Cindy Williams, the actress greatest identified for enjoying Shirley Feeney in US sitcoms Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, has died on the age of 75.
The actor and comedy author handed away at her residence in Los Angeles on January 25 following a quick sickness.
A household spokesperson, Liza Cranis, confirmed the information and supplied a press release from Williams’ kids, Zak and Emily Hudson (Entertainment Weekly).
It learn: “The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed. Knowing and loving her has been our joy and privilege. She was one of a kind, beautiful, generous and possessed a brilliant sense of humour and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.”
Williams shot to fame as brewery bottle-caper Shirley Feeney in Laverne & Shirley. She starred reverse Penny Marshall, who performed her roommate and greatest buddy Laverne De Fazio.
The two characters have been first launched on Happy Days in 1975 as dares for Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) and Fonzie (Henry Winkler).
The pair proved to be so widespread that Happy Days creator Garry Marshall gave Laverne and Shirley their very own spin-off collection, which ran from 1976 to 1983 on ABC.
Williams left the sitcom in its eighth and last season when she turned pregnant together with her first baby.
Working throughout tv, movie and theatre, Williams additionally notably featured in George Lucas’s American Graffiti as Laurie Henderson, the highschool girlfriend of Ron Howard’s Steve. She additionally appeared in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation as Ann, who’s spied upon by surveillance knowledgeable Harry Caul (Gene Hackman).
Williams’ breakout function got here reverse Maggie Smith in George Cukor’s Travels with My Aunt. She has beforehand starred in collection resembling Room 222, Nanny and the Professor, and Love, American Style.
After Laverne & Shirley, she predominately labored on stage, showing in excursions of Grease, Deathtrap, The Odd Couple, and Steel Magnolias.
Williams was additionally reportedly one of many many actresses to audition for the function of Princess Leia in Star Wars.