Cindy Williams, an actress best known for her role on the long-running sitcom ‘Laverne & Shirley,’ died on Wednesday in Los Angeles. She was 75.
Her assistant, Liza Cranis, confirmed the death on Monday, saying it came after a brief illness. No specific cause was given.
Miss Williams’ family released a statement Monday, January 30 to announce her death.
The statement reads: ‘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 humor and a glittering spirit that everyone loved.’
Williams played alongside Penny Marshall on the popular sitcom for its 8 seasons from 1976 to 1983.
‘Laverne & Shirley’ once became the most-watched sitcom in The United States and netted 6 Golden Globes nominations and one Emmy nomination.
For several years ‘Laverne & Shirley’ was among the highest-rated shows in the country, it was confirmed.
Ms. Williams appeared in more than 150 episodes but left early in the eighth and final season after considerable on-set tension between her and Ms. Marshall. Ms. Marshall died in 2018, also at age 75.
Williams left ‘Laverne & Shirley’ during the 8th season when she became pregnant.
However, her career saw her take on projects on Broadway, make guest appearances on shows like ‘8 Simple Rules’ and even reunite with Penny Marshall on an episode of ‘Sam & Cat’ in 2013.
Williams is the recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a TV Land award for Fan Favorite as well as winning Best Actress at the L.A. Comedy Film Festival for the Indy film Stealing Roses.
Cindy also garnered a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) nomination for best supporting actress in American Graffiti.
Cindy’s book Shirley, I Jest!: A Storied Life was released to much critical acclaim.
Tributes are already pouring in following the announcement of Cindy’s death.
Henry Winkler, who played Fonzie on ‘Happy Days,’ called Williams ‘a fine and talented human being’ on Twitter.
Actor Jason Alexander wrote on Twitter: ‘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.’
‘Happy Days’ star and film director Ron Howard tweeted that Williams’ “unpretentious intelligence, talent, wit & humanity impacted every character she created & person she worked with,” going on to say that the pair worked together on six different projects together. ‘Lucky me,’ he added.
Ms. Williams is survived by her children, Emily and Zak Hudson. Her marriage to the musician Bill Hudson ended in divorce.
