” spinoff that ran from 1976 to 1983.

“Happy Days,” starring her “American Graffiti” co-star Ron Howard, would premiere the following year. Her part in Lucas’ “American Graffiti” would become a defining role. He was previously married to Goldie Hawn and is also the father of actor Kate Hudson. Williams was married to singer Bill Hudson of musical group the Hudson Brothers from 1982 until 2000. “Cindy could touch her tongue to her nose and we used it in the show. Her family moved to Dallas soon after she was born, but returned to Los Angeles, where she would take up acting while attending Birmingham High School and a major in theater arts at LA City College. “Cindy scoots by me to make her entrance and with a glorious grin, says: ‘Show’s cookin’!’ Amen. Williams’ and Marshall’s chant of “schlemiel, schlimazel” as they skipped along together became a cultural phenomenon and oft-invoked piece of nostalgia. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.” In 1982, Williams became pregnant and wanted her working hours curtailed. “Singing this song with so much gratitude for both of you ladies,” Dawson tweeted. “Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege.

Cindy Williams' children said the Californian-born actress died following a short illness.

Her career began to take shape after her first appearance as Shirley Feeney on ‘Happy Days’ in 1975. “We were paired as actors on six different projects. ‘Happy Days’ star and film director She co-starred with the late Penny Marshall as one half of a dynamic friend duo whose escapades drove the show’s eight seasons from 1976 to 1983. Cindy Williams, best known for her role as bubbly Shirley Feeney on Happy Days’ spin-off ‘Laverne & Shirley’ has died aged 75. “Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege.

Laverne & Shirley star Cindy Williams has died aged 75. Williams, best known for her role as Shirley Feeney in the classic 1970s sitcom, Laverne & Shirley, ...

Cindy Williams, the actress best known for playing Shirley on 'Laverne & Shirley,' is dead at age 75 after a brief illness.

By the end of the series, Williams and Marshall had not gotten along for sometime, but they later reconciled, according to By its third season, the show was the No. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.”

Henry Winkler, Nancy Meyers, and Ron Howard have paid tribute to the star, who died after a brief illness last week.

(Williams even auditioned for the role of Princess Leia in Star Wars, which eventually went to the late Carrie Fisher.) Following the settlement, she was written out of the series and Marshall, [who died in 2018](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/12/penny-marshall-obit) at age 75, concluded the show solo. [on the Today show](https://www.today.com/popculture/cindy-williams-reveals-real-reason-she-left-laverne-shirley-t25226) in 2015. At its height, the show earned blockbuster ratings and Williams nabbed a Golden Globe nomination for best actress in a comedy. The pair starred as blue-collar roommates and best friends who work at a Milwaukee brewery. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous, and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.”

Williams best known for playing Shirley on the popular “Happy Days” spinoff that ran from 1976 to 1983.

“Happy Days,” starring her “American Graffiti” co-star Ron Howard, would premiere the following year. Her part in Lucas’ “American Graffiti” would become a defining role. He was previously married to Goldie Hawn and is also the father of actor Kate Hudson. Williams was married to singer Bill Hudson of musical group the Hudson Brothers from 1982 until 2000. “Cindy could touch her tongue to her nose and we used it in the show. Her family moved to Dallas soon after she was born, but returned to Los Angeles, where she would take up acting while attending Birmingham High School and a major in theater arts at LA City College. “Cindy scoots by me to make her entrance and with a glorious grin, says: ‘Show’s cookin’!’ Amen. Williams’ and Marshall’s chant of “schlemiel, schlimazel” as they skipped along together became a cultural phenomenon and oft-invoked piece of nostalgia. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.” In 1982, Williams became pregnant and wanted her working hours curtailed. “Singing this song with so much gratitude for both of you ladies,” Dawson tweeted. “Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege.

Actor-director Ron Howard remembers his 'American Graffiti' and 'Happy Days' co-star Cindy Williams, who died Wednesday at age 75.

In a series of tweets responding to Williams’ death, Winkler said that [he was feeling sad](https://twitter.com/hwinkler4real/status/1620271983790534656) Monday night. “And so she was like, ‘Here’s how we got to kiss for the camera. The “Apollo 13” director played high school grad Steve and Williams played his girlfriend Laurie — the sister of his best friend Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) — in “American Graffiti” during their last hurrah before the boys left for college back East. Howard said that he had his first kissing scenes with Williams, who was 24 to his 18. He said he “was just so taken by how her intelligence, energy, and sense of humor ... [writer-director Garry Marshall](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-garry-marshall-dies-20160719-snap-story.html) enlisted Williams and [his sister Penny Marshall](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-penny-marshall-appreciation-20181219-story.html) for a guest spot on his popular 1950s-set sitcom “Happy Days.” The pair made a splash during a double date with Howard’s Richie and Henry Winkler’s Fonzie.

Sharing a photo of the beloved actress on her Instagram Wednesday night, the filmmaker behind movies like Private Benjamin, Parent Trap, and The Holiday ...

She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous, and possessed a brilliant sense of humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.” The film was a remake of a 1950 movie of the same name, which featured Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor. “I was a little nervous. Meyers added, “She changed the course of my life and many others with that idea. And she never took credit for being responsible for that. And she made it happen.”

Her comedic work in “Laverne & Shirley” was career-defining. But the actress had other chops, too. Here's a look at some of her best work and where to see ...

[Playing the Roxy](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7yn7vy),” the gal pals were reading a trashy story about a stripper before Shirley hits her head; suddenly, she believes she is that stripper, the best exotic dancer in North America. This episode may not have the usual comic centerpiece, but it feels more true to the relationships at the core of the series, and Williams gets to show a few sides of Shirley that we might not have suspected were there, including heartbreak, jealousy and perhaps even love. Granted, some of the sitcom’s plots are outlandish and require a suspension of disbelief. It’s got the physical comedy: Laverne cooks and Shirley serves, resorting to carrying items to tables with her mouth. Once Laverne and Shirley move from Milwaukee to California in Season 6, the quality declines. [a one-time guest appearance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjKqP-974kY) on this popular sitcom set in the 1950s. Williams had a relaxed chemistry with Howard (who played her boyfriend in “American Graffiti”), but this time, her character got to [enjoy herself](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjCp3sNqk3A). In her earliest roles, Williams was often cast as a best friend or ingénue — a sweet slip of a girl and not much more. But as Harry applies filters to clean up his recordings, the carefully nuanced nature of Williams’s line readings slowly becomes clear, and we’re left wondering whether her character might be the spider in this web of deceit. Here’s a look at some of her best work and where to see it. In one great scene, he proposes that they see other people while he’s away; in an even better one, set at a school dance, she breaks the news to him that she has always been the controlling force in their relationship. Her comedic work in “Laverne & Shirley” was career-defining.

Director Ron Howard told the L.A. Times about his missed opportunity to work with Cindy Williams, his 'American Graffiti' co-star, who died last week.

“I always assumed it would, and it makes me a little sad to know that we’ll never have that chance.” “I think she had the capacity to shift gears and tones on a dime. She was polite about it. “She was quiet about it. He also praised Williams for her professionalism and work ethic. “I saw in Cindy a first glimpse of this new generation of a woman asserting herself and her potential to have creative control over the work that she was doing,” he said.