Penny Marshall had been making minor inroads in Hollywood for several years before the iconic Laverne and Shirley characters debuted as Richie and Fonzie’s double dates on an episode of “Happy Days” in 1975.“When you can find those characters with attitudes who are in sync, they are funny and charming to watch. You see aspects of yourself in the characters’ attitudes,” Williams told. “Usually in sitcoms, the characters you play are close to you.
It was a fateful meeting with producer Garry Marshall and Fred Roos that put her on the path to chanting “Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated” while skipping in the “Laverne & Shirley’s” opening sequence.Marshall, Williams recalled in her memoir, “Shirley, I Jest!” turned to Roos and said, “I like her. She’s like a pudgy Barbara Harris,” the Tony-winning Broadway comic. They brought her on to their newly formed company, Compass Management.
They had been writing together for a few months when Garry Marshall called to ask if they would like to guest on his ABC series “Happy Days,” reuniting Williams with her “American Graffiti” costar Ron Howard. Co-created by Garry Marshall, Lowell Ganz and Mark Rothman, the spinoff followed the escapades of the blue-collar gals. It launched on ABC in January 1976 and soared to the top of the ratings, becoming the No. 1-rated show for the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons.
RIP 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Schlemiel Schlimozel. Rip Shirley.
My condolences to her friends and family.God bless her family. Revelation 21:4 (ESV) 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
I loved watching Laverne and Shirley growing up. I was too young to really understand all of it, but the theme song rocked!
I remember Laverne shouting out the window: “Shirley Feeney’s middle name is Wilhelmina!”
Rest in peace, sweet lady 😢
Very sad news. 😪 Rest in peace, cindywilliams 🙏🕊
🎶There is nothing we won't try. Never heard the word impossible. This time there's no stopping us We're gonna make it🎶 Thank you for being one of my must-watch TV faves
🙏🙏🙏
I spent a lot of summers watching Laverne & Shirley. RIP Cindy Williams. 🤍🤍🤍
meritofapproval RIP 🙏🏾
Lizzs_Lockeroom Oh NO
RIPCindyWilliams 🕊❤️🙏🏾
RIP🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Oh no😢
I was watching Laverne and Shirley on the Pluto network this past year. She was such a gifted physical comedy actor. Slapstick comedy is so difficult.
So very sad ☹️😭
🥴