The Late Great Cindy Williams

Cindy Williams, best known for playing Shirley Feeney on the classic sitcom Laverne & Shirley, and who appeared in such movies as American Graffiti (1973) and The Conversation (1974), died on January 25 2023 at the age of 75 following a brief illness.

Cindy Williams was born on August 22 1947 in Van Nuys, California. She was only one year old when her family moved to Dallas, where they spent the next nine years. When Cindy Williams was eleven, her mother moved to the San Fernando Valley in California. She took an interest in acting while very young and acted in plays at Birmingham High School. She graduated from high school in 1965 and then attended Los Angeles City College, majoring in theatre. She worked as a waitress at the International House of Pancakes and later the nightclub the Whiskey A Go Go, where she served such music legends as Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix, and Joe Cocker.

She signed with the the Paul Kohner Agency and made her television debut in an episode of Room 222 in 1969. She also guest starred on My World and Welcome to It and Barefoot in the Park. She made her movie debut in Gas! -Or- It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It in 1970. |

In the Seventies she was one of the regulars on the short-lived sketch comedy program The Funny Side. It was in 1975 that she guest starred on Happy Days as Shirley Feeney. Cindy Williams guest starred alongside Penny Marshal as Shirley's roommate and best friend Laverne one more time before the two characters were spun off into their own series, Laverne & Shirley. During the decade she also guest starred on the TV shows Nanny and the Professor; Room 222; Getting Together; Love, American Style; Hawaii Five-O; Cannon; Insight; Police Story; Petrocelli; Laugh-In; and CHiPs. She appeared in the movie American Graffiti (1973), for which she was nominated for the BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in the movies Drive, He Said (1971), Beware the Blob! (1972), Travels with My Aunt (1972), The Killing Kind (1973), The Conversation (1974), Mr. Ricco (1975), The First Nudie Musical (1976), and More American Graffiti (1979).

Cindy Williams continued to appear on Laverne & Shirley in the Eighties. She also provided the voice of Shirley on the Saturday morning cartoon Laverne & Shirley in the Army and guest starred as Shirley in two more episodes of Happy Days. She guest starred on the shows The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour and The Wonderful World of Disney. She had regular roles on the shows Just Like Family and Normal Life. She appeared in the movies The Creature Wasn't Nice (1981), UFOria (1984), Big Man on Campus (1989), and Rude Awakening (1989).

In the Nineties she starred on the shows Getting By, Strip Mall, and For Your Love. She guest starred on the shows Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The Magic School Bus, Night Stand, Touched by an Angel, Hope & Gloria, and Girl Across the Lake. She appeared in the movies Bingo (1991) and Meet Wally Sparks (1997).

In the Naughts Cindy Williams had a regular role on the show Drive. She guest starred on the shows Son of the Beach, The Brothers Garcia, 7th Heaven, Less Than Perfect, 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter, Law & Order: Special Victims Order, and Girlfriends. She appeared in the movies The Biggest Fan (2005) and The Legend of William Tell (2006).

In the Teens she guest starred on the shows Are We There Yet?, Sam & Cat, and The Odd Couple (2016). She appeared in the movies Stealing Roses (2012), Waiting in the Wings: Still Waiting (2018), and Canaan Land (2020). She will appear in the Amazon Prime series Sami, set to debut in March.

I believe it is certain that Cindy Williams will always be best remembered as Shirley Feeney. Aside from the continued popularity of Laverne & Shirley, she gave a great performance as the perky, always postive, yet senstive Shirley, in contrast to the great Penny Marshall as the tough as nails, outspoken Laverne. As good as Cindy Williams was as Shirley, it is important to remember she played many other roles throughout her career. She gave an excellent performance as Ann in The Conversation, the woman that surveilance expert Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) has been assigned to spy upon. She also gave a great performance as Laurie in American Graffiti. She was very funny in UFOria, playing a religious grocery store clerk who belives in flying saucers. Cindy Williams played a wide variety of characters throughout her career.

Cindy Williams was also a very kind, very nice human being. One of my friends is the biggest Laverne & Shirley fan in the world. She had the opportunity to chat with Miss Williams on Zoom and to meet her in person. Miss Williams could not have been nicer. She talked to my friend as if she had known her all her life and could not have been sweeter towards her. Miss Williams was funny, bright, and very vibrant. I don't think I have ever seen a celebrity treat a fan better. If I am a bit shocked by Cindy Williams's death, it's not simply because 75 seems like a young age to go, but because she seemed so youthful and very much still full of life.