Cindy Williams was an actress and producer from the USA. She was globally known for her role as ‘Shirley Feeney’ on the television sitcoms “Happy Days” (1975–1979), and “Laverne & Shirley” (1976–1982). She was also famed for appearances in “American Graffiti” (1973) and “The Conversation” (1974). She was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004. She was the wife of Bill Hudson, the vocalist of the band “The Hudson Brothers”.
Before her fame in the entertainment industry, Cindy appeared in a lot of television shows, and commercials and did small film roles. She made her television debut in 1969 with the ABC comedy-drama series, “Room 222”, where she portrayed Rhoda Zagor/Rita Zagor for three episodes. This was then followed by My World and Welcome to It, Barefoot in the Park, Nanny and the Professor, The Funny Side, Getting Together, Love, American Style, Hawaii Five-0, Cannon, Insight, Police Story, Gas-s-s-s, Drive, He said, Beware. The Blob, Travels with My Aunt, The Killing Kind, American Graffiti, The Conversation, Petrocelli, and more. Following a brief illness, Cindy Williams died in Los Angeles on January 25, 2023. She dies at 75.
Who are the parents of Cindy Williams?
Cindy Williams was born on August 22, 1947, in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA. Her birth name was Cynthia Jane Williams. She was the daughter of her mother, Francesca (née Bellini), and her father, Beachard Williams. Her dad was an electronic technician whereas her mum worked as waited tables. The family moved to Dallas, Texas when she was a year old and returned to Los Angeles when she was ten years old. She also has a sister, Carol Ann. During her childhood, she wrote and acted at a church. Cindy was American when it comes to her nationality and she belonged to Mixed ethnicity as her mum was of Italian descent. Williams was a Roman Catholic.
Cindy Williams, in 1965, graduated from Birmingham High School. Later, she attended Los Angeles City College, majoring in theatre arts.
How did Cindy Williams start her acting career?
- Cindy Williams started her professional acting career with the commercials – Foster Grant sunglasses and TWA. Only after then, she made her appearances in television roles which include “Room 222”, “Nanny and the Professor”, and “Love, American Style.” In 1970, Williams made her big screen debut with Roger Corman’s “Gas-s-s-s!”
- Cindy then starred in George Cukor’s “Travels with My Aunt” (1972), Laurie Henderson in George Lucas’s “American Graffiti” (1973), and in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation” (1974). In 1975, she was cast in an episode of “Happy Days” alongside Penny Marshall. She continued her role in the very successful “Laverne & Shirley” series from 1976 until 1982. 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.
- She reprised the role of Laurie from American Graffiti in its sequel, “More American Graffiti” in 1979 and also she starred in the sci-fi comedy “UFOria”. Next, she returned to series TV in the short-lived sitcom “Normal Life” in 1990.
- For a year, Cindy starred in the family sitcom “Getting By” (1993-1994). She also guest starred on several television shows, including two episodes of “8 Simple Rules.”
- The actress made her Broadway debut as daffy Mrs. Tottendale in “The Drowsy Chaperone” at the Marquis Theatre on December 11, 2007. In 2013, she reunited with Penny Marshall on the TV series Sam & Cat in the episode “#SalmonCat”.
- Her memoir “Shirley, I Jest!” (co-written with Dave Smitherman) was published in 2015.
- In 2020, she made her last appearance on the talk show “Canaan Land” while her final appearance in the TV film was “A Dream of Christmas” as Jayne ‘The Angel’.
Who is Cindy Williams’ husband?
Married woman, Cindy Williams tied the knot to her husband, Bill Hudson. They got married in the year 1982. Bill Hudson is an American musician and actor who was a vocalist in The Hudson Brothers, a band he formed in 1965 with his two younger brothers, Brett and Mark. She met Bill Hudson at a celebrity softball game in 1981. Their marriage ended via divorce in 2000. After then, Cindy did not remarry and remained single till her death.
From the marriage, Cindy Williams with Bill Hudson has two children – a daughter, Emily (born 1982), and a son, Zachary (born 1986). Kate Hudson is Bill Hudson’s daughter from his other marriage with Goldie Hawn. Cindy is survived by her two children, Zak and Emily Hudson.
What did Cindy Williams die of?
Cindy Williams who was known for playing the bubbly Shirley Feeney on the beloved sitcom “Laverne & Shirley” died on 25th January 2023 as per the statement from her family. She was 75 at the time of her death. Her death cause was illness.
Cindy had a long show business career, also appearing in movies including George Lucas’s 1973 film American Graffiti. She died peacefully after a brief illness, according to the statement from her children. Emily and Zak Hudson called their mother “kind and hilarious”. Her death “has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed”, they said in a statement on Monday that was shared by family spokesperson Liza Cranis. “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.”
“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,” going on to say that the pair worked together on six different projects together. “Lucky me,” he added. Henry Winkler, who played Fonzie on “Happy Days,” called Williams “a fine and talented human being” on Twitter. “Oh how I loved Cindy Williams,” Yvette Nicole Brown, who worked with Williams in 2016 when she guest starred in an episode of CBS’s “The Odd Couple,” shared on Twitter. “She was as lovely as I always imagined she’d be.”
Cindy Williams Net Worth 2023
Cindy Williams was a successful actress who acted in numerous movies and TV series. She had credits spanning six decades, but it was her role on “Happy Days” spin-off “Laverne & Shirley” that endeared her to millions and made her a household name. Her main source of wealth was the entertainment industry. She was making an annual salary of around $1 million which made her good fortune for her.
Cindy Williams’s net worth was estimated to have $10 million at the time of her death. She made this fortune from her acting and modeling career. She has even worked and earned a cool sum of money via commercials, which marked the starting point of her career. She was satisfied with her earnings and she lived her life to the fullest. She lived a luxurious lifestyle.
How tall is Cindy Williams?
The beautiful actress, Cindy Williams had attractive blue eyes whereas her hair color was brown. She had medium-length hair. Her body type was slim. She had a glowing face with a charming smile on her lips.
Cindy Williams stood at an average height of 5 feet 4 inches and her body weight was 50 KG. She had a body measurement of 33-25-34 inches. Over the years, her acting skill has impressed a lot of viewers towards her.
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