The television industry is mourning the loss of a sitcom star.
Cindy Williams, best known as Shirley Feeney in classic Laverne & Shirley, died on Jan. 25 in Los Angeles after a short illness, her family confirmed in a statement. She was 75.
“The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed,” Williams’ children, Emily and Zak, said in the statement through their spokesperson to NBC News. “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.”
They continued, “We have always been, and will remain, SO proud of her for many things…her lifelong mission to rescue animals, her prolific artistry, her faith, and most of all, her ability to make the world laugh! May that laughter continue in everyone, because she would want that. Thank you for loving our Mom, she loved you too.”
Source link The entertainment world has mourned the passing of beloved actor and actress, Cindy Williams, best known for her role in the iconic 1970s series Laverne & Shirley, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 75.
Born in Van Nuys, California, Williams attended Birmingham High School, where she first became interested in theater. She went on to attend Los Angeles City College before being noticed as an actress in 1975. She was cast as Laverne DeFazio on the sitcom Laverne & Shirley, which ran from 1976 to 1983 and earned her an Emmy nomination in 1982. She formed an onstage and offstage close bond with costar and friend, Penny Marshall, and received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 2010 in honor of her work.
Williams’s career did not end with Laverne & Shirley, however. She went on to star in numerous films, including the Disney classic The North Avenue Irregulars, Cheech & Chong’s films Up in Smoke and Things Are Tough All Over, and the Steve Martin hit, Splitz. In addition, she played the matriarch in the 1990s CBS sitcom, My Sister Sam, and returned to the small screen in 2004 for a recurring stint on the show Scrubs. She would go on to acted sporadically in films and TV shows until 2012, with her final role being in a production of David Mamet’s controversial play, Oleanna.
Williams was married twice, first to actor Bill Hudson, with whom she had her two children, and then to Ken., However, she viewed her costar, Penny Marshall, as her true family. The two friends remained close until Marshall’s death in 2018.
Cindy Williams will be remembered as an iconic character whose influence is still pervasive today. A true multi-talent, Williams was an inspiring and talented actress who will be dearly missed.
