‘Laverne & Shirley’ Star Cindy Williams Dies At 75

Cindy Williams, who played Shirley opposite Penny Marshall's Laverne on the popular sitcom "Laverne & Shirley," has died.

Cindy Williams, the actress known best for playing the bubbly Shirley Feeney on the beloved sitcom “Laverne & Shirley,” died at the age of 75 after a short illness, CNN reported.

“The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed,” the statement from her children Zak and Emily Hudson read. “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.”

Williams had acting credits spanning six decades. However, it was her role on “Happy Days” spin-off “Laverne & Shirley” that endeared her to millions and made her a household name. In the series, she starred opposite the late Penny Marshall. Williams and Marshall played a pair of roommates that worked at a Milwaukee bottling factory. The show ran for eight seasons from 1976-1983, proved to be a ratings hit, and earned six Golden Globe nominations, including two for best comedy series and one for Williams in the best actress in a comedy category, the New York Times reported.

Some of Williams’ first professional acting credits include a three-episode arc on the 1969 series “Room 222.” Some of her initial acting credits include appearances on other shows, like “Nanny and the Professor” and “Love, American Style,” in the early 1970’s.

It was after she first appeared as Shirley Feeney on “Happy Days” in 1975 that her career began to take shape.

Williams also appeared in several standout films including George Lucas’ 1973 film “American Graffiti.” Williams reportedly earned a British Academy Film Awards nomination for best supporting actress for her performance in the movie. The film went on to be nominated for five Oscars, including best picture, at the 1974 Academy Awards. Williams also played notable roles in acclaimed films “Travels with My Aunt” by George Cukor’ in 1972 and “The Conversation” by director Francis Ford Coppola in 1974.

Following Williams' death, her friends and fans took to social media to honor the late actress.

Meanwhile, “Happy Days” star and film director Ron Howard tweeted that Williams’ “unpretentious intelligence, talent, wit & humanity impacted every character she created & person she worked with.”

He added that he worked together with Williams on six different projects together. “Lucky me,” he added.