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Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams | Cindy Williams her children Zachary and Emily | Source: Getty Images
Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams | Cindy Williams her children Zachary and Emily | Source: Getty Images

Cindy Williams of 'Laverne & Shirley' Dies at 75: Her Kids Commented on 'One of a Kind' Mom's Cause of Death

Daniella Segell
Jan 31, 2023
07:45 A.M.
  • Cindy Williams dies at 75

  • She and her partner in 'Laverne & Shirley,' Penny Marshall, are now both in heaven.

  • Her ex-husband was married to an actress, Goldie Hawn.

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Cindy Williams, most famous for her role in "Laverne and Shirley," has passed away at age 75. She was a much-beloved actress, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, when her TV show was the most popular.

Williams played Penny Marshall's costar on their show, and both actors playing the titular roles have passed away. Tributes for Williams have begun pouring in from around the world as people remember what an excellent actress and woman she was.

Cindy Williams attends the "Laverne & Shirley" Marathon - A Salute To Penny Marshall event at the Garry Marshall Theatre on January 27, 2019 in Burbank, California | Source: Getty Images

Cindy Williams attends the "Laverne & Shirley" Marathon - A Salute To Penny Marshall event at the Garry Marshall Theatre on January 27, 2019 in Burbank, California | Source: Getty Images

passed away in Los Angeles on Wednesday after suffering a brief illness. Her children, Zak and Emily,

the news of their mother's passing and

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her "one of a kind," but have given no further details surrounding her death.

Williams Joins Penny Marshall, Her Costar, in Heaven: Her Kids Speak

Zak and Emily, William's children, shared in their joint statement that the passing of their mother had brought them "insurmountable grief" as they remembered what a kind and loving woman she was.

However, when the news was shared on Facebook, many fans were grateful to know that Marshall and Williams had been reunited. One said: "They are together again." Another shared similar sentiments, saying:

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"Hopefully, they found each other again."

One user said that when she was in the army, her roommate was named Laverne, and they were nicknamed Laverne and Shirley because of the show. Another mentioned how sad it was but that she was now reunited with Laverne, Carmine, and Squiggy.

Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams at Bob Hopkins Birthday Party - February 7, 1981 | Source: Getty Images

Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams at Bob Hopkins Birthday Party - February 7, 1981 | Source: Getty Images

Williams was born in California on August 22, 1947. Her father worked in an electronics manufacturing company, and her mother worked as a waitress. Her first significant acting role was in "American Graffiti."

Her next significant role was in "The Conversation" in 1974. She then got her "big break" when she landed the role of Shirley on "Happy Days," and then "Laverne and Shirley." From then on, she became a household name.

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Ron Howard, one of her costars, has spoken out about how he felt regarding William's passing, saying it was shocking news to him. He shared:

"I saw her last year in Palm Springs at an event and still saw that sparkle in her eyes. It’s so hard to imagine that she’s gone."

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Howard also retweeted a post by another publication and said she was talented, witty, and unpretentious in everything she did, both onscreen and off.

He said they costarred on six projects together and he counted himself lucky because of it. Many fans commented on this post, saying how sorry they were for his loss and sending him love.

Many fans and friends have sent their condolences and love to Williams' family and said what a wonderful woman Williams was during her lifetime.

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Jamie Lee Curtis was one star who took to Instagram to share her love for Williams. She posted a black and white photo of Williams sitting in a car.

Williams is seen leaning out of the window of the car in the photo with a serious look on her face. Curtis said she was a wonderful comedian and an "amazing" person.

Henry Winkler, Williams' costar on "Happy Days" also shared a tribute, saying that they were friends as well as costars and there was no role that she could not conquer. He also said:

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"I am so glad I knew her."

Other tributes came from stars like Yvette Nicole Brown, Michael McKean, and Lynda Carter, all of whom talked about what a loss it was to the Hollywood sphere.

Who Was Cindy Williams' Ex-Husband and The Father of Her Children, Bill Hudson, Goldie Hawn's Ex?

Williams had only one husband during her life, Goldie Hawn's ex-husband, Bill Hudson. Williams and Hudson met when they were 35 and 33, respectively. They married in 1982 and remained together until 2000. Not much is known about their relationship, but they did welcome two children.

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Cindy Williams and Bill Hudson attend the performance of "The Groundlings" on March 19, 1984 at the Westwood Playhouse in Westwood, California | Source: Getty Images

Cindy Williams and Bill Hudson attend the performance of "The Groundlings" on March 19, 1984 at the Westwood Playhouse in Westwood, California | Source: Getty Images

Hudson and Hawn were married for six years from 1977 and welcomed two children together, Oliver and Kate Hudson. Their breakup was quite public, and they have each talked about their divorce since it happened.

Hudson's children with Hawn have also often talked about what it was like to grow up without their father and have to lean on their mother's partner as a father-figure.

Cindy Williams and Bill Hudson during Cindy Williams and Bill Hudson Sighted at the Magic Pan Restaurant at the Magic Pan Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, United States | Source: Getty Images

Cindy Williams and Bill Hudson during Cindy Williams and Bill Hudson Sighted at the Magic Pan Restaurant at the Magic Pan Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, United States | Source: Getty Images

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Talking about the relationship that she shares with her siblings, Kate Hudson shared her thoughts and feelings on not being in contact with them. She reflected:

"I've been thinking about our sisters that we don't spend time with, and our brother. Brothers. We've got four siblings we don't spend any time with."

Bill Hudson and Cindy Williams during "Hysterical" Wrap Party at Sagebrush Casita Restaurant in Los Angeles, California, United States | Source: Getty Images

Bill Hudson and Cindy Williams during "Hysterical" Wrap Party at Sagebrush Casita Restaurant in Los Angeles, California, United States | Source: Getty Images

She said she and her brother hardly ever acknowledged the fact that they had four siblings from their father whom they did not see or speak to very often. Kate then admitted that she would like to mend her relationship with her siblings.

Williams Kept Her Kids' Lives Private: All We Know About Emily and Zachary

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Williams loved being a mother to her two children, Emily and Zachary Hudson, and quit filming her show when she fell pregnant the first time in 1982. They are 41 and 37, respectively, and although their parents were wildly famous, their lives have been kept private.

Cindy Williams (C) poses with her son Zachary Hudson and duaghter Emily Hudson at the ceremony honoring her and actress Penny Marshall each with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 12, 2004 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

Cindy Williams (C) poses with her son Zachary Hudson and duaghter Emily Hudson at the ceremony honoring her and actress Penny Marshall each with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 12, 2004 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

Since the day her children were born, Williams resolved to help them have as normal a life as possible. This meant that they were not often seen out with their parents.

The children appeared by their mother's side at her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2004 for the first time. By then, they were already grown up with Emily being 22 and Zachary was 18.

Williams was also relatively private on her social media. She did not have an Instagram account, but she had a Twitter account. While she was active on Twitter, she did not post any information about her children.

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