Cindy Williams Net Worth: How Much Did the Laverne & Shirley Star Make?

Cindy Williams was a beloved actress and producer who rose to fame for her role as Shirley Feeney on the hit sitcoms Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley. She also appeared in several acclaimed movies, such as American Graffiti and The Conversation. Williams passed away on January 25, 2023, at the age of 75, after a brief illness Her fans and colleagues mourned her loss and celebrated her legacy. But how much did Cindy Williams make during her successful career? What was her net worth at the time of her death? Here is what we know.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Cindy Williams was born on August 22, 1947, in Van Nuys, California. She had a sister named Carol Ann. Her mother, Francesca, was a waitress, and her father, Beachard, was an electronic technician. The family moved to Dallas, Texas, when Williams was a year old, and returned to Los Angeles when she was ten

Williams developed an interest in acting at a young age. She wrote and performed at church and later at Birmingham High School, from which she graduated in 1965. She then enrolled at Los Angeles City College as a theater major

After college, Williams started her professional career by appearing in commercials for brands like Foster Grant and TWA. She then landed guest roles on television shows such as Room 222, Nanny and the Professor, Love, American Style, The Funny Side, Getting Together, Hawaii Five-O, and Cannon

Williams also picked up important film roles early in her career. She starred in George Cukor’s Travels with My Aunt (1972), George Lucas’s American Graffiti (1973), Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation (1974), and Jack Nicholson’s Drive, He Said (1971). For her performance in American Graffiti, she earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress

Laverne & Shirley and Beyond

Williams met Penny Marshall, who would become her best friend and co-star, through Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope company. The company hired them as comedy writers for a prospective TV spoof for the Bicentennial

In 1975, Williams was cast as Shirley Feeney, a fun-loving brewery bottle capper, in an episode of Happy Days with Marshall as Laverne De Fazio. Their appearance was so popular that producer Garry Marshall (Penny’s brother) commissioned a spin-off series for the characters of Shirley and Laverne. The resulting show, Laverne & Shirley, debuted in 1976 and ran for eight seasons and 159 episodes. The show was a huge hit, garnering numerous accolades. Among them, Williams was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy

Williams left the show after the seventh season due to creative differences and her pregnancy. She later returned for the final episode in 1983

After Laverne & Shirley, Williams continued to act in various television and film projects. She starred in the short-lived sitcoms Normal Life (1990) and Getting By (1993-1994). She also appeared in several TV movies, such as Steel Magnolias (1990), Earth Angel (1991), Escape from Terror: The Teresa Stamper Story (1995), Rude Awakening (1998), and The Legend of Tillamook’s Gold (2006). On the big screen, she was in movies like Big Man on Campus (1989), Bingo (1991), Meet Wally Sparks (1997), The Biggest Fan (2002), and Stealing Roses (2012).

Williams also ventured into producing and directing. She produced the TV movie Tricks of the Trade (1988) and directed episodes of Normal Life and Getting By. She also wrote a memoir titled Shirley, I Jest!: A Storied Life in 2015.

Personal Life and Net Worth

Williams married musician Bill Hudson of The Hudson Brothers in 1982. They had two children together: Emily (born 1982) and Zak (born 1986). They divorced in 2000. Hudson is also the biological father of actors Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson from his previous marriage to Goldie Hawn.

Williams was an animal lover and a devout Catholic. She supported various charities and causes, such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society, ASPCA, Humane Society, and PETA.

According to various sources, Williams had a net worth of $10 million at the time of her death. She earned most of her wealth from her acting and producing career, especially from her role on Laverne & Shirley. She also made money from endorsements, appearances, and book sales.

Williams was a talented and versatile actress who brought joy and laughter to millions of people. She will be remembered for her iconic role as Shirley Feeney and her friendship with Penny Marshall. She was a kind, generous, and humorous person who loved her family, friends, and animals. She left behind a legacy of entertainment and inspiration.

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