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cindy williams dies© Photo: Getty Images

Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days star Cindy Williams dies aged 75

The actress was a TV icon

Ahad Sanwari
Ahad Sanwari - New York
Senior WriterNew York
January 31, 2023
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Cindy Williams, the star of iconic sitcoms such as Happy Days and its spin-off Laverne & Shirley, has passed away at the age of 75.

Her children Zak and Emily Hudson released a statement to the Associated Press which read: "The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed.

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"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."

The actress was in Los Angeles and passed away of a brief illness. She is survived by her two children from her marriage to Bill Hudson, which ended in divorce in 2000.

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Cindy made a name for herself with her supporting role on Happy Days through the late 70s, before becoming a sitcom legend thanks to her star-making role in Laverne & Shirley.

laverne and shirley© Photo: Getty Images

She starred opposite Penny Marshall for eight seasons

She played one of the title characters, Shirley Feeney, alongside Penny Marshall for a total of eight seasons and consistently drew in strong ratings.

The actress' website also changed to reflect her passing, with the main heading changing to read: "It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Cindy Williams.

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Several fans reacted to the news with sadness, and among her famous fans, one of the first to express her sadness was Jamie Lee Curtis.

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Jamie Lee Curtis was one of the first celebrities to react to the news

The Oscar-nominated actress shared a photograph of a young Cindy while writing: "Cindy was AMAZING! Such a great, natural comedian. So wide open. Such a sad loss."

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