Cindy Williams

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other people named Cindy Williams, see Cindy Williams (disambiguation).

Cindy Williams
Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.
Education
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
  • memoirist
Years active1970–2023
Known for
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1982; div. 2000)​
Children2

Cynthia Jane Williams (August 22, 1947 – January 25, 2023) was an American actress and producer. She is best known for her role as

Shirley Feeney on the television sitcoms Happy Days (1975–1979), and Laverne & Shirley (1976–1982). She also appeared in American Graffiti (1973), The Conversation (1974), Mr. Ricco (1975), and More American Graffiti
(1979).

Early life

Williams was born in Van Nuys, Los Angeles on August 22, 1947.[1] The family moved to Dallas when she was a year old and returned to Los Angeles when she was ten years old.[2] She had a sister named Carol Ann.[citation needed]

Williams wrote and acted at a church during childhood and later acted in productions at Birmingham High School; she graduated in 1965. She attended Los Angeles City College where she majored in theater.[2]

Career

After college, Williams began her professional career by landing national commercials, which included

TWA.[2] Her first roles in television, among others, were on Room 222,[2] Nanny and the Professor, and Love, American Style
.

Williams accompanied an actor-friend from

BAFTA nomination as Best Supporting Actress;[5] and Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation (1974). She auditioned along with thousands of others, for Lucas's Star Wars for the role of Princess Leia, but Leia was ultimately played by Carrie Fisher because Lucas wished to cast unknowns, as in American Graffiti.[6][7]

Williams met Penny Marshall, first on a double date, and later at Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope company.[8] The company hired them as comedy writers, because "they wanted two women"[9][10] on a prospective TV spoof for the Bicentennial.[2] While the two were writing for Zoetrope, Penny Marshall's brother, Garry Marshall, called to ask if they would like to make an appearance on an episode of Happy Days, a television series he produced.[11]

In 1975, Williams was cast as a fun-loving brewery bottle capper,

eighth and what would become its final season, after she became pregnant with her first child. The show's various producers were not enthusiastic that Williams was pregnant. Williams and co-star Penny Marshall had also been feuding for quite some time on the set long before Williams became pregnant.[12] (They would reconcile many years later.[13][14]) The success of the TV series led to a short-lived Saturday morning animated series Laverne & Shirley in the Army (1981–82), created by Hanna-Barbera.[15]

In 1979, she reprised her role of Laurie from American Graffiti in its sequel, More American Graffiti.

In 1985, Williams starred in the ABC sitcom pilot Joanna, which aired as a special on April 30 of that year.

sci-fi comedy UFOria alongside Fred Ward and Harry Dean Stanton
, a movie which was already completed in 1981.

In 1990, Williams starred in an unsold

Robert L. Boyett to star in their family sitcom Getting By (1993–94).[19] She guest-starred on several television shows, including two episodes of 8 Simple Rules
.

Williams performed onstage in the national tours of Grease, Deathtrap, and Moon Over Buffalo as well as a regional production of Nunsense. She reunited with her Laverne & Shirley co-star Eddie Mekka in a November 2008 regional production of the Renée Taylor-Joseph Bologna comedy play It Had to Be You.[20]

Williams in 2017

She made her

Broadway debut as daffy Mrs. Tottendale in The Drowsy Chaperone at the Marquis Theatre on December 11, 2007, succeeding Jo Anne Worley in the role which was played by Georgia Engel.[21]

Williams reunited with Penny Marshall on the TV series

senior citizen service Visiting Angels.[26]

Personal life

Williams married

Hudson Brothers in 1982. They had two children, Emily and Zachary before divorcing in 2000.[27]

Williams was a

Roman Catholic.[28][29]

Death

Williams died in Los Angeles on January 25, 2023, at age 75, following a brief illness.[30][31]

Williams was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles.[citation needed]

Filmography

Film

List of Cindy Williams film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1970 Gas-s-s-s Marissa
1971 Drive, He Said Manager's Girlfriend
1972 Beware! The Blob Randy's Girl Filmed August, 1971 and released June, 1972
1972 Travels with My Aunt Tooley
1973 The Killing Kind Lori Davis
1973 American Graffiti Laurie Henderson Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role[2]
1974 The Conversation Ann
1975 Mr. Ricco Jamison
1976 The First Nudie Musical Rosie
1979 More American Graffiti Laurie Henderson Bolander
1983 The Creature Wasn't Nice Annie McHugh
1985 UFOria Arlene Stewart
1985 The Joy of Natural Childbirth Herself
1989 Big Man on Campus Diane Girard
1989 Rude Awakening June Margolin
1991 Bingo Natalie Devlin
1997 Meet Wally Sparks Emily Preston
2002 The Biggest Fan Debbie's Mom
2006 The Legend of William Tell Jillian
2012 Stealing Roses Rose Also associate producer
2018 Waiting in the Wings: Still Waiting Rosie
2020 Canaan Land Talk Show Guest

Television

List of Cindy Williams television credits
Year Title Role Notes
1969–1971 Room 222 Rhoda Zagor / Rita Zagor 3 episodes
1970 My World and Welcome to It Lydia #2 Episode: "Child's Play"
1970 Barefoot in the Park Agnes Episode: "The Marriage Proposal"
1971 Nanny and the Professor 2nd Coed Episode: "The Art of Relationships"
1971 The Funny Side Teenage Wife 6 episodes
1971 Getting Together Cathy Episode: "Cathy's Clown"
1973 Love, American Style Karen Brown / Naomi Brubaker 2 episodes
1974 Hawaii Five-O Sue Reynolds Episode: "Secret Witness"
1974 The Migrants Betty Television film
1974 Cannon June Bowers Episode: "The Stalker"
1975 Insight Flora Episode: "Somewhere Before"
1975 Police Story Joanna Episode: "Test of Brotherhood"
1975–1979 Happy Days Shirley Feeney 5 episodes
1976 Petrocelli Carol Janssen Episode: "Survival"
1976–1982 Laverne & Shirley Shirley Feeney 159 episodes
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1978)[2]
1977 Saturday Night Live Velocity / Self Episode: "Live from Mardi Gras"
1978 Suddenly, Love Regina Malloy Television film
1979–1980 CHiPs Cindy Williams 2 episodes
1981–1982 Laverne & Shirley in the Army Shirley Feeney (voice) 13 episodes
1982 Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour Shirley Feeney (voice) Episode: "The Speed Demon Get-Away Caper"
1985 When Dreams Come True Susan Matthews Television film
1985 Joanna Joanna Weston Television film
1986 Help Wanted: Kids Lisa Burke Television film
1986 The Leftovers Heather Drew Television film
1988 Save the Dog! Becky Television film
1988 Tricks of the Trade Catherine Television film
1990
Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen
 		Rita Sue Bliss Television film
1990 Normal Life Anne Harlow 13 episodes
1990 Steel Magnolias M'Lynn Eatenton Television film
1990 Menu for Murder Connie Mann Television film
1991 Earth Angel Judith Television film
1993–1994 Getting By Cathy Hale 31 episodes
1994 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Wandamae Episode: "A Bolt from the Blue"
1995 Escape from Terror: The Teresa Stamper Story Wanda Walden Television film
1995 The Laverne & Shirley Reunion Herself Television special
1995 The Magic School Bus Gerri Poveri (voice) Episode: "Ups and Downs"
1996 Touched by an Angel Claire Episode: "Jacob's Ladder"
1996 The Stepford Husbands Caroline Knox Television film
1996 Hope & Gloria Connie Carlucci Episode: "Come Back Lil' Tina"
1999 The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights Sue Ellen Caldwell Television film
2000–2001 Strip Mall Herself 6 episodes
2000–2002 For Your Love Ronnie 3 episodes
2001 Son of the Beach Bobbi Episode: "Grand Prix"
2001 The Brothers García Mrs. Barbacoa Episode: "The Student Buddy"
2002 Laverne & Shirley: Together Again Herself / Shirley Feeney Television special
2002 7th Heaven Vice Principal Val Episode: "The Enemy Within"
2002 Less than Perfect Joan Casey Episode: "Meet the Folks"
2003 8 Simple Rules Mary Ellen Doyle 2 episodes
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Nora Hodges Episode: "Sick"
2004–2005
Girlfriends
 		Lisa James 2 episodes
2007 Drive House Mother 3 episodes
2012 Strawberry Summer Ruth Yates Television film[32]
2012 Are We There Yet? Erin Episode: "The Thanksgiving Episode"
2013 Sam & Cat Janice Dobbins Episode: "#SalmonCat"
2016 The Odd Couple Vivian Episode: "Taffy Days"
2016 A Dream of Christmas Jayne 'The Angel' Television film

References

  1. ISBN 9780943728384
    .
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "CINDY WILLIAMS". Archive of American Television. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "The Cindy Williams Picture Pages". SuperiorPics.som. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  4. ISBN 0-02-542650-8
    .
  5. ^ "BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.
  6. ^ Moore, Frazier (September 10, 2004). "George Lucas and the Trials and Tribulations of a Trilogy: 'Empire of Dreams'". The Beaver County Times. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  7. ^ "The story of how Harrison Ford's was picked for 'Star Wars'". faroutmagazine.co.uk. November 16, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  8. ^ "It's the TV Land of milk and honey". Saint Paul Pioneer Press. April 27, 2012.
  9. ^
    ISBN 978-0547892627
    . Retrieved February 5, 2020 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ "Retro : Reunion of the Milwaukee Madcaps : 'LAVERNE & SHIRLEY' SPECIAL LOOKS BACK AT A SITCOM THAT BROUGHT NOSTALGIA TO THE LATE 70S". Los Angeles Times. May 21, 1995. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  11. Newspapers.com
    .
  12. ISBN 0-8230-8933-9
    .
  13. ^ Gostin, Nicki (March 26, 2015). "Penny Marshall talks cancer, abortion, reconciling with 'Laverne & Shirley co-star in new memoir". Fox News.
  14. ^ "'Laverne & Shirley' Star Cindy Williams Spills Show Secrets in New Tell-All". Entertainment Tonight. June 9, 2015.
  15. ^ "Mork & Mindy / Laverne & Shirley and the Fonz Hour, The @ Toonarific Cartoons". www.toonarific.com.
  16. ^ "Cindy Williams is 'Joanna'". Chicago Tribune. April 30, 1985.
  17. ^ "Things Even Die-Hard Steel Magnolias Fans Probably Don't Know About the Classic | Southern Living".
  18. ^ "Citizens' Voice 31 Mar 1990, page 52". Newspapers.com. March 31, 1990. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  19. ^ "South Florida Sun Sentinel 04 Mar 1993, page Page 67". Newspapers.com. March 4, 1993. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  20. ^ "Laverne & Shirley" Stars Williams and Mekka to Reunite for It Had to Be You Archived November 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine from Playbill
  21. ^ "Doing It Her Way: Cindy Williams to Get Drowsy Beginning Dec. 11" Archived December 7, 2007, at the Wayback Machine from Playbill
  22. ^ Bibel, Sara (June 26, 2013). "Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams to Reunite on Nickelodeon's 'Sam & Cat'". TVbytheNumbers. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
  23. ^ "'Laverne & Shirley' stars reunite on Nick comedy". Yahoo.com. June 26, 2013.
  24. ^ "Laverne & Shirley Stars Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams To Reunite On Nickelodeon's Sam & Cat". Yahoo!TV. June 26, 2013.
  25. ^ "Why did Cindy Williams leave Laverne with no Shirley?". TODAY.com. June 9, 2015.
  26. ^ "Visiting Angels Tailored in Home Care Featuring Cindy Willams." I Spot.TV. Accessed August, 5 2017. https://www.ispot.tv/ad/7Ut3/visiting-angels-tailored-in-home-care-feat-cindywillams
  27. ^ Picou, Sabrina (January 30, 2023). "Cindy Williams' Husband: All About 'Laverne & Shirley' Star's Marriage To Goldie Hawn's Ex, Bill Hudson". MSN. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  28. ^ "With Her New Nunsense Touring Show, Cindy Williams Kicks WITH a Habit". The Huffington Post. May 14, 2012.
  29. ^ "Cindy Williams sees a bit of 'Laverne & Shirley' in 'Nunset Boulevard'". The Daily Times. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
  30. ^ "'Laverne & Shirley' actor Cindy Williams dies at 75". Associated Press. January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  31. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 30, 2023). "Cindy Williams Dies: 'Laverne & Shirley' Star Who Appeared In 'American Graffiti' & 'The Conversation' Was 75". Deadline. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  32. ^ "Classic Hollywood: 'Strawberry Summer' pairs Shelley Long, Cindy Williams". Los Angeles Times. August 20, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2023.

External links

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