Biography for
Cindy Williams (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

22 August 1947, Van Nuys, California, USA

Birth Name

Cynthia Jane Williams

Height

5' 4" (1.63 m)

Mini Biography

Cindy Williams was born Cynthia Williams in Van Nuys, California on August 22, 1947. The Leo is 5'4" and, during her first years on "Laverne & Shirley" (1976), weighed a dainty 105 lbs. The brown haired, blue-eyed female was born the daughter of Francesca Bellini and Beachard Williams. Her family was very poor (her father was an electronic technician), and Cindy grew up not in poverty, but close. She has one sister, Carol Ann Williams, and a step-brother, Jim. As a child, she dreamed of being an actress. She used to create and preform her own plays and, as she grew, she wished that one day, Debbie Reynolds would see her in one of those amateur shows and whisk her away and put her in a film. Another thing that brought fame to her eyes was her father (who was also an alcoholic)'s imitations of comics like Jackie Gleason and Milton Berle. Her first step to fame was a movie in which she tapped danced with Gene Kelly. She also stepped on Mr. Kelly's foot and was "really embarrassed" as she states. Her next big role was in American Graffiti (1973), as Ron Howard's girlfriend. Soon, she was set up in a writing team with Penny Marshall and the girls were called by Penny's brother, Garry Marshall, to do a stint as two fast girls on "Happy Days" (1974). The public received them so warmly that Cindy soon got her own show (along with Penny) and was referred to everywhere as "Shirley Feeney". She left the show in '82 due to a pregnancy from husband Bill Hudson who had previously been married to actress Goldie Hawn. She has gone on to make a few movies, help produce "The Father Of The Bride" movies with husband Bill, do Jenny Craig commercials and do guest spots on the TV show "For Your Love" (1998).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Ashley Phipps LavernShrl@aol.com

Spouse

Bill Hudson

(1 May 1982 - 13 December 2000) (divorced) 2 children

Trivia

She graduated from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, CA and went to Los Angeles City College.

Before her marriage, was a sometime girlfriend/lover of the late Andy Kaufman.

Favorite actress is Debbie Reynolds.

Was on the bowling and volleyball teams in high school.

Went to school with Sally Field.

Has two children, Emily and Zachary.

Dated "Laverne & Shirley" (1976) co-star David L. Lander.

Wrote with Penny Marshall before acting with her.

She attended the "Hollywood Collectors & Celebrities Show" at Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn, in North Hollywood, California.

Ex-sister-in-law of Mark Hudson and Brett Hudson.

Ex-stepmother of Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson.

Sister of Carol Ann Williams.

Auditioned for the part of Princess Leia in the original Star Wars (1977).

Co-starred with "Laverne & Shirley" (1976) cast member Eddie Mekka in a record-breaking tour of "Grease".

Best remembered as "Shirley Feeney" on "Laverne & Shirley" (1976).

Majored in theatre arts at Los Angeles City College.

In 2000, a senior research fellow at MIT, who also has the name Cindy Williams, wrote an op-ed article submitted to the Washington Post in which she questioned a proposed 25% pay raise for the military. Many people since then have incorrectly assumed that the person who wrote the article was the famous actress, and Cindy Williams the actress has been trying to correct that misconception ever since. She laments receiving criticism and even hate mail for something she never wrote.

Where Are They Now

(October 2008) She is currently starring in a new production of the Broadway comedy "It Had To Be You" with her "Laverne & Shirley" (1976) co-star, Eddie Mekka.

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