On Monday, the family of Cindy Williams, the star of “Laverne & Shirley,” announced that she had passed away at the age of 75, following a brief illness.
Williams starred as Shirley alongside Laverne, played by Penny Marshall, in the popular sitcom. Her children, Zak and Emily Hudson, shared a statement following her death.
“The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed,” the statement, released to People, reads. “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.”
“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!” the statement continued. “May that laughter continue in everyone, because she would want that. Thank you for loving our Mom, she loved you too.”
Williams was also known for starring in George Lucas’ 1973 film, “American Graffiti,” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation” from 1974. Lucas would heavily consider Williams for the role of Princess Leia in “Star Wars” before ultimately choosing actress Carrie Fisher, who passed away in 2016.
She was best known for “Laverne & Shirley,” the “Happy Days” spinoff that ran on ABC from 1976 to 1983 and was one of the most popular shows on TV in its prime.
The show was about a pair of roommates who worked at a Milwaukee bottling factory in the 1950s and ’60s, where Williams played the straight-laced Shirley, compared to Marshall’s more expressive Laverne.
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