Cindy Williams Best ‘Laverne & Shirley’ Scenes

We all got the sad news this week that actress Cindy Williams passed away. Most of us know her from the sitcom Laverne & Shirley. But Cindy Williams was known for other work as well. She played Laurie Henderson in American Graffiti in 1973. She was nominated a BAFTA Award for that performance, for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.Cindy Williams also did other film work as well as stage performances.

It was in the mid 1970's that Cindy Williams made history in television. And the story behind landing the role isn't your typical one. Williams didn't audition for the role of Shirley. It came around a little different than that.

Cindy Williams first met her Laverne, Penny Marshall, on a double date. Then the two worked together as comedy writers at Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope Company (wikipedia.com). One day Penny Marshall's famous brother, Garry Marshall, called her up. He said he wanted Penny and Cindy to make an appearance on his show. Of course that was none other than the one and only Happy Days.

That was the day Laverne & Shirley were created. For the 1975 episode of Happy Days, Laverne De Fazio (Penny Marshall) and Shirley Feeney (Cindy Williams) were brought in as dates. They were supposed to be a couple of "sure things" for Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) and Arthur Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler). The actresses were so popular with the audience that Garry Marshall created the spin-off series for them.

Of course this is why you see so many Happy Days characters on Laverne & Shirley. But the women didn't need the cameos to keep their show going. They had staying power all their own. If you weren't lucky enough to see Cindy Williams in her heyday when Laverne & Shirley was on, you missed out. But just to recap, here are some of the most popular scenes from the show.

IF YOU CAN'T SEE THE VIDEOS, YOU NEED TO SIGN IN TO YOUTUBE. It's nothing scandalous. CBS is just covering their backs by making sure you're at least 14 before you can watch.

And if you forgot about that first time we met the girls on Happy Days, check it out here and here. Enjoy! - Wendy Rush

Gotta love a good old fashioned bar fight.

The girls chasing a recipe-stealing crook.

The girls hit the grocery store when Laverne wins a shopping spree.

The best scene when Laverne & Shirley are hanging from the coat rack.

The girls never could say no to the charming Arthur Fonzarelli.

Laverne & Shirley helping Lenny and Squiggy make up after a fight.

Squiggy gives Shirley advice on how to escape from the hospital.

Richie Cunningham stops by to say hi in this one!

Two words: Cabin Fever.