Cindy Williams was born Cynthia Williams in Van Nuys, California on August 22,
1947,to proud parents Beachard Williams and Francesca Bellini. She has one sister Carol and a Step Brother..Jim She
grew up not in poverty, but close.When she was growing up she would set up her own little plays and dreamt that someday
Debbie Reynolds might see her in one and put her on the big screen.
She is best known for her role as "Shirley" on the hit ABC
sitcom Laverne & Shirley. But before Laverne & Shirley, Cindy
had already had a chance to try out her acting "wings." She has had the privilege of working with extraordinary directors, including Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and George
Cukor. Her first role in a movie was one where she tapped danced with Gene kelly.
Cindy's next big role came when she played "Laurie Henderson" in the low budget film
American Graffiti, Which turned into a classic box office smash and also earned Cindy
a British Academy of Film and Television Arts nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
After American Graffiti, Cindy and real life friend, Penny
Marshall, Played the love interests of Henry Winkler and Ron Howard's characters
on the show Happy Days. The public responded so well to their characters, that, three month's
later the girls had their own successful spin-off show, Laverne & Shirley. It quickly rose to
the #3 spot in the ratings. The show ran from January of 1976 till the
end of the 1982-1983 fall season. A good long, memorable run.
Cindy had to leave the show in the middle of the last season,
because of a pregnancy by then husband Bill Hudson. She gave birth to Emily Hudson in November of 1982. She later gave birth
to Zachary Hudson in 1986.
Since then Cindy has continued in her efforts, not only as an actress, but as
a notable producer as well. She Co-Produced both Father of the Bride and Father of the
Bride Part II, both starring Steve Martin.
Cindy also has many theatre credits to her name, such as, starring
with Elliott Gould in the national tour of Death Trap, and portraying “Charlotte
Hay” in Moon Over Buffalo. Most recently, while filming recurring roles on the Warner
Bros series For Your Love and on the Comedy Central series Strip
Mall, Cindy starred as “Miss Lynch” in the national tour of Grease.
Cindy is a child advocate who supports organizations including Feed the Children,
and The National Safe Kids Council. She also supports organizations such as the American
Humane Society and the SPCA*
** Biography written by Simon Gilmore, Ashley Phillips, and portions taken from Cindy Williams'
official site.
