Cindy Williams dies aged 75: Family and friends pay emotional tribute to Laverne & Shirley star who passed away after brief illness including Ron Howard who praised her 'intelligence talent and wit'

Daily Mail UK ^ | January 31, 2023 | Brian Gallagher

[Morgana]

Cindy Williams, who portrayed the titular character Shirley Feeney in iconic 1970s sitcom Laverne & Shirley, has died aged 75.

The talented actress - who starred alongside Penny Marshall on all eight seasons of the legendary ABC series - passed away after a brief illness, her family confirmed.

Her children Zak and Emily Hudson released a statement released through family spokeswoman Liza Cranis.

'The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed,' the statement began.

'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,' the statement concluded.

Tributes quickly flooded in for Williams from fellow actors and celebrities.

Laverne and Shirley co-star Michael McKean recounted a touching tale on Twitter from their early years of working together.

'Backstage, Season 1: I'm offstage waiting for a cue. The script's been a tough one, so we're giving it 110% and the audience is having a great time. Cindy scoots by me to make her entrance and with a glorious grin, says: ''Show's cookin'!'',' he wrote.

'Amen. Thank you, Cindy.'

Acclaimed director Ron Howard said: '#CindyWilliams Her unpretentious intelligence, talent, wit & humanity impacted every character she created & person she worked with.

'We were paired as actors on 6 different projects. #AmericanGraffiti a couple of dramas & then #HappyDays & #laverneandshirley Lucky me. RIP, Cindy.'

[bray]

She was a cutie pie.

[faucetman]

“...passed away after a brief illness” ?????

[Last Dakotan]

Peak Milwaukee.

[KierkegaardMAN]

Ambiguous obits are the norm for clotshot victims.

[cyclotic]

Of course I have the album. I listen to it Night after Night as I think about The Creature without a Head. After all, she’s got a great body, so who needs a face.

Babyland by Emma Fosbick is my favorite poem.

Honestly, I haven’t listened to it in years because I was on the honor farm. (It was an honor to be there) Yet I could probably sing along with every tune.

[central_va]

COVID death serum strikes again.

[DesertRhino]

You don’t know who Shirley is? Oh God, all this time about Russia I’ve been arguing with a youngster meathead?

[Repealthe17thAmendment]

One of her serious roles, in a dramatic and highly underrated film was in The Conversation from 1974. It was her conversation with Frederic Forrest that had consumed the attention of Harry Caul, played by Gene Hackman. The pacing of this thriller is unlike what we see in today's movies, but it is an excellent film. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

[John Milner]

Vamp On.

[Uncle Miltie]

Tons of cute.

[cherry]

here I’m thinking that she got to get to old age and then realize I’m 69 and getting close....lol

[ought-six]

“You don’t know who Shirley is? Oh God, all this time about Russia I’ve been arguing with a youngster meathead?”

Did you even read the thread? I said I did not associate the name Shirley with the TV show until another poster mentioned it. It’s not a show I particularly followed (I was more of a “Barney Miller” follower).

I bet I’m a lot older than you, son.

[cport]

That's cool that even though you said it was not your kind of show, that that part stuck in your head LOL. I watched it all the time, and her death saddens me. Another integral part of my youth as a latch key kid in the late 70s early 80s as syndicated after school viewing. It also brings back fond memories of family TV viewing of Happy Days and L&S; it helped me understand my parents more as they were 50s kids, and our viewing was always interactive and full of questions from us. I even found out my pop was like a local Fonz, lotsa girls (known as Jimmy-Baby), and a bit of a greaser with a Triumph motorcycle and everything. Except, being from a small Florida town, he damn sure graduated!

I think it has much to do with why I didn't rebel as much when I was a teen. And part of why my parents understood why I listened to metal, and country, and classical, and Gene Pitney; their sharing and my questioning of their teen culture helped bridge that gap, and allowed for them to in turn feel comfortable asking questions about mine and me being comfortable sharing it.