‘Laverne & Shirley’ Actress Cindy Williams Dies

Cindy Williams on 'Laverne & Shirley' in 1975
Cindy Williams in a 1975 promotional photo for ‘Laverne & Shirley.’ (Image credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

Actress Cindy Williams, who appeared in such iconic television shows as Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days, has died at 75.

Williams died Monday after a short illness, according to CNN. Williams, who began her television career in the late 1960s, is best known for her role as Shirley Feeney in the ABC comedy series Laverne & Shirley. Williams’s character first appeared on ABC’s Happy Days before she joined the late Penny Marshall in spinoff Laverne & Shirley, which ran from 1976 to 1983.

Williams also appeared in such TV shows as For Your Love, 7th Heaven, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Girlfriends and Sam & Cat — where she reunited with Marshall in a guest starring role — over her more than six-decade career. 

On film, Williams starred in the 1973 Academy Award-nominated film American Graffiti and 1974’s The Conversation. 

Several celebrities took to social media to remember the actress.

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R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.