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 It is with profound sadness that we report the death of Cindy Williams, actress best known for her role in the beloved series Laverne & Shirley, at the age of 75.
Williams, who was born in Van Nuys, California, began her acting career in 1974 with a role in the television series The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Following her success on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Williams was offered the role of Shirley Feeney in the spin-off series Laverne & Shirley alongside her friend and fellow actress, Penny Marshall. It was on Laverne & Shirley that Williams found her most well-known success, portraying the light-hearted, ambitious character for 8 seasons, from 1976 to 1983.
Following the end of Laverne & Shirley in 1983, Williams continued to work as an actress, appearing in films, television, and stage performances up until 2003. Though she retired from acting after 2003, Williams kept up a close relationship with fellow Laverne & Shirley actor Michael McKean, with whom she shared the role of garage mechanic Lenny. The pair remained friends until Williams’ death and McKean was one of the first to express his sorrow publicly, tweeting “My sweet Cindy Williams has died of complications from a brief illness. Goodbye, my dear friend. This is a crushing blow. I’m glad I knew her. ”
Williams is survived by her son, Zachary, and daughter, Emily, who released a statement saying “Our mom has always been a shining light in our lives and the lives of so many. We will carry her memory with us always and miss her dearly.” She will be greatly missed.
