Cindy Williams best known for playing the character of Shirley Feeney in the television sitcom Laverne & Shirley has died. She passed away at the age of 75 on January 25, 2023, Wednesday.
The actress’ family confirmed the heartbreaking news of her death to the Associated Press, via Deadline. Keep scrolling further to find out the reason behind the demise of the star Cindy Williams.
How did Cindy Williams die?
Cynthia Jane Williams popularly known as Cindy Williams passed away at the age of 75. The Happy Days actress died on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, following a short illness.
Cindy’s two children Emily and Zak Hudson issued a statement to announce the unfortunate news of their mother’s demise. The statement which was communicated via a spokesperson read, “The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed.”
It further read, “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.”
Here’s all you need to know about Cindy Williams’ early life
Cindy was born on August 22, 1947, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. Her family shifted to Dallas when she was a year old and returned to Los Angeles when she was ten years old. She had one sibling, a sister named Carol Ann.
Right from her childhood, Williams was inclined towards acting. When we talk about her educational qualifications, she went to Birmingham High School and graduated from the school in the year 1965. Soon after, she attended Los Angeles City College with a theater major.
When did Cindy Williams step into the world of acting?
Cindy started her acting career after completing college. During the initial days of her career, she bagged a few commercials in her kitty which included Foster Grant sunglasses and TWA.
Her early television roles were on shows such as Room 222, Nanny and the Professor, and Love, American Style. Soon after, she starred in George Cukor’s Travels with My Aunt (1972) as Laurie Henderson.
In addition to this, Williams was also a part of two Best Picture Oscar nominees: George Lucas’ American Graffiti, where she essayed the role of Laurie, the girlfriend of Ron Howard’s Steve, and Francis Ford Cappola’s The Conversation.
Soon after, Cindy was cast to play the character of Shirley Feeney, a fun-loving brewery bottle capper, in an episode of Happy Days in the year 1975. She shot to fame as Shirley of Laverne & Shirley.
Williams starred in the show Laverne & Shirley alongside Penny Marshall who portrayed the role of Laverne DeFazio. For those of you who are unaware, let us share with you, the show Laverne & Shirley was a spinoff of Happy Days, which premiered on ABC in January 1976.
The show became one of the most popular and hit comedies of the decade. It aired for a total of 175 episodes before going off-air in 1983. Cindy even earned a Golden Globe nomination in 1978 for her role as Shirley.
We send our deepest condolences to the close friends and family members of the Hollywood actress Cindy Williams. Don’t forget to stay tuned with us for the latest updates from the world of showbiz.
